Where the men are men...and the women are home(happily)

Mike and Matt took the long train ride back to Montana earlier this month. It was time for AC and Matthew got to join the men for his second time in his short life. 

Mom got almost a week to myself. It was easier this year than last as far as the panic attacks were concerned:-) Probably because I stayed so busy. 

 Montana was of course as pretty as ever.

 Matthew loved every minute of the trip...he actually tried to talk Mike into staying. Who needs a mom when you can live off the prairie? Even if you experienced your first "scope eye" 

This is Matt and one of his AC  BFF's. This life long friend got a new puppy this year. His name was Copper. 

Copper and Matt quickly loved each other. Matt's dream is to bring a BFF back next year for Copper. 

 Every boy needs a furry best friend. (Matt took this picture by the way)

Can you see the dog in this photo? That is another one of Matt's furry camp friends. His name is Badger and Mike adores him too. He is actually Mike's camp heater at night. Dogs must just love the Willits. 

Hey! Look at that a picture of Mike at AC. He has actually been nicknamed the camp historian. His photos have greatly improved of the past few years. 

This is my favorite of his from this year. I love it for many reasons. It truly is Montana. You see Montana came up with a plan to encourage land owners to let people hunt on private land. Land owners actually get paid for hunters, that sign in each day. If you are a registered hunter and you sign in the land owner gets credit. The men of AC take this very seriously. They love being able to help support fellow Montanans. They make sure to make the rounds, signing at each of the places they hunt every day of camp. This picture to me makes me proud to be from such a place. 

Just a quick update on us:

We have been doing really well. For some reason Mike and I have been busier than ever. Not in a so busy I have to cry when I think about it kind of way(like last year) In a checking things off our list and working together kind of way. Mike has really helped me get things back in order with home and my business. Matt is happy. 

simply...we are good.

sorry for the shortage of posts. 

I always think of you Dot, and how much you love seeing us. I will try to do better. 

Apples apples everywhere!

Mike and Matthew were gone the past week on the annual "men only" trip to Montana. I ended up down on the SE part of town. I saw a sign for apple picking on a road I had never been on. I was up for an adventure so I took the road. When I came to the top of the hill I saw it...It was one of the prettiest orchards I had ever seen. Such beautiful big apple trees! They were spaced farther apart than most orchards. It was breathtaking. I stopped and picked a few apples and promised the woman running the orchard that I would return...with my friend Jenny who LOVED orchards. Tuesday after school(and Matthew) I did return with Jenny. We had so much fun!The lady met us at the gate and gave us the royal treatment. She was so kind. We spent about an hour picking apples and taking a few photos. Then we went down to meet up with her to "check out". That is when she gave the kids bread to feed the chickens and had the kids pick more apples off the ground to feed the cows. It was the best day ever for them. 

I came home and made the best applesauce I had ever tasted!

If you need apples let me know and I can tell you how to find this little hidden secret in Rochester!

Thank you Sue, for your incredible hospitality. 

The mug

 Years and years ago...okay, 15!!! I worked with an amazing woman. Her name was Mary Carol. She was one of the first real women to influence my life. She was one of the kindest and smartest women I have ever met. I treasured working with her. I watched her walk away from gossip, be kind to others always. It is not a joke when I tell you that she could not hurt a fly. Literally, she would catch the flies in our classroom and let them go outside. She taught me so much. I was really young back then and I made a lot of mistakes. I honestly don't know how she believed in me, but she did. 

Right after I got married to Mike I moved on from that job. It broke my heart to not work with her anymore. The years slipped away and with it so did our bump into each others, and such. A few years after I stopped working with her, she lost her very amazing husband to cancer. It has always pained me that I was not there to help her through that time. She of course handled it with grace. She put her energy into her children. They now have grandchildren. I may not see her anymore but I still stay connected with her life. She was a foundation in who I am now.

She gave me this mug on my last day working with her. It has survived 4 moves(2 cross country) and probably thousands of cups of coffee. I can't use it or look at it without thinking of her. It is like having coffee with an old friend when I use it. Well...a few days ago when I poured my coffee into my trusty ol mug, coffee poured all over me. 

It seems my old trusty mug here, has finally seen it's last cup of coffee. Funny how something like a broken coffee mug can almost bring you to tears. I can't bear to think of not having coffee with an old friend. Even if it is just the memory of her.

