Bonaire

Bonaire is part of the ABC islands. It is known as the "shore diving capitol of the world" and for good reason. Aside from a few pesky dive entries that necessitate a boat entry, all the rest were accessed from the roadside.  We were able to grab tanks, hop into a car, and go whenever we wanted. 

Which = 4-5 dives every day.

Very cool indeed.

Our only complaints about the diving? Sadly, there is noticeable coral bleaching due to warmer waters recently (although a couple of sites showed minimal bleaching). And with the rainy, stormy weather they've been having in Bonaire, the water was a bit murky, especially in the sandy areas. However,  murky for them is considerably different than for us in Montana. We're talking 75 ft visibility (usual 100+ ft) vs. 0-10 ft viz in our home state.




Coral bleaching



It was a trip to remember and one we are both glad to have survived. Yep. We encountered a few mishaps. But our goal was to DIVE and we weren't going to let anything stop us!

The first day, I managed to drop a tank on my left foot. Obviously, this was unintentional. My foot was a wee purple and swollen after that. I could walk on it (painfully), therefore I could still use my fins and dive.




Nasty



Matt ended up with food poisoning the second night. Our whole group ate at the same place that night, but he's the only one that had a different side dish. It knocked him down a night and part of the following day, but he was up and diving after some rehydration.

Matt can also tell you now what a jellyfish sting feels like. It happened during a mid morning dive. Didn't even see the little buggar. It was a virtually invisible jelly with a bell about the size of a thimble. The tentacles on this type average about a foot long.

Big ouch on the lip and chin for the rest of the day.

And since everything seems to come in 3's: Matt's last brush with death involved his BCD (buoyancy compensating device, ie: vest). All week, after every time he tried to inflate his BCD, Matt would hear a few extra bubbles. The rest of us thought it was some of the normal off gassing from tank pressure. After we got home and were washing his equipment, we opened a valve to rinse it. Lo and behold, the gasket was missing. He had been diving all week without one.

For those who dive, you can imagine our horror.

All we can say is-

The Lord knows us, and he most certainly is watching over us in all that we do.

 Even when we never realize it.

The rest of the trip was less tragically eventful. I did end up with a very swollen and infected ankle, but with a lot of care, it eventually healed none the worse for wear.

And Matt and I finally had the experience of diving "solo". Just the two of us. We've always been with a group before.

We're excited now to plan some dive trips of our own.

Where will we go? Who knows? A few places do cross our minds--The Galapagos, The Maldives, Raja Ampat, Lembeh Strait, Belize, Australia, Antarctica, Oregon/Washingon coast...

Without further adieu--

Get ready for a plethora of pictures!

We know most of you will not ever have the opportunity to see the underwater world like this. Some of the stuff down there is simply indescribable. You just have to see it (at least in pics)!




Sleeping Trumpetfish

 

Our divemaster said he had never seem so many together at one time!



Stove Pipe Sponge






Sand Diver (lizardfish). Awesome camo.

 

Hello! Another Sand Diver/lizardfish. These guys didn't move even when you got within an inch of them.



Top view of a Parrotfish.

Whitespotted Filefish

 

Matt on the prowl

Three-Rowed Sea Cucumber



Unusual natural design

 

Basket Star on a gorgonian. These are related to starfish.

Another Basket Star. They are balled up during the day, but uncoil at night to eat plankton.

 

Coral opened at night looks kind of "fuzzy"

 

Red Bearded Fireworm. Bad, bad, bad to touch!!!

 

Purple Vase Sponge

 

Spotted Eel in sponge



Reef. One of the dives with more haze.

Lionfish. Beautiful. Deadly to the reef. Spikes poisonous to humans. These are fish with massive appetites. A living death knell to the Carribean reefs, as they have NO natural predators, and do not appear to be affected by any fish diseases in the area. They are like rabbits in reproduction.Not good.

