Quite a fisherman

Matt has really taken to fly fishing...well that is an understatement

He probably wakes up at night setting the hook as he dreams about fishing.

It has come to be as easy as breathing for him.

He was even featured recently in a popular fishing blog

2 Sergeants Fly Fishing

I think his future is being written in line and tipit... 

Christmas morning

My MIL is really creative. Every year her packages get more detailed. There were a few that were actually wrapped like a fish. They were opened before I could get a picture. 

 Then inside the package were lots of smaller packages that were all wrapped with pictures of Matt through the years. It was a walk down memory lane.

 What is in the bag????

 Are you kidding??

It's a whole chicken!!! Just what every little boy wants right! 

My handsome husband! He got poppers from Matt. 

My MIL in her new hat. 

Thank you Bob and Cheryl for a really nice Christmas. We love when you are here. 

Mike took this picture of Bob. It is one of my all time favorites. 

Matt got right to work tying flies with all his new supplies. This is a March Brown, his favorite new fly to tie. 

Chester

 I am trying to get caught up on all my photos. It has been painful! I just found these on a forgotten memory card though. They were from Chester's first week at our house. I guess he set his sights on Portis from the start. He lives to pester him. 

 This was his first bath

 All little boys hate baths! Even furry ones.

 All clean and cute as ever!

Shortly after he disappeared. I found him grabbing a nap on the towel from his bath. He was so tiny.

Now he is a living tornado...with a snuggly side. 

Send in the trumpets!

 Matt is in band this year. His band teacher suggested the Trumpet for him. I thought this was a perfect match. He was a little disappointed at first. He really wanted to play the Sax. I knew right away though that his band teacher was right on. 

 His buddy James is playing the Clarinet. James is the kid that can do anything. No matter what it is he picks it up quick and well. 

 He's looking for me! I love that for as big as he is getting he is still just a little kid... don't tell him I said that!

Where is my mom sitting??

in case you want to hear some very very new musicians

A New Year's resolution??

 I miss blogging. I really do. I miss being able to keep family and friends updated on us. Last year was not a big blogging year for me. It was  hard to share when Mike was on the road so much. It was hard to find the time to post or even look at any of my photos. It was just the thing that had to give. 

All the time though I wished I was still posting. 

It just makes it so easy to keep track of our life. Where we have been and where we are going.

I an not a New Year's resolution kind of gal. In fact I bet I have made one resolution in my entire life. It just seems hokey. 

I am however vowing that I will get back to blogging this year. I will share more and capture more of my own personal stuff.  

So after all that... I have a confession to make! After spending much time getting all my camera gear bundled and charged and cleaned up for New Year's...I forgot the back in the entry way. Yes, it was laughable.

So I welcomed in the New Year with Iphone photos:-)

We stayed in the lovely little Hotel Le Bourget again. Such a great little european inspired hotel. It is one of my favorites. 

This was probably one of my favorite all time trips to the cities. It was just nice. Our first stop was a Fly Fishing shop way up north in Blaine, MN. Matt was so excited. He used all of his Christmas money that grandma Dot sent him to buy tying supplies. 

After he bought everything he could afford and looked at everything else twice, it was my turn.

We headed of the the World Market and had lunch. That place was so incredible. It was a little indoor farmers market with a worldly flair. I loved it very much. In fact I want to go back with someone else I know that loves worldly places. I wish I had pictures!!

 We had dinner at Buca. Mike and I split a huge piece of lasagna. Our waiter was wonderful. It is funny how a great waiter can make such a difference. 

 When we got back to the hotel Matt went right to tying flies. After getting a few tied we headed for the pool. After being at the pool for a few hours Mike went to the front desk to discover Phil! One of our fellow Saturday morning fly tying buddies. He and his wife joined us pool side where we chatted in the New Year! It was wonderful! In fact it was 12:20 before anyone even noticed that it was past midnight. Yes...no New Year's kisses were exchanged. I would not have had our New Year be any other way. 

Now this week we are all recovering! Including Portis. 