Mary Carol, if you ever get a chance to read this. I want you to know that that was probably the most uses and appreciated gift you ever gave. Besides your friendship and your advice. I am older and wiser now and I am so very thankful for knowing you.

be still my heart...

You would think that I would pass on these; I hate studio photography. I have more pictures of Matt than most people have photos. There is something I just love about them though. The idea of the same photo over and over again year after year.The idea of growth through a photo. It just gets to me. I wait in total anticipation for them to show up every year. Then they do, and I feel my heart stop. It always makes me think...where was I when I was his age.

With the passing of Steve Jobs I have found a quote of his that really makes sense when I look back on it. Steve said that in order to connect the dots in our life we have to look back rather than forward. Then we hope that all the dots come together. 

Fourth grade found me at yet another new school. My family had moved to Choteau Montana when I was in third grade. That is where I met my friend Lori. She married the boy that lived across the street from her. Craig was the boy I had a third grade crush on. She teased me about it, then married him!  Then in fourth grade we moved to Great Falls Montana, this is the city that housed the true man of my dreams. Mike and I moved to Billings to go to college. Lori and Craig had gotten married and moved to Billings. Craig got Mike the job he had the past 12 years...

Hence, this is where all the dots come together. Craig invited Mike to come to Antelope Camp with all of his buddies and dads that had been going for years. Mike was of course hooked after one year. Now he has Matthew hooked.

Okay, so to bring this full circle...

Looking at this photo makes me thing about how things the dots really do connect as we look back on our life. It makes me think about how Matthew's life is starting to fill with dots. I wonder if he will look back some day and connect them. I wonder if the boys he meets at Antelope camp will be the groomsmen in his wedding. I wonder if he will get a job because of someone his wife knew in third grade. I wonder if they will someday connect and come full circle. 

Then I realize that they almost have to, right. 

Matt's Campaign Speech

Mike started videoing a little bit early to catch the nerves as Matt waited on deck. He was one of the only kids to memorize his speech. In fact there was only one other student, and she was running for class secretary. Can you guess who that was???Yep, Hannah! Actually, Hannah was the influence on Matt to memorize it this year. He does a great job of making it look like he is just talking from the hip, but we spent two days saying it over and over again.
Win or lose he did his very best. I tried to get him to say "It's simple vote for the dimple" but he just rolled his eyes and walked away.

Our little politicians

Today was election day...

Matt was running for student body president.

Hannah was running for secretary. 

Hannah...sigh. What is not to love about her. She is a born leader. She is so smart and talented(you should seriously hear her sing) She is actually singing tomorrow for a group of parents that have lost a child. I just love this picture of her. It makes me smile. Hannah, you are incredibly wonderful! 

Matt and Hannah might only see each other as friends but I hope someday her influence on him helps him choose someone equally kind, sweet and beautiful. 

 This is Tessa,

Matt has known Tessa since kindergarten. She too has influenced Matt. Tessa's mom is a friend of Jenny and I. Do you notice her broken collar bone? She did that at school last week. 

 Matt made me so proud that I almost started crying. It was a combination of things...being so glad to be in this school still...having Mike by my side to cheer Matt on...seeing our wonderful and amazing child bloom again... and watching him do so well. 

I almost cried. I decided to beam with pride instead.

These are his running mates. Almost all girls. 

Marvelous Matt

I guess when you get to be a 4th grade you move up to Marvelous Me instead of "star of the week" This was Matthew's week to be Marvelous Me..but we all know he is always Marvelous Matt all the time!

 The only think more marvelous is seeing Hannah sitting right behind him.It is such a blessing to see her face. There is just so much I don't take for granted anymore. 

 This was Matt's board.. a few highlights.. 

 He actually put his full name, or tried.  Very few people know that his birth certificate reads "Matthew Clair Allen Willits" It made Mike's day to see that he actually wrote that. 

 Then it doubly made his day to see him write about AC! Less than 2 weeks and they will be on the train bound for the showerless, womanless lands of Montana. 

 Matthew got to share something with the class. He chose his RC car he bought with his own money in Montana when we were there. 

 Then he drove it around the class

 This is his project he turned it about the Trail of Tears.

 Then it was time for the playground!

This is Matt with his best friend from school, James. They have been pals since 2nd grade. I too adore James. he is so much like Matthew. 

I am running the blog for Matthew's teacher again this year(bet you would never have guessed that) If you want to see more from his day go to 

www.misskmeyer.blogspot.com

Changing of the seasons

There is so much irony in this post. 

The seasons are changing... and changing fast.

