Easter in Missoula

Spring Break. We made it. Pulling ourselves through a dark and rainy winter, we set our sights on the brilliance of spring break. The promise of sunshine. A week to breathe.
And in our case - we pack our bags for a road trip to Missoula, MT.

Last summer while visiting family in Missoula ~ we agreed to return to Big Sky country for our spring break. Ross's mom (Myrna) is the deacon for the Episcopal church and as a special gift for her, we asked if she would like to baptize the babies. She was delighted. The baptism date was set for Easter. My own family in Wisconsin planned to join us as well. Before ya know it we had a family gathering in motion. While the idea of taking a long trip with 2 toddlers was (and still is) daunting we decided to go for it!

For those of you that don't know - western Montana is the most magical place on earth to me. It is my spiritual home. When I am there, I feel parts of my own soul come alive again. I am like a stream that begins to stir after being covered with ice throughout the winter. The idea of spending a week in her loveliness, breathing in Ponderosa pines and the sweet grasses of the Rattlesnake Wilderness was too tempting to pass up. And the chance to see all of our family again...and to let them play with babies...sounded great. We loved the ideas of our babes playing with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents on BOTH sides of the family.

So we were off. Bag and baggage. Babes and babies. Planes, trains and automobiles. Look Out
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WALKING IN THE RATTLESNAKE
Highlight of my trip: My best friend Tracy and I backpack Jonas and Jember into the Rattlesnake Wilderness (a trailhead located in Missoula. Its always been a favorite place to walk for us.) She brought her 2 boys (Ravi and Nyon), a picnic lunch, and baby carriers. We walked with our children into the woods and held our own "welcoming ceremony" with them at the creek. It was lovely.



It was a beautiful, sunny day for our walk.










Ravi, Nyon and my nephew Ben became fast friends in the Rattlesnake.



We have known each other forever. My wonderful friend!

BAPTISM NIGHT


Ross and I with babies before the service. (Thats my sister to my right). We are doing silent prayers that the babies don't melt down before the service. Babies wore their Ethiopian clothing that they received as gifts from the orphanage in Addis. I wept when I saw how beautiful they looked, like an Ethiopian prince and princess.

Ross's parents: Myrna and Robert. Myrna did SO much work prior to the baptism. The flowers looked amazing. Thanks Myrna!

Grandpa Robert loves his baby Jember!

My mother (Gramma Sharon) loving up Jonas after the service.

My parents join us for pics after the service

EASTER
Ross helps Jonas find eggs during the Easter egg hunt

Jember prefers to make omlets in the yard, rather then find eggs.

Gramma Myrna lovin up Jonas

My niece, Elizabeth. So pretty!


My dad and I talk to my neice, Ania. Ania will be a famous writer someday. You heard it here first!

Ben, Elizabeth,Jember and Jonas

My sister-in-law Magda always makes me laugh

She spent half the afternoon climbing up and down from this color little chair. She loved it!

And on April 28th we celebrate "Gotcha Day"!! Yes. We have had these amazing little souls in our life for almost 1 YEAR!! How blessed we are!!

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Toddlin' Times

Jonas and Jember are 14-months old. And they are officially full fledged toddlers.
Both are walking now. It seems that each week they blossom in new and interesting ways. They both have decided that they love BOOKS. (Suddenly, I have re-developed a friendship with our local library). Our little coffee table is stacked with their favorites. They love bringing you a book, climbing up on your lap and waiting for you to read it. Their number one favorite is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Junior. We have read it over and over and they never seem to tire of it. But any new book is exciting to them - the more colorful the pictures the better.

They have also discovered a love for the "Baby Einstein" dvd's. Between you and me ~ I used to have no children and at least a couple of theories about letting children watch videos. But now it seems, that I have a couple of children and no theories. Seriously. Ross and I really aren't big tv watchers - and we really don't let them watch much. Just now and then...(when I need a moment to shower and get ready for work!) and really...our favorite one is "The world of Animals" More then once I have gone to school singing some of the tunes from the show. The babies giggle over the puppets...and so do the adults.

Jonas and Jember are playing more with each other. Stacking blocks and leggos, climbing in and out of baskets, playing with puzzles, and now they are working on singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". Interestingly, Jonas' favorite toy is an old cell phone of mine. He loves to listen to the different ring tone music. He gets the music going and then he gets his "groove thing goin" and dances around the living room. Its incredibly funny.


