Happy Birthday, Maurika!

Right on the heels of Connie's birthday and the end of March, it's time to celebrate a milestone in Maurika's chronology. On Tuesday, she turns 35! How's that for April Fool? And what a great 35 it is -- successfully back in Montana, expanding the family, starting a business -- all while keeping a great smile. Happy Birthday, Mo -- we love you so.

p.s. the picture was taken last summer, half a year before Piper came along.

p.p.s. I'm not sure what happened to the picture. It was there for a while, then poof! Anyhoo, here it is again.

Happy Birthday, Connie!

This is a picture of Connie, Bill and a very strange nephew of theirs at Connie's birthday celebration. We had a nice dinner with the family on Sunday with turkey, potatoes, salad and a great cake! (I know you that weren't there are really drooling now!!)

Anyway, have a happy day, C.J.! We love you!!

Happy Birthday, Connie!

Monday is Connie's birthday. Hooray! Our SUM team leader and constant light celebrates another milestone. Why the rose, you might ask. This variety is called Constance Spry, and I think it's fitting for the leading flower of the family. Happy birthday!

Life

Although everyone is posting pictures of the newest additions to this family (which if I may say so are definetly keeping up the overall attractiveness of the Moore clan) I think everyone will be happy and relieved to know that I do not have (as of this moment) any new ones to brag about down here. I do however have a nice little spring break trip to enthrall all of you with.

A group of 18 of us med schoolers went to Winter Park resort in Colorado. The weather was amazing until the last day and although the lines and slopes were pretty packed due to the rest of the entire country having spring break at the same time as us, we had a great time. The only downside is that on the last day on my last run of the week I took a killer fall and ended up breaking my right collar bone. It happened at the very top of the mountain above the tree line even and ski patrol had to ski my down in a stretcher of sorts. The ride seemed like it took forever and the whole time I thought I was gonna fall out. So eventually I got all slinged up and sent on my way with some killer pain meds and a hefty bill. Now back at school I have found it difficult to take notes seeing as how my right arm is immobilized but it does give me a nice excuse to slack off a little and have other people cater to my every need.

Anyways thats about all that is happening in my life. I've actually started dating one of my classmates who went on the trip with me. Her name is Marybeth and she is a pretty cool girl and I hope all of you can meet her at some point. We have about 2 months left of school here in St Louis then it is back home to MT for June and July. I am really excited to see you guys so everyone has to make sure to come visit at some point in the summer and those with the new family members that I haven't met especially. Thank you all for taking time at of your busy lives to have a look into mine. I hope to see you all soon.

Love Ya
Jake

easter in anacortes

Hey all!!! Well I figured since some people were posting pictures of the newest additions to the family I thought I might toss the Buyskes into the mix. Mom, Dad, and I headed out West to Anacortes for the Easter holiday. It was a short weekend, but very fun. Will had a blast searching for easter eggs and finding everyone's easter basket. I think that kid was so pumped full of sugar he didn't know what to do. Ben is growing by the day and he is starting to move around (as best as his round body will allow) and making sure he gets a piece of blonde hair if Will gets too close. All in all the family is healthy and doing well. I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday and that the spring season is going well.

Love
Jen

Easter Feast

We enjoyed a great Easter at the Wells household! Here's Ann with Piper, who seems to be growing by the second. She and Sabina look a lot alike.

I was a quick trip over and back to Missoula. Still, we shared some laughs and had a nice dinner together.

I'm here to report that Maurika's Read Underwear warehouse is getting organized and stocked, so watch for the grand debut soon!

Sabooboo

life in portland is rockin on. busy as usual. peter is working away at his doctoral program - he will be graduating in August (yeah!), writing a book for his thesis, and keeping a full patient load. sabina is eating, growing, smiling, laughing, and sleeping - along with being the light of our lives (which is a huge responsibility). she is maintaining eyes like her grandpa - brilliant blue dazzlers. i am running our 2 businesses, taking care of the lovely sabina, and taking care of our home (though that one slips pretty regularly :) ). today was sabinas first swimming pool experience - we went to a great community center here with a big water slide and fun water works! sabina definitely took it all in. we are looking forward to a jaunt to Chicago at the end of April - it will be sabinas first real trip! fun! hope that you are all enjoying this lovely Easter Sunday.

Loving Cousins

Whatever happened to the days when Abe and Nate could just sit down and bang out a tune on the guitar, talk politics, discuss women, contemplate the theory of life. All this talk of getting Nate on an inner tube behind a boat piloted by Abe frankly has me a bit concerned.

It begs the question; exactly when was wedge driven between you two and what will it take to go back to a time of peaceful coexistence?

Family Picnic

As Grand Marshals of the Family Picnic, Ann and I have been discussing the benefits of holding the event on June 14. Everybody was already geared to gather on that date -- why not do the picnic then?