The Minnesota cold has settled in....UG:(

The Academic Triathlon

 Matt participated in an Academic Triathlon on Friday. Mike and I were in awe of his team. They worked so well together. Most of these kids have been in many groups with Matt over the past few years.

 This was the speed round. It was a lot like Jeopardy. They were given a question and had to buzz in. The team that answered it correctly after hitting the buzzer first won. They did pretty well during this round. 

 The last event was kind of an improve type thing. Probably really good for them to get this kind of  outside your comfort zone exposure. Matt was playing a fish. 

That girl with the pelican mask on was the team leader. She was so amazing. She was a 6th grader who  happened to be the only girl on the team.  She really did an amazing job leading the boys. She was calm, collected and lead gracefully. 

Matt's only goal was to make his school proud. 

He sure made me proud. They all did. 

Happy 30th birthday to Rachel!

Rachel has been such a lifesaver to me. I am so grateful for her. She has brought me dinner on the nights I needed it most. She(and her husband) have mowed my lawn when I was in need of it most. She has helped me move heavy furniture and then brought ME dinner afterwards! She has called me just to say hey, what do you need. And of course she is always inviting me over for dinner. This is a small list of all the things she has done for me since moving in. I am so glad she moved in. She turns 30 today. God has given her the gift of wisdom though because she may look younger than 30 but she acts so much older than that. 

She also has very beautiful children!

Yes, Rachel you are loved by me. You have taught me a lot about true giving. 

Most recently she sent over the most amazing salad. It was unbelievable and I almost wish I did not know it existed. It was the kind of thing that wakes you up at night wanting it! I dreamed of it for 3 days after and finally made my own batch! I had to laugh when I told her how good it was she said "I almost didn't share it for fear that you would not appreciate it"Amen sister! I get it! This salad is that good! It was a sweet pulled pork salad on yummy rice! I promise Grandma Dot, one of these days I will make it for you. 

 Happy Birthday Rachel! 

 You might remember her best from this picture. One of my all time favorites. 

Okay, now I am trying to remember my 30th birthday...

I can't! That is terrible. 

The trout whisperers

A lot has changed in the past few years. Well that is putting it mildly! Even the stuff that has stayed the same has changed. Matt and Mike are still best fishing buddies. This is them today. 

This is them from 4 years ago. Matt was 6 and he was not fly fishing yet. He also never out fished his dad. 

 This is him today. He has become an incredible fly fisherman. And he can easily keep up with his dad and some days out fish him. 

 He too can see why fly fishing has had his dad's heart.

 This was a huge white sucker fish that he caught from atop that wooden structure. 

 Here is the cast...

 I always think some day we will have a more normal life and I will be able to let the boys go fishing without me. Then I remember how much I love to see my husband in his hip waders casting a fly line...and I think why would I miss this. 

 Another small brookie. Small and beautiful. The fall colors had nothing on this little guy. 

 Then I looked over to see my son becoming one with the stream as he stepped barefoot into the water(in late September) and his cast became as natural as breathing...and I thought Clair, you would be so amazed. Some families are all about football or other sports. Mike and I have invested in this. I can't think of any other sport that you can do up until forever.In fact, Clair fished until way late in his life and many say that was what broke him in the end. Not being able to do what he loved so much anymore. I can't think of any other sport that teaches you so much about the earth and true conservation. Yes, this is where I choose to invest. Maybe Matt can start a youth fly fishing team when he gets to high school. 

 His cast has really become pretty darn amazing. 

Despite the occasional snag...

On a side note, I have to tell you how thankful we are to Ray our adopted grandpa from our Hiawatha group. Matt had a parent day at his new to us middle school on Friday. Mike and I had a prior commitment that I could not get out of that I booked last December. Mike was able to go for a few hours but then Ray kindly stepped in. He made Matt's day very bright. He also gave me the peace of mind that I would never have had otherwise. Mike and I were deeply touched by his kindness. Some people come into your life at just the right time for a reason. Ray and his wife Suzie are those people to us. 

Thank you Ray. Matt was so proud to have you by his side on Friday.