The 5 C's

Friday, January 21, 2011

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.