Meeting Marion

Shaun and Anna flew up to Spokane with the kiddlets for Joel and Courtney's big day! Hard to believe it was only a few short years ago we were celebrating their special day!

Wasn't long before our nephew and niece were in our arms. Conner played with the 3 other 2 year old boys, but he ran up to me twice just to pat his sister and rub noses with me! He gave Uncle Jim knuckles several times just to hear him 'explode'. Marion fell asleep soon after I took over from Joel and James, and I didn't give her up for very long the rest of the evening.

I'm blessed that we were able to see her at this age and that they are close enough that it will only be a few months before we see all of them again. They change so quickly! We last saw Conner in April, he was talking, but now he is speaking in sentences and has quite the sense of humor.
He knew us all by name! I can't describe the joy of being called by name by that raspy voiced little man.

Cassia was really the only one I passed Marion off to besides her mama. Can't wait to see my daughter as a mama, she is such a natural, just like her Auntie Anna. We didn't get many photos since our hands were occupied with all the preciousness. I can't wait for Christmas!

As Long As You Both Shall Live...

Pumpkin Patch

Sara K., Jess, Liz, Joanie, Amber, Sarah S. and I headed out into the clear, cold morning yesterday to take the kiddos to Rocky Creek Farm's Fall Pumpkin fest.  Hay rides, tractors, forts made of haybales, carmeled apples, face painting and, of course, pumpkins!

 

My favorite moment of the day was when Jess handed Noah a carmel apple.  Top heavy in a little fist, it tipped directly over onto his shoulder.  He just left it there and turned his head to get all that sticky goodness into his mouth!! Classic!

Bates and Rachel.  Batesy didn't want to sit on the pumpkin until he got a good look at Rachel! 

Beautiful, sweet Hannah.  I absolutly fell in love with this little girl. 

Sara and her festive little-bit-o-jack-o-lantern, Amelia!  Doesn't Sara have the best smile?  You should hear her laugh!  It's even better!

The truck - decked out in Fall Finery!

Hay ride to the "patch"

All the pumpkins they grew froze, so they trucked some in and set them inn the orchard for the kiddos!  Joanie brought Kale-bug since mama had just gotten home from the hospital with JP.

Lily was the big girl of our bunch. She is just precious.  Kind and happy, caring and silly - all the things the others can look up to and love!

Days with Amelia

Welcome to our world!

Joel Patrick Moore. Little brother to Kalen Charles. Second son to Naomi and Peter.
Child of the King.

Lion's Ridge Sherpas

Good friends of ours, Ryan and Mindy Connelly, run an adventure expediton /camp here in Bozeman.
Lion's Ridge has existed for about 5 years and has been totally a labor of love, in pursuit of a vision to see lives forever changed.

"Eyes to see. Hands to serve. Hearts to love." Through adventure and the education of the wilderness of Montana, Ryan teaches and trains people, of all ages, to: See that there is more to life, and find the beauty of a moment. Serve with their physical strength by helping one another and giving themselves fully to that service. Love with a heart that is grateful, blessed and full because of the time spent seeing and serving.

Last night Ryan & Mindy sent out a Sherpa call. A sherpa is 'one who walks with another to help shoulder the load, and often to help stay a course'. We gathered in Lee & Debbie's new home, for 2 hours to hear about what happened in those who had come to take part in those life changing adventures over the summer. We nibbled on Debbie's wonderful hors d'oeuvres as we listened to how we could be Lion's Ridge Sherpas.
We left having new sight, wanting to serve, with full, blessed, and grateful hearts.

Sweet Moments

J and I and Minda braved the snow & headed to The Daily for a reprieve from the house.  I love when all of the world is white, but I am surrounded by color!

Jen and I were finally able to sit and chat and sip and laugh, and cry and nibble at Sola this week. Love this woman, so blessed she is in my life!

I also got to be a part of blessing Naomi on her special day. Peter arranged a day of pampering and friends for her! We met at MacKenzie for lunch...

And then dessert!!! Look at that Mile-high slice of sumptuiousness! We gabbed the afternoon away. 

These ladies are so amazing! All of them are new mamas, entering into, and dealing with the stages I have finished, and doing an incredible job (we missed you Becca). 

Minda's New Man

We got FEET of snow today! FEET not inches, not centimeters... Feet!!! Minda made good use of the very wet, heavy white stuff! She rolled herself a man!

What a cutie! (He sorta reminds me of Hudson)

And so it begins...

October has come in like a lion! For 2.5 days we have endured high winds and storm warnings.

Needless to say, we have stayed inside as much as possible. The frigid days have made us want to cozify, so this month's menu is almost all soups!

Buckles is a trooper! He has a shelter, and is fed well, he had to come out and get some apples from me though. That winter undercoat is coming in!

This morning I was up at 2:30. Who knows why, but this was the scene I awoke to!

Cassia doesn't have to work today, there is leftover soup and a fire will be roaring in the fireplace soon.
Hello Winter, & welcome.

Ladies' Day Out!

Gallatin Gateway Inn