More from MONTANA!

Here are a few more pictures from our trip back home. It was such a great trip...great to see everyone, and so wonderful to be back in Big Sky country. :) And...we were blessed with our first snow fall as a family of four. It didn't last long...but it was absolutely beautiful! Enjoy the pictures...

Daddy and Henri...all bundled up. 

I wonder what it might taste like...I wonder what it feels like. Hmmm...not quite sure.  

Lili on the sled. She wasn't so sure...but then again...riding in the snow in jeans really isn't that fun anyway.  

Sisters. 

Getting ready for Grandpa's birthday party...here is Nick teaching Henri how to throw the ball. Not sure if I really want him to learn that skill! 

Playing with cousins, Emma and Nick. 

Back on the rocking horse.  

I had my very own stool to stand up at the counter. It was a bit dangerous...but lots of fun! 

We decided to have cousin photos taken. Unfortunately, it was a total gong show. We tried in the morning...and Henri had a level 9 meltdown in the Sears portrait studio. It wasn't pretty. We thought after a nap...they might do better. No such luck. Group shot is of two screaming Ethiopians, and two shocked Seattle-ites. Oh well...it's a great memory. 

Nick (eating a pretzel), and his nostrils. 

Emma and hers... 

Pretty Emma at the party. 

Henri playing outside with his cousins. 

Me and Mindy...my friend from high school...we taught English together in Japan. Her oldest son Eli...and sweet Lili. 

Where is Lili? Wow. This is mortifying. Not only was she caught under the table eating the last cherry tomato...she was also trying to sip the last drops of beer from the recycling bin. Yikes. Hope this isn't a glimpse of what she will be like in high school and college.  

The clean-up crew. 

Hurry, hurry, drive the firetruck...Henri and his hat, courtesy of Herr Graf.  

Auntie Toots and Rudy. 

Emma and her Vinylmation...the Villian Chaser! 

Auntie Tante, Lili and Henri...still rocking. 

Getting ready to go on a roadtrip! 

Our beautiful Lili... 

Playing Ele-fun with Auntie Tante...it's a giant elephant that blows tissue paper butterflies out its trunk. Lots of fun... 

Deciding Rudy wasn't that bad after all... 

The only duet this piano has ever seen... 

The Missoula carousel. Go, Lili, go! 

Henri and Jeff...riding in the chariot. 

A future Cobber? Playing at the park. 

So beautiful....and cold. 

Emma and Lili... 

Grandma, Grandpa and the grandkids... 

We had a great trip...can't believe we were there and are already back. I'll post more photos soon.

M-O-N-T-A-N-A!

We made it to Montana! This is Henri and Lili's first trip to Big Sky Country. We've had a great break...can't believe our time here is almost over. Here are a few shots from our trip...more to come...but at least these will get you started.

Here is Henri on the train at Southgate Mall with a few of his cousins...Hadley, Danny, and Eastlyn:

Here is Lili with Nick...they loved the train. Henri kept stealing all the kids sippy cups...and Lili...she kept leaving the play pit to go shopping in Dillards. Funny. 

Here Kristin and I are with our cousin, Britney. We haven't all been together for years! Great to catch up! 

Britney, Auntie Dimpy, me, Mom, and Linsey...Linsey is due with baby Ollie any day... 

'Cause we're cousins...Identical cousins!

Henri eating in his mom's old high chair...and reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: 

Henri meeting Abdisa for the first time. They didn't quite know what to think.  

Poor Henri (and Lili)...both had beginning signs of ear infections. Here is Henri sleeping on his Auntie Toots' lap. Jeff tried to pick him up to put him in bed...and he said "no no no..." and went back to sleep. Needless to say...he was rocked for his entire nap... 

Lili's Godparents, Carol and Tim... 

Reading with Cookie... 

Playing with Cousin Emma...Henri's perfected "Emma." He calls her name all the time...very sweet... 

New trucks! 

Henri loved the airplane...and surprisingly...the flight was not so bad. Here we are on the layover in Salt Lake City. We took Henri and Lili and had them run and run and run until we had to reboard. He loved watching the "air-pane." 

Just in time for our arrival...Henri and Lili's first snow! 

Sleeping in the airport before boarding for Missoula. The running worked. 

Leaving Orlando...packed and ready... 

Loving the Bitteroot Valley views.... 

Henri...loving driving. Not really....but he's definitely practicing. Yikes. The legal age in MT is 15...only 13 years away! 

Lili and Auntie Toots and their fish lips... 

Celebrating Dad's 67th birthday...at the Sons of Norway lodge. 

More Montana pictures coming soon...having a fabulous trip!

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit

Jeff and I had the opportunity to escape Florida and attend Rebs and Peter's wedding in Mexico. It was a nice break for us...and luckily...mom and dad were able to come down and take care of Henri and Lili. Here are a few pics from their visit:

Henri and Lili are loving their new band in a box...here they are...practicing on the table. Yikes:

We decided to stay a few days at Disney before we left. We thought it would be a great idea to rent one of the family bikes for a little ride. Here is our fabulous biking experience...trapped off trail in the dirt. This was just before we almost drove into the side of someone's car. Fabulous!

Here we are before the fateful trip. Everyone is so smiley...little did we know...

Henri and Jeff going on "Small World"...for the third time. We had to drag Henri away...he kept saying..."boat, boat!"

On the carousel...Lili loved it...Henri...not so much...

Watching our fave movie...Micky's Philharmagic...Lili watched the entire film with her glasses on...Henri...again...not so much...

The whole fam at the movie!

Me and Henri...back on the Small World boat...

Ah...the Magical Magic Kingdom...

Lili playing at the hotel park...

Henri and Jeff going down the slide....

Here we are...going for a family walk...

Loving the balcony...an outdoor play-pen...


More pictures coming soon....trying to catch up while we are on vacation...enjoy!