Braaten Family Reunion - Day 1

I Love Kids

I just adore these photos. They were taken at our resent Braaten family reunion in Eureka, MT. Kids are so innocent, so sweet, and so busy - especially when they're asked to sit still, look straight ahead, and smile! I'll upload more pictures of the reunion over the next couple days. We sure had a nice time there.

Bloom and Grow

May you bloom and grow,

Wherever you're planted.

And may your blossoms invite,
Many moments enchanted.

Memory Lane Monday: 26 Months Ago

I was carrying Boyd today and groaning a little. He is getting so heavy and not so easy to position around my growing tummy. Then I began thinking back and remembered Tyler was exactly Boyd's age (nearly 26 months) when Boyd was born (nearly 26 months ago!) So, I couldn't resist going back to see just how Tyler looked and acted at the same age Boyd is now.

It's interesting how they both decided to become quite clingy right around the same stage in their lives. Do you think it has something to do with the new baby and the thought of impending change?.....hmmm. Anyway, it was fun to see how far Tyler has come since his little brother entered his life. He has gone from very "high-maintenance" to a very "big helper!"

It's good for my own growth and development to have difficult stages in raising kids, but I'm so glad they don't last very long! And there's plenty of happy moments to offset the frustrating ones which makes it all worthwhile! Speaking of happy moments, only eight more weeks until Boyd has a little sibling as well - yay!

Cousins and Friends

It was nice to have cousin company this week. Keith's cousin Jeff and his wife Kim and kids, Amanda and Matt stayed here on their way home from the family reunion. It was good to get caught up as we only see each other every 5 or 6 years!

Just last evening we joined the Keller and Kennedy families at their rented house in the village for a splendid BBQ dinner. Tyler and Boyd had fun playing dinosaurs with the youngest little Kennedy while we met and visited with friends old and new.

The reason for the gathering was the uniting of two families through the marriage of this lovely couple! They had a small ceremony planned for this morning under the Tetons, and I imagine it was quite beautiful with the calm sunny skies we had. We hope they come back to visit for future anniversary get-aways!

That's it for this week - have a wonderful weekend!

Fortune-Weber Family Reunion

Last week found us travelling north to a Farmer's Union camp near Great Falls, MT. The occasion was a family reunion on Keith's side. The Fortunes (Grandma Jean's dad's family) and Webers (her mom's family) have been getting together for many years now and they make quite an interesting and enjoyable mix of people. On the way there, Keith squeezed in a good training ride.

Grandpa Harry brought his peddle tractors, scooters, and a golf cart, all pulled on a large flatbed trailer behind the Cadillac!

Sweet, sweet Mari - you just can't get enough of her!

Tyler took great pleasure in maneuvering these machines around the basketball court.

Beautiful Rowena. It was so good to spend time with my nieces and nephew and their families.

A welcome spray on a very warm day!

Grandma Jean (Fortune) Benjamin, Auntie Joyce (Fortune) Benjamin, Uncle Dale Fortune, Great Aunt Alice (Weber) Best, and Auntie Fay (Fortune) McKeen (sp?). Great Aunt Alice and her sister Ruth (not able to come) are the only survivors of the first generation. They are younger sisters to Jean's, Joyce's, Dale's and Fay's mother.

More outdoor fun.

Aiden.

Thank you Grandma Sue and Grandpa Marvin, for the John Deere toys! We also got our fair share of miles in on the lawn mowers (pictured below).

The grounds were beautiful and the weather was perfect. The food was outstanding thanks to Jack, Carol, Shirley and all the good help in the kitchen. Hope I can contribute a little more next time when the kids are more independent!

We had a pleasant trip home, Sunday, stopping in Ennis to stretch our legs and enjoy a picnic supper. We were all glad to make it back home and for the wonderful time we had with family.

Photos From the 4th

Saturday morning at the soccer fields - kite flying, ball kicking, and a lot of running!

Big day Sunday. The boys took a late nap on the way home from I.F. and were able to stay up for the neighbor's 4th of July party and the Snow King fire works. They had a grand time!

Monday's hike on Snow King.

Wonderful to live in a land of beauty, peace, and freedom. I'm so thankful for that!

Have a wonderful rest of the week!