They're energy level is increasing - and so is their need to get out and run, climb and play. With the sunshine comes visits to the park! Today the sun was out and they swang, went down slides, and played with some friendly puppies. It felt so good to be in fresh air and sunshine. I think we all needed a breather from the dark rains of winter. Here at camp Chaney, we cannot WAIT for summer!!


Sunday in the Park with Babes

A Peek into our lives

Time is marching on. The babies approach their 13 month old birthday. We are the parents of 2 "almost" toddlers. Jonas is able to walk longer and longer stretches. Jember stands up from the sitting position and remains standing, while she continues to look at a toy or a book, with a beautiful sense of balance and presence.

Along with this toddlerhood comes a stronger demand for independence. They insist on feeding themselves. They love finger painting with their food. They are constantly exploring: climbing, crawling, finger-searching, squeezing behind this and under that, pulling, pushing, lifting, lowering, moving, tasting, and endlessly learning.

Frustrations set in. Temper tantrums erupt here and there. So does their sense of humor. They laugh and laugh, they love teasing, playing peek-a-boo, and nothing will get you laughing more then to see them both dancing to music. Books are a growing fascination (we read all the time to them), and they are gaining interest in using pencils, pens and crayons.

(And I discover with these busy, busy little people - it is getting harder and harder to take photos and to blog!)

They are affectionate. When we arrive home at the end of the day they fly out of their play space...happy shrieks and laughter - content only when we have dropped to the floor and gathered them into our arms and laps and buried our faces in curly hair and chubby cheeks.

In such joyful times - clouds darken on our horizon. Rumors of more teachers losing their jobs next year, pay cuts for teachers, loss of program funding, larger classes, and financial worries cause anxiety for me. Mat leaves for Iraq next month (his second tour of duty). Friends and family members face unemployment and the loss of retirement funds. Its a frightening time.

We turn our attentions to each other. We hold on...try and stay positive.

Ross started a chess club at school. I sink into rehearsals for our spring theatre production. And this weekend I fly to Wisconsin to celebrate the 95th birthday of my grandma - a strong woman who has seen the rise and fall of many economies, presidents, and personal sorrows. I like to think that I inherited some of that strength.

I'd like to think that we all have, in some way, inherited the strength and wisdom of our grandparents. I hope so anyway.

In the meantime - we give thanks for the smiles that greet us every day.

Our true wealth.

Birthday celebrations continue...

Jonas and Jember admire their new toy box ~ a beautiful gift built by Mat



Mat, Elizabeth and babies - with the most beautiful toy box in the world!



Uncle Jim and Aunt Linda drive up from Seattle. And yaay! Aunt Linda made her special home made cupcakes!!



Jember offers Linda a yummy taste of cupcake



Cupcake covered babies are funny!

Happy 1st Birthday Jonas and Jember!!

Jonas and Jember's 1st birthday fell on a magical Day



On a day more special then most, I rose early to catch the early glimpses of a historical inauguration. With Jonas snuggled on my lap (Jember was still sleeping), we issued in a new day...a new president...a new era of living with hope.

What a perfect day to celebrate the first birthday of our children. What a lovely day for us - an opportunity to hold our children on our lap and to say - with great love and certainty - that this is a new day of promise. This is a day of hope. For today we can tell you (our beloved children!) that you can dare to dream, dare to hope, and dare to follow your own hearts to greatness.

In short - what a wonderful day to turn 1-year old!



We held the birthday party after school. Cupcakes for everyone! With good friends joining our party - we celebrated Jonas and Jember!

The birthday table is set



Babies first chocolate cake


"mmmmm" Jember wants to share her cake...yummy!


Lori and Jember


Elizabeth


Babies love Judson!


Neighbors Bud and Norma Jean help us celebrate


Nathan (one of Lori and Judsons)is a great big brother


The ribbon is as fun as the gift!


We love Lisa (our W-F nanny and dearest friend)

Ross and Norma Jean


Can anyone believe how fast time moves? Can anyone believe that 9 months ago these beautiful, tiny little people were placed into our arms...absorbed into our family...and forever changed the fabric of our lives?

They were so tiny


They bring us such joy! Happy Birthday Jonas and Jember