Tag: Holidays

Gimmy & Pappy in Montana

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After a canceled trip at the start of 2024 and months of counting down the days, weeks, and months until their next scheduled visit, Gimmy and Pappy finally made it to Montana! It was an emotional trip filled with unforgettable moments, including celebrating Christmas all over again (Rost was thrilled by the surprise of a second Christmas), my parents experiencing the delightful chaos of a toddler birthday party (Happy 3rd Birthday, Rost!), and creating some truly amazing memories together.

Unfortunately, during their visit, my 91-year-old grandmother, Gommy, experienced a serious decline in health. This heartbreaking turn of events sent my incredible mom on an early return trip to Pennsylvania to be with her mother in her final moments.

Grieving my mom’s early departure and the loss of my beloved grandmother, I was determined to make the most of the time left with my dad. We shared some beautiful moments: skipping rainbow-colored rocks into the iconic waters of Lake McDonald, soaking in the healing warmth of Wild Horse Hot Springs, and indulging him with as many sweet treats as I could without pushing him into a sugar-fueled diabetic meltdown.

I’m deeply grateful for this time with my parents. Losing my grandmother has been a poignant reminder of how precious our time with loved ones truly is. I’m already looking forward to making more memories when Rost and I make our annual trip back to the East Coast in early June.

Xoxo.

Two

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Rost and I have been practicing singing Happy Birthday every night for nearly two months thanks to a current favorite book about a farmer’s birthday. Each song sung is accompanied by practice blowing out a candle. Given the amount of slobber and spit that first began this process I’m really happy we started practicing early enough to nail the actual day and not send drool flying across everyone’s cupcakes.

Rost was stoked when he woke up from his nap to discover my friend Becky, a favorite person of Rost’s, had snuck in from Missoula while he was sleeping. Soon after, Dada appeared back home with McDonald’s chicken nuggets and french fries. Rost’s day would have been magical had it stopped right there but his favorite people started funneling through the door. Each wave of people that came in sent him into shrieks of happiness. All of his favorite foods (chicken nuggets, french fries, Oreos, tomato soup, corn on the cob, strawberries, & a cupcake tractor), all of his favorite friends, a balloon, more tractors than you can handle, and fireworks = a pretty good start to two.

Turning two was a grand adventure, a gateway to a world that held countless wonders, and Rost embarked on this journey with wide-eyed innocence and the infectious laughter that defines toddlerhood.

One

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Wow, I’m turning one! It’s like a big, colorful dream come true. For the longest time, I’ve been fascinated by the world around me. Turning one is like embarking on a grand adventure. One moment, I was a tiny bundle in my parents’ arms, and the next, I was standing on wobbly legs, exploring this big, exciting world. The first year of my life has been a whirlwind of new experiences and endless discoveries. I’ve learned to smile, laugh, and even take those tentative first steps. And now, here comes this day filled with so much joy and laughter. All these grown-up faces are gathered around, and they’re all making a fuss over me. I may not completely understand why, but I can feel their love and excitement. Maybe it’s because I’m taking my first steps, or maybe it’s because of this sugary cake they’ve put in front of me. Either way, turning one feels like a fantastic adventure, and I can’t wait to see what this new year will bring. This sure feels like a fantastic start to a lifelong journey. Thanks for coming along with me on this adventure so far. Xoxo, Rost.

My dear, sweet, baby boy, I have written you a letter & tucked it into your memory box to read at a future date. Your dada & I are so proud of you & all that you have accomplished over the last year. Tonight we shot off fireworks in your honor – just like on the day you were born – and we will continue this tradition until the end of time. Happy First Birthday! xoxo, Mama.

First Halloween

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Appa is an adorable flying labrador retriever buffalo creature from the Avatar series. Brian once watched the entire series so I would catch bits of it from time to time. While I could not tell you much about the series I could tell you that Appa is adorable. What better adorable real-life creature to play an adorable fictitious one than Rost?

While all three of our attempts to trunk or treat failed this year the Halloween season was an overall success. Rost is already looking forward to next year’s festivities and so am I.

First Mother’s Day

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On her inaugural Mother’s Day, emotions swelled within her, an intricate tapestry woven from the threads of joy, wonder, and a profound sense of responsibility. The sun’s warm embrace seemed to mirror the newfound warmth in her heart as she cradled her precious child, realizing that this day celebrated not just the birth of her baby, but also her own rebirth as a mother. Amidst the tender lullabies and tiny, grasping fingers, she embraced the journey of nurturing and love, forever cherishing this poignant milestone that marked the beginning of her lifelong voyage in motherhood.

Jesse & Jaiden

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Brian’s brother tied the knot to his longtime love Jaiden this past week in a beautiful ceremony close to their home in Bismark, ND.

Brian & I flew into Montana to spend a few much-needed vacation days with his parents before making the drive to Bismark.

We spent a few fun days exploring Jesse’s new-ish stomping grounds & getting to know Jaiden’s family. Another beautiful wedding in the books.