Photo Shoot!

We wanted some pictures of the kids to replace the ones we took last fall. Jamison is not a baby anymore. There are lots of spots in old town that spark my interest on my way to work.

DISCLAIMER: I make no claim whatsoever to a photographer of people. My theory is to snap enough pictures of the kids and a couple are bound to turn out.

Doesn't always work but there are usually a couple that work. I am still very much an amateur. I look up to my sister-in-law Sophie. We bought the same camera she had a couple years ago. We have loved it. She really works hard at learning how to use her camera and what a shot needs. She made the jump to a DSLR this year and is loving it. I'm still too intimidated. I need more practice.

Anyways, enjoy some shots of our beautiful children. We are open to votes on which picture to put on our wall for each of the kids. I'll number them

We'll start with the baby first to change it up. He is the cutest, but the least likely to hold still and smile for the camera.

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I guess that makes Gavin next. He is a photogenic little fella. I don't know where he gets it from, it must not be hereditary. I think that Sophie has trained him. He'll take a few pictures and then he's ready to run off and play, but they are usually pretty cute.

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Last but not least is McKinley Magoo. She is getting better at taking pictures, Sophie needs to work on her some more. She didn't make the goofy happy chipmunk face once on Sunday. She is sure growing up into a beautiful little girl. A little ADHD sometimes, but still beautiful.

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Our backpacking expotition

Yeah, you know expotition. From Winnie the Pooh Heffalump movie. It's like an expedition, but with kids involved. Anyways, we took our first family backpacking trip over labor day. We hiked to the lower Palisades Lake which is about 4 miles. Erica carried Jamison, McKinley and Gavin carried their sleeping bags, and I carried as much of everything else that I could. Morgan, Sophie, Devin, and Garrett came too. They helped carry what I couldn't.

We started Saturday morning just before noon. Jamison walked for about 45 minutes. He is so funny to watch. He doesn't actually walk, he runs. McKinley and Gavin were little troopers. They walked all the way there. Here's some pictures of our little hikers.




We camped just above the lower lake at the main campground. Devin and Garrett let us use their tents and they slept in their hammocks. Here's our little home away from home.

Sunday we got up and made our way up to the upper lake which is another 2.7 miles. Mom and James met us at the bridge where you cross the creek and head up the switchbacks to the upper lake. It was fun to just "happen" to bump into them. They helped carry Gavin up the switchbacks. McKinley almost made it to the top. She stopped about 100 yards from the top where you can see down to the lake and just said "I'm not walking any farther". Erica carried her the last little bit up the hill until McKinley saw the lake and then she got down and started walking again. It was kind of funny.

My brothers and I have been to the lower lake quite a few times but none of us have ever been to the upper lake. We would ride our bikes to the lower lake and fish but had never gone the rest of the way to the upper lake. The fishing is not that great up there, but the lake is a lot bigger and really pretty.

We had lunch up there and then headed back. We fished in the creek on the way back to the lower lake and caught a load of fish for dinner. Gavin had fun fishing with me, Morgan, Devin, and Garrett.


That night the kids ate so much food! They had burned a lot of energy walking that far and they were hungry. The 7 lb watermelon that Devin packed in tasted pretty darn good that night!

We packed up and headed out on Monday. The kids walked all the way out too. We were so proud of them that we promised that we could stop at the (old) Swan Valley Commissary (I don't remember what it's called now) and got square ice cream cones. It was a fun weekend. The kids had fun and did a great job walking. We walked about 13.4 miles in three days. Gavin got carried a little bit on Sunday but McKinley walked almost every bit of it.

Erica and I are so proud our our little hiker children. It will be a weekend to remember. It went pretty well, so I think that we will have to go again sometime. Sophie had some fun pictures that she took with her camera. We'll have to get copies and post some of them. She posted some on her blog but it is private.

Thanks for your help bros (and Sophie), we'll return the favor some day!

Sophie, this one's for you

Sophie is my dear sister in law. I've never had a sister so it's been a learning experience. We all really like Sophie, especially the kids. Who else would teach my children how to say 'echinodermota'? Anyways, Morgan, Dad, and I made the annual pilgrimage up Red Ridge on our motorbikes. Dad has been going since he was in his teens, 40 years ago. All four of us boys have gone at different times though we've never all been together. I would like to see that happen at some point. We'll have to acquire some more motorbikes to make that happen. Anyways, part of this marvelous adventure is the hunting of blue grouse. (Keep reading Sophie, I'm getting to the whole reason for this post, I have two pictures to post and then the one for you).

Here we are at the rock slide. This is my new motorbike's first trip up Red Ridge. My old white one has made it numerous times and Morgan's bike has been even more times.


Here is the elusive (not really) blue grouse. Sometimes they block the trail and you have to shoot them to get by.

Okay, Sophie this next picture is for you.
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Morgan clearing the trail by shooting birds with his .22 pistol. Yes, he is still sitting astride his trusty steed, wearing his helmet and gloves!

I hope the suspense was worth it Sophie. Your husband (aka my brother) is so rad. I would like to say I taught him all he knows but unfortunately it is probably the other way around.

We ate our birds on Sunday. BBQ Blue Grouse is Jamison's new favorite recipe. I cooked them in the crock pot for most of the day in some salt water and then shredded them and put the BBQ sauce in and simmer for a couple more hours (kind of like shredded pork).

Tasty!