Speed of Life

Well, another six months has gone by, and this blog shows nothing for it. All I can claim is--please reread the above title. I'll give a recap though:

August

Since I am an assistant Cub Scout den leader (did I mention that before?), I had the opportunity to go on a day trip with the Scouts to a nearby bison ranch. It was, well, wild. Those creatures are massive! The boys were able to stand in a truck bed and "pet" the bison.



Kalvin and fellow Scouts helped carry fence posts up a hill. 




Big beasts

 

September

I completed a Rescue Diver course. Think land rescuer/basic EMT course combined with the potential hazards associated with diving. Add a dose of Montana lake water with about 5 ft. visibility, water temperatures around 57 F, and wind and rain, and you can imagine what the water portion of the course was like. It really was fun though!

 


My instructor, fellow "victim" diver, and myself doing the "rescue". I have some sweet white fins.

 

Trip to Oregon: fun visit to G & G's house! We were also able to spend time with Aunt and Uncle "A" and cousin "K". One highlight of the trip was going to see the Spruce Goose . The Evergreen Museum itself is beyond any "museum" you've ever visited. And we only managed to get through the first building that afternoon! The boys were in heaven, and the adults--well, we were all amazed and overwhelmed with the amount of history.




Inside the Spruce Goose. They really wanted to play with the balls behind the glass. We can't remember why the balls were in there. The maiden flight celebration maybe?

 

Even the architecture of the building is amazing.


On our way home from Oregon, we stopped at Silver Mountain in Kellogg, ID. A ride up the tram lift and hot chocolate for everyone at the top.



Something seemed very off about this. Black diamond sheer drop off...with a kids bouncer less than ten feet from the edge. The trail name doesn't help.

  
And another highlight of the month--going to the ranch in Augusta.
G & G "B" were finally able to move into their new home!
The house was so warm and cozy, despite the brisk wind that day. Great job guys!

It did warm up enough over the afternoon that we were able to take a walk out to the riverbed. So many rocks to skip and so little time...




Rock skipping in the river at the "B" ranch

  


The boys seem to have overcome most of their dog fears.



October

It seems like October is the start of some really great deals in canned goods, etc. for food storage, and this year was no exception. One of our local stores is known for it's fall "case load" sale. I got a few interesting looks as I pushed and pulled two grocery carts brimming with cans and boxes of macaroni dinners. The picture doesn't even do justice to the total damages.




Score at the grocery store





We have a rule in our house that the kids don't hang out in the home office. But the rule wasn't really working with Bando's kennel being in there. The boys just couldn't resist being in the same room as the puppy. We had a travel sized kennel on the floor near the big kennel. Talmage decided to stand on the little one, but slipped. The metal hinge on the door caught his foot, and disaster struck:



Two stitches and an open puncture wound



Amazingly, Mr. T cried for about a minute, then was fine. The only other time he got upset was when the Dr. numbed him up for the stitches.

And then it was done.

Not a peep more out of him about his foot hurting. At all. Not even during the following couple of days.

Man, this kid is tough.

Another trip to Oregon!

This time we played at a local farm --pumpkin hunting, strawbale obstacle courses, zip line swing, rock wall, making fresh apple cider, etc. We played all day with G&G "J", Aunt and Uncle "A" and cousin "K". 

Super fun!



Hanging tough. He didn't want any help.




Kalvin, Xander, Talmage and Grandpa "J" riding a slide train.



This month, life changed forever for our family.

We are now officially homeschooling.

The decision was easy.

We love our children. We love their smiles and their hugs. We love being with them.

All the time.

The decision was difficult.

Matt and I are smart, educated, and skilled. But to homeschool? Could we really do it?

Yep. We can. We are.

And we love it.

It's not idyllic. There is lots of moaning, groaning, crying and frustration (and not all from the kids, I might add). But there is even more excitement, hugs, laughter, self esteem building, fun, and most of all--love. 

And we don't mind getting to sleep in either.

One of our first activities for our homeschool:

We went to Butte to learn more about the history of mining. And mining life back in the day:



Dental office





Mining boys. They were so psyched to wear all the gear.

