Merry Christmas from the Cryders

Christmas Day, 2007.
Merry Christmas from the Cryders.

October Spawning

So it's been a while since I've posted anything. Not because we haven't been up to anything, but because we've just been so dang busy. Today the kids had a day off school, so we took all of them for a little fishing trip. Was it worth it? I think so...

Rebekah caught a nice little Kokanee too, don't you think?

There's a few more photos available here.

Gone Fishing (Redux)

Did I mention we went fishing a second time?
This time they were even bigger. And there were more of them. Heh heh heh... :-)

Obligatory Family Photo (Cryders)

The light's not on, and we're not home...
(L to R: Malachi, Rebekah, Christian, Micah, Marilyn)

Gone Fishing

So why do we want to plant a church in Montana? Hmm, I'm sure it has nothing to do with any of this. Honest. Really. I mean, sure I like to fish, but don't you think you can find little minnows like these just about anywhere?

So today, my friend Marc invited me to go fishing with him. Aren't you glad I went? These shots here are just a representative sample. We had close to 40 hookups, with nearly 20 fish landed. The smallest were between 3.5 and 4 lbs. The largest (landed by Marc) was between 9 and 10 lbs. The biggest one I landed was pushing 7 lbs - my biggest fish ever by quite a bit!

Easter Sunday In Missoula

So today was our first Easter Sunday in Missoula, and it was beautiful. There are some photos over on the photoblog for your viewing pleasure...

Legion Baseball Update

So Malachi made the Mavericks (Missoula's legion baseball team). Pretty cool news, and we're extremely proud of him - looks like two and a half months of winter workouts paid off (the last day of practice, he actually hit an in-the-park home run in scrimmage. Very cool!).

Of course, now the fun (and work) really begins, as we have to come up with $400 bucks and he needs to get sponsors for another $700 or so. So if anyone feels like pitching in with some support, let us know... We'll keep you posted.

Marilyn's Sourdough Flapjack

So Jack is officially "In the market, so to speak." Here's the skinny...

AKC Yellow Lab (English style), 5 field champions in line, certified hips (excellent). Jack just turned 6, weighs about 80 lbs, and he's one of the smartest dogs I've ever known - great hunter, laid back personality, awesome w/ kids. Plus he's pretty darn good looking, if I do say so myself (more pictures available here).

Seeks well qualified female in heat (all for the sake of enhancing and extending the noble labrador line, of course).

If you have a lady dog that might be interested in getting acquainted, please contact Christian @ 406-529-5568 (we're in Missoula).

Sunset Tonight

Sunset was beautiful in Missoula tonight. Looking to the north, towards SnowBowl.

Robinson Crusoe (MCT)

So pictures of Rebekah's world premiere as Oscar Octopus in the MCT production of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe are now up and online. Give it a look and tell her what you think...

[NOTE: the link was broken - it's fixed now (3/30/07)]

Harrison Ford at 60

So I'm sitting at the breakfast table the other morning, when the conversation turns to Harrison Ford and the upcoming Indiana Jones movie:

Marilyn: So I hear that they're considering Kate Blanchett for the new Indiana Jones movie... (Marilyn digs Indie).

Me: So honey, would YOU actually kiss a 60 year old? (I mean, the thought of it sounds kind of creepy to me - sweet young Kate, sucking face with a 60 year old, even if he is Harrison Ford...)

Rebekah: But Dad, you're 37!

Wow. I had no idea how to respond. Nuff said.

Catching Up

Ahem. I see that I haven't exactly been posting to beat the band, lately (Aside: Christy the Wordsmith, should you ever read this blog - where the heck did that phrase 'beat the band' come from anyway? Inquiring minds (well, MY mind anyway) want to know).

So here's what's happening in a nutshell. Ryan and I are still planting a church here in Missoula (I know, you knew that). Marilyn is busy helping out at C. S. Porter middle school. Rebekah is starring in MCT's world premiere of Robinson Crusoe this coming Saturday - well, maybe not 'starring', but she's playing the role of Oscar Octopus, which is a living critter, which means you're moving up the 'ol totem pole in MCT acting land. Malachi is busy with winter workouts for Maverick baseball, hoping he'll make the cuts when tryouts roll around in April. Micah is busy with art club. Everyone's looking forward to fishing when Spring rolls around (speaking of fishing - we've got a couple of Orvis rods on the way, for real this time - I'll say more about that once they show up).

Did I mention that I've been blogging about coffee? You can read a little blurb which got accepted over on the New West site, all about Coffee Shops in Missoula. Cool.

That pretty much covers it for now - we're meeting lots of people, having them over for dinner, getting to know the community. If you happen to be in the neighborhood Friday afternoon at 5, swing by the Kettlehouse and get a taste of what makes Missoula such a cool community.

Until then...

Valentine's Day and Public School

So Micah (our 8th grader) brings home a permission we are supposed to sign, for the upcoming "Valentine's Day" thingy at his school. This isn't actually for the big day itself - instead, it happens a couple of days before - they pull the kids out of school for a half day to take them to a nearby elementary school where they will help little munchkins make valentines.

Me: "What the heck??? What's THAT have to do with education?"

Micah: "Well, it's kind of like 'Pumpkin Day' - we did the same thing right before Halloween, went and helped the elementary kids carve pumpkins. And if I don't go I get in-school suspension...

Me: (incredulously) "Pumpkin Day???"

Micah: "Yeah, Connor's kid threw up on him."

Me: "Threw up on him? You mean, like all over him?"

Micah: "Nah, just all over the table right in front of him. Connor had just cut open the pumpkin to clean out the guts and he said, 'Hey, I'll give you a quarter to stick your hand in the pumpkin.' The the kid said 'Ok!' and stuck his hand right into the pumpkin and then just barfed all over."

Marilyn: "Did Connor get in trouble?"

Micah: "Nah. I mean, how could he have known the kid was going to throw up when he stuck his hand in the pumpkin?"

Me: "Hey, you could help some little squirt come up with a really good valentine, like 'Will you be my girl from Nordakota?' (with Molly's joke on the back of it)."

Micah: (turning beet red) "DAD!!! That's just WRONG! Now can I go or not?"

Me: "Ok, ok, just tell me where to sign..."

Wow. I had no idea public school could be so much fun.