Hot Fun In the Summer Time..............(II)

I have to admit, coming back from God's country is kind of a bummer.    Not that we haven't had any fun since we've been back.   It's just that it's been a little tough to re-adjust and people have been............on edge.     Great example, we spent some time with my most awesome friend Kelly (this was taken a couple of years ago when we saw Lover Boy)

Anyway, Kelly decided to bring his most awesomest woman - Tiffany Amber - with him up to Maine and he brought (much to my delight) his cigarette boat.    He started out really well but, in hindsight, his boat may have been a little too much for the lake to handle.   I took this on my cell phone.  That is my Aunt Sue who jumped in to help  Kelly at the end.   She didn't need to though because he's an awesome swimmer - even in jeans - which is how he usually goes swimming.   He got a lot of grief from everyone for driving too aggressively.   Personally, I didn't see it as a big deal.

I just wish the time everyone being back from our collective trips could be more laid back.   We went to Urs' family reunion a few years ago and it was a rippin' good time.   Urs' family knows how to have fun.  And I must admit, it didn't hurt that I know how to tear it up on the dance floor - I forgot that Urs' hair was that long.....

Instead of fun on the dance floor, the family gatherings have been pretty confrontational, particularly Julie who has gone back to how she was acting before we both went out west and did (basically) the same trip that we did.      Griff took this video from the Ipad and check out Julie's use of her shoe on Jay - and it goes down hill from there.   They both look really tan after coming back from Montana.

It's early August, so there is still hope things improve.  

Now that we've been home for a few days, we've had time to reflect on our wonderful experience in Montana before we launch our exciting spin-off blog SteeleTobiasEast.

-Matt

Hot Fun in the Summertime.........

Man, that was one great trip.   Montana is awesome and we got to spend some time with the family.   Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of pictures, but did find this one of the 2 of us when Matt was a baby.   That was a long time ago.   My hair (........what was left of it) was really bleached from the sun.   I don't remember us dressing Matt is such girlish clothes, but I guess we did.   Such first time parents

  

We did get a couple of pictures that turned out.   Here is one of my and Urs at the lake.    I guess I look a little older than the other picture.  Urs looks the same!!!!!

 In summary, we had a lot of fun on the trip and Glacier was awesome!!!!!!

Loved Visitors

Due to a hotel booking snafu, we now have some unwanted loved visitors at our house in Montana... The Tobias family. The next time Hank tries to get us to play the name game, I'm going to scream. Enough is enough. Aunt Julie and Scott are getting into increasingly heated debates about the validity of our blog and we still haven't spoken to Ryan in weeks.

--Matt

Weird Weather

Man............can the weather change quickly here.   Check out these photos taken only a few minutes apart.

I took this one of Urs when we were hiking.  Perfectly sunny.

She then decided to take a picture of me about 5 minutes later, but it had gotten very overcast.    I was trying to get some sun, but that didn't last long.    Check out those clouds!!!!!   This actually looks a lot like a picture Jay took a couple of years ago.  

Fortunately, it cleared up right away.  

Day 2

We went on a hike today and saw a deer. Everything was going well until Mr. Clean Scott provoked it by reflecting light off his dome into the deer's eyes. And then this happened...

We're not gonna need 5 plane seats on the flight back...

---Matt

Photographs and Memories..........

Only one day left and we find ourselves in an increasingly reflective mood.   We've talked about this day for nearly 4 entire weeks.   In fact, I think that Urs and I had been discussing this trip before Griffin was born, but we didn't know specifically where we were heading.  I remember Urs saying something like "I can't wait until the kids are older so we don't have to go to Storyland anymore.  I hate Storeyland and I hate everyone who goes to Storyland."   And I remember saying "Yeah, that will be great".   So here we are, heading to Montana with our dreams about to be fully realized.    That nostalgia, fortunately led us to pull out some old photos, which were alot of fun.    For example, here is one of me that Urs took a few years ago:

I had yet to discover that taking my hair down further might not be a bad thing.  Just looking at this photo makes me want to take out a razor and cut off those surviving hairs on top.   Someone should do a study of the fortitude of those remaining follicles.   Those things are tough!

As many of you know, I then decided to compensate for my hair loss, by growing a beard.   God, I hope I remembered to put on sun screen with my head exposed like that.   I"m pretty sure that's Disney World in the background.

We both thought it was funny to compare these pictures to a picture of my earlier days, before hair loss set in.    I think this might have been my high school year book senior picture, but  I can't remember for sure.   In any event, I do remember that I loved that outfit.

Can't wait to share our upcoming photos.    Great memories are heading our way and yours too!!!!!  Stay tuned!!!!

Bye-ku (s)

With apologies to James Taranto.   A humble attempt to express our feelings

Big guy in my row

He should have bought two plane seats

Sweating on my leg

A brief goodbye now

For a whole week we are gone

No one gives a s!$%&

Forgot the sunscreen

The shower will really hurt

A man of pallor

What to Expect??

While our anticipation grows, the reality of what we are about to encounter is slowly creeping in.    All of the comforts to which we've grown accustom will feel very distant once we're removed from civilization and you all for an entire week.    What got me feeling this sense of loss, was this great calzone I had for lunch.

I pretty much felt like this guy after eating it, but it was worth it:

............anyway, it got me thinking.   Do they have calzones in Montana?  I hope so, but I'm not sure.   We'll find out and that's what this journey is all about.     We'll be sure to let you know about all the weird places we go and the weird people we'll meet.  

The Short Goodbye

As we begin our magical journey we've had the good fortune to say good bye to some of our friends.   Nobody was home, since they've all taken off for the Cape, or they are generally not returning our calls.    

Newton Memories

America's got talent, Simpsons reruns, Finding Big Foot, Half Ton Teen, Toddler's & Tiaras, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, Taboo, Mob Wives - Chicago, The View, Oprah, Gail King's new show, the Yenta Chronicles, Swamp People, Help - I Can't See My Feet, Pawn Stars, Cake Boss, What Not to Wear, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, The Big Ten Network, NCAA2k12, MLB2k12, NFL 2k12, NBA 2k12, Dragonvale.................we'll miss you.

planning

Yikes!   Haven't even thought about packing.   Urs is worried about the weather.   Matt wants to bring the XBOX.  Griffin is concerned he won't be able to eat oatmeal everyday and Ryan hasn't said anything to either of us for at least a week.

Can't wait!!!!