 


Not quite sure what face he was going for...





And to think that they required seven men to cram into the elevator, regardless of size-yikes!




Learning how the blasting is done




This one's for you, Uncle "J"!




The main topside station




A relief map of western Montana




The sunset on our way home



Last but certainly not least, what is October without Halloween?




For the kid who loves to eat-a chef costume!

 

 

November

2 trips to Utah.

Yeah, we know we're crazy. At least it wasn't two weekends in a row that we went!

The first trip we were able to visit the LDS Conference Center. We hadn't seen it in person before, although we had the privilege of meeting one of the architects on the project about six years ago. He sure had some fascinating stories. 

Our second trip was for Thanksgiving. I don't think I have ever driven in such horrid, dangerous conditions. And I hope to never do it again. So much for trying to avoid any winter storms! But Thanksgiving with Matt's family was great. We just forgot to take any pictures. Oops.




The boys thought the waterfall on the side of the conference center was the best part.




Random, really cool tree. It was covered in fall colored leaves, but the trunk was completely engulfed in the dark green ivy.



After another birthday, our little guy is not so little anymore.

4 years old!




Kalvin is trying to get all Talmage's Iron Man gear figured out. Gift from G&G "B"

 


Watch out bad guys!



Also this month:

Kalvin had a birthday, too--on Thanksgiving! He thought it was pretty sweet to celebrate with all his cousins in Utah.

I am now the ward primary pianist.

Somehow, I kept that talent buried for the 6 years we have lived here.

The Lord decided I had been squandering it away long enough.
I'm glad He knows me better than I know myself.
I would still not be playing the piano were it not for this new opportunity.

December

Oh what a fun time of year!
A fresh Christmas tree (which left us all with cold 'burned' lungs for a couple of days after hiking in the mountains to get it).
Shorter days. Longer nights.
Snow reflecting the moon's light.
The Nativity.



Homemade pizza night



Talmage decided that he wanted basil on his, but his brothers said no way on theirs!

  

A tree that hasn't been pruned to perfection

 

Talmage is checking out his rc car from Danielle

 

They could barely stand to wait and open one box at a time

 

Xander opening his gift from G&G "J"



Midflight

 

January

And the month so far?

Oh. Just the usual craziness at the office.

Getting back into gear with school after a long break.

Recovering from a super duper dive trip (see Bonaire post).

BTW...

We are now on ParentProfiles.com

Yes! We would like to adopt again!

   

The End

Matt got back last night from his quick trip to Chicago.

Lots of information and new ideas for the business.

He was a bit lonely though, and ended up buying an iTouch during one of his evening walks.

Whoa!

Really?

Matt bought an Apple product?

He must have crossed over to the dark side.

There is simply no other explanation for such bizarre behavior.

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO???

(I guarantee it is coming to an end if he buys a Subaru.)

Oh Yes I Did

I told Matt I wanted to get one of these. 

He said okay.

But evidently, he was being sarcastic.

Oops.

It's a boy!

Introducing...Bando. 

 12 weeks old. 6 lbs. All chihuahua.

He has been called Banjo by the original owners and the name stuck with the boys. 

But Talmage still has the lisps and intonations of speech of a typical 3 yr old, and "Banjo" comes out sounding more like "Bando".

And thus, a new name has been given.

We have 3 very happy, or should I say, overly ecstatic, little boys.

They ran around the yard with Bando for about two hours tonight. 

I'm not sure who was having more fun...the boys or the puppy!

 

To The Day- 30.June

Ten years ago, Matt graduated from dental school.

We knew we were headed to North Dakota for the next four years.

And that's about it.

***

These ten years have been way more adventurous than I could have ever imagined.