I love the fall but with it comes the dread of winter.

Charlie must know this too. In the past few days Mike and I have found him to be missing numerous times.

After searching the house the first few times, we have come to figure out that he was relishing the crisp and comfortable fall air. He has spent many house outside the past few days stretched out on the grass. Mike and I have actually watched him through the window as he wagged his tail happily as he enjoyed his own company. That is always followed up by a good roll in the grass and a big doggie smile. 

I keep joking with Mike that he probably knows these are his last nice days he will ever enjoy. He gets older everyday and winter is not easy on an old dog(or Monica)

Today as we peeked out the window to see him sprawled out on the lawn enjoying the fresh air, and just happy to be there...Mike felt the need to just go hang with him.

Two old pals, both in new seasons of life.

Both very content.

It made my day.

The feeling of peace and grace that has filled our house in the past few weeks is at the least noteworthy. 

It has trickled down to even the littlest of our family members.

Happy to be here, happy to lay here, happy to be by your side...said Chuck!

cleaning out everything...

Mike and I have been taking our house room by room and reorganizing it. This has included finding a lot of crazy stuff we forgot about, and throwing out a lot of stuff. I am doing the same with my endless supply of memory cards. I am finding lots of fun stuff. These pictures are from a water balloon fight that the kids had at the end of last year. 

 Nice throw Hannah!Too bad it bounced of Matt's back. 

This water ballon fight actually ended badly...One of them, I am not naming names but his initials are MW!! got in very big trouble. 

 Charlie was just happy to be outside

Why does summer have to be so short...and winter so long?

And then there was 5

 This week we added a new member to our car pool clan. This is a big deal for many...

1. It is the first time BES has had 4 kids from one family. Yes, Jenny you are an amazing woman! This proves it.

2. Our car is now full to the brim!

3. Jenny now has a few days a week all to herself! Can you imagine...going from 4 little ones all under 5 to having no one at home? 

Welcome Nora! I was looking forward to you riding in my car too! I hope this year is everything you have imagined in all these years waiting... So glad to see your face in my sign pictures.

Happy birthday Shana

My friend Shana has a birthday today. Her birthday is the day before 9/11 and this year makes me see her birthday in a different light. Both our boys are about the same age and we both would have been pregnant when the towers fell. I can't imagine waking up the day after my birthday pregnant and seeing the world change so much. 

I will never forget the day I met Shana. A neighbor introduced us and we ended up talking for hours. Then our boys ended up deciding to go to my house without asking us. We were only a street apart so this would not normally have been a big deal but they were both under the age of 4 and they disappeared! We had so much in common and it was so nice to find someone who shared my point of view on life. 

Dear Shana, You are one of my favorite people in the world. I have loved being a part of your life for the past 5 years. You are seriously one of the prettiest people I know, on the inside and out. I love your passion for stay at home mothering. You are an amazing mother. You always make me laugh and you tolerate me even when I am annoyed by everyone on the beach;-) 

It still breaks my heart that you moved across town and we never made it to the beach more like we promised...*sigh* So glad I may get another chance at it.

Thank you for being a better friend to me than I have been to you this past year too. I know that sounds cheesy but that is how I really feel. 

 Thank you so much for all the laughs we have had, you are the sister I never had. 

Here is to us in 50 years! 

I can't wait to see what this year brings for us. No more trips during the NW gsales or it is over though!!

The Willits growth chart

Some people have a growth chart on the wall...I have the school sign. I don't know what is growing more, them or the numbers of them. Next week we get a new face. 

And then they jumped for joy! 

Wait???Isn't it still Kindergarten?

 I can't believe it...

Just yesterday Mike was kissing our baby boy goodbye at the steps as he left for kindergarten. I can still picture it. I can even see what he was wearing. I went to sleep and woke up(way to early) to see him getting ready to leave for 4th grade! 

 Too old for kisses, too cool for smiling pictures, and too cool for mom to try and fix his hair. Trust me a I tried. He said I made it look dorky(um...okay) 

 I tried to take a better one than this but it will have to do. Mike and I did not think he would be here for this day so it was a blessing. 

 Then it was off to meet up with his pals for the ride to school. Our school already starts early and being that it is 20 minutes away from us mornings start pretty early. Finding out that school was going to start 10 minutes earlier this year was not good news. 

See you in the P.M. 

Can't wait to take my traditional shots after school!!

We have one more joining us this year but she won't be around until next week:-)