Lived in a tiny town in N.Dakota x 2 yrs.
Subzero winter.
Sascha the Basset Hound and Oskar the cat.
Sweet baby Kalvin born.
Move to Arizona and apartment living.
Hot weather.
Weekends four-wheeling Mexico's beaches.
Work as a Labor and Delivery unit nurse.
Buy a townhouse.
Lost pregnancy.
The intoxicating citrus blossoms at night.
Another lost pregnancy.
Another move while in Arizona, different town.
Rent a house.
Fish and shrimp tacos.
Buy a house.
Infertility.
Move to Montana.
Buy a dental practice.
Live in basement of business for 2 months.
Buy a house.
Morning sickness and gestational diabetes.
Vertigo and puking. And more puking.
Buy a condo unit to flip.
Xander joins our family, but decides he wants to stay in the ICU for a week before coming home.
Sell house and move back into basement of business (for a month-with 2 kids now).
Find a house to rent.
Sell the remodeled condo.
Buy some land.
At least three trips to the doctor (in as many months) for Xander to get stitches.
Feel strongly impressed to complete adoption paperwork.
Break ground for new house.
Talmage is born and we are asked to be his adoptive family.
Spells of vertigo.
Xander has his tonsils yanked.
Move into new house 15 months after start of build.
Walking with a cane. 
Living in Oregon x 2 months at my parent's house, recovering after major inner ear surgery.
Return to my new house that I don't remember the move into.
Buy the StrawHouse.
Xander breaks both bones in lower left arm-surgery x 2.
Scuba certification.
Hysterectomy.
 Move dental office to new location after extensive remodeling.
Service and scuba trip to Roatan.
Talmage gets his tonsils yanked.
Night of terror with Talmage hemorrhaging.
First official family trip-Mt. Rushmore.
Matt gets his tonsils yanked and "the works".
He also ends up hemorrhaging-Emergency surgery.
I vow that no one else in this family is allowed to have tonsils removed. Period.
Another birthday.

Ten years to the day we left Boston.

I haven't forgotten

I know what I said about turning Kalvin's bedroom into something worthy of an 8 yr old boy. 

In fact, I became inebriated by paint fumes after laboriously slaving in there for 3 days straight.

It gave me a headache so I stopped.

Well, that's one of the reasons...

We've had a bit of high drama around these parts lately.

Matt and the ENT decided it had been long enough.

The Tonsils needed to come out.

And the Adenoids. Along with work on the: Turbinates,Uvula, and Soft Palate.

Done on  Friday the 11th.

His birthday (stuck in bed) was the 14th.

Started working again Tuesday the 15th.

Without painkillers.

Followed by:

Bleeding...Multiple ER visits. And emergency surgery.

Over18 lbs lost.

***

Saturday-The boys hit Grandpa's ranch. Daddy on bedrest. 

Sunday-more bedrest.

Yesterday-My birthday.

 Matt still on bed/house arrest.

And a not-so-fun meeting for me--more yuck with an "issue" we've dealt with for the past year.

But Matt was finally able to eat some solid food!

Today (so far)-

Get the boys donuts for breakfast.

Take Kalvin to the office to hang for a bit.

Dropped Talmage off at preschool.

Took Xander to an audiology appt.

Couldn't get past the first test-the machine noted a problem-

He has an inner ear infection that couldn't be seen on a regular exam. He really is having trouble hearing.

Sent back to his pediatrician.

Prescription for antibiotics x 2 weeks, then will try the hearing evaluation again in another 3 months.

Took Xander to preschool for rest of the day.

Picked up Kalvin.

Drove home and raced around to clean up before visiting teachers arrived.

Looked outside and it's windy-won't be able to do any spraying in the yard.

Decided to sit down and check weather forecast on computer.

Got sidetracked.

Here I am.

Grandpa's Ranch

Talmage's paternal grandpa and his lovely wife invited us to spend the day at their ranch in Augusta.

We've been trying to go there since early May, but our weather has been so doggone stormy and wet...

This Saturday-perfect weather.

And when we got there?

I think I fell in love with the place

In oh-maybe like two seconds.

If not sooner.

And the boys were in seventh heaven from the get go. 

Bugs, flowers, rocks, dirt, hiding places, dangerously steep hills--

What's not to love?

And of course, 

A few ladybugs.