I realize that, as a member of this family, you're probably a bit reluctant to state your opinion (yeah, right!), but please do so. Is that date good?

Also, the Wingerters have once again offered their yard as the picnic venue. Very gracious of them, and last summer's soiree there was quite enjoyable. Do it again, or choose an "outdoorsy" spot, such as Canyon Ferry or King's Hill? (Discussing this won't hurt their feelings; it's a matter of what people prefer.)

So, here's your chance to chime in -- what's your preference for date and location? I think it would be best for everyone if we have this decided by ... say ... my birthday. When's that, you ask? Why, it's April 14. That way, y'all have plenty of time to plan your summer events. And now you also have time to shop for my birthday. It's a win-win.

Word from Great Falls

Hey all:
Just an update from the Wingys in the Falls. We are all busy...Sam is in a play for middle school. They are working on a play based on Peter and the Starcatchers. Sam has the part of Captain Blackstach or something like that. Sounds like it will be fun. He is also working out at the high school for baseball and doing some conditioning with other coaches up there also. So that is keeping him busy. Madison is doing girl scouts and is involved in a basketball team right now. Softball will be starting soon so she is also keeping us hopping.
On a less happy note, Ben and Katie have decided to postpone the wedding so there will not be a Wingerter wedding on June 14. I guess that means "sprout" Schulte will be number 50! I hope travel plans to Idaho can be changed and worked for a family picnic??? John is in charge this year....so if you would like to John, we would be willing to host the picnic here again. The addition to the Wingerter yard for the summer will be a concrete basketball court. Give it some thought and let's throw out some dates. Late July would work best for us because Jake is going to have to be back at school. Other dates may work, we just need all other schedules first!!
Anyway, hope this finds all of you healthy, happy and sassy!! We are always that way in the Falls!

Love you all
Mary

I think I have more trouble with this blogging thing than anyone else, even grandma! Okay, let's try this again. So, I just got done with another performance. It went well tonight, better than last night let me tell ya! It has been so much fun doing this show, but I am ready for it to be over. I need to get my life back, and more study time! Things here are going well. Just school and life in general. I am so ready for spring and warm weather and I simply can't wait for summer!! I will probably be back in Helena so I best be seeing most of you! We have our spring break in 2 weeks and I am heading to LA with a prof and another student. It should be really fun. I am looking forward to it. Who knows, maybe I will be discovered!! Ya right. Anyhoo, just wanted to post some pics and give you a taste of what you can find online at www.augie.edu/theatre You just click on "current season" and then click on the pictures link. They are pretty fun. Love you all!! Peace

Updates

Hey guys! It has been awhile since I got my updates out to the greater Moore family, so I thought that would be a great thing to do on a damp Tuesday afternoon here in the Zoo-Town. We have our Hunger Awareness Week all planned out (FINALLY!!!) and it looks like it is going to be quite the week. Monday, our very own Ann Waickman will be teaming up with some local food bank gurus to deliver a discussion on The Faces of Hunger in Montana. We are really looking forward to having Ann and hearing what she has to say. Tuesday night is going to see another panel discussion on more political issues of hunger titled Beyond Charity: How can we be advocates for change around hunger and poverty issues? Then Wednesday will see a live concert/fundraiser for the Poverello Center (Local rescue mission-type place) on the Oval with a performance by Reverend Slanky (I'm not quite sure who this is, but he has quite the colorful past in Missoula). This will be followed by a camp out (in boxes) on the Oval, which I am really looking forward to. Then on Thursday we have a hunger banquet (my main focus for the week) subtitled eat as the world eats featuring local superstar Amy Martin and a farmer named Casey Bailey (who also plays music and is an activist, go figure, for fighting hunger). A few U professors will also be speaking and I am very confident that this will be a successful evening. For more specifics or to donate money check out our website www.montanahungerweek.org or email us at montanahungerweek@gmail.com.
I am also working with a group of students on taking a mission trip to the Helena Diocese's Mission in Guatemala. We have about $1200 each to raise by May 12th so we have some work to do there still. All you golfers out there, we have a golf tournament planned for May 4th ($60/foursome: Dad? Ben? Nate?). Sweet little 9 hole scramble... should be fun. Anyone remember the old festival at St. Gerard's? Yeah we are going to try to duplicate that. We have that scheduled for Sunday Arpil 27th and it will include everyone's favorite event: a cake walk! I'll also be sending a letter out to the O. 6 with details about the trip and alternative means of support so keep your eyes glued on the mail box for those within the next month. Other than these crazy escapades, I am just doing the school thing and really enjoying life! I don't know if there is anything else to say... Hope you all are just grand and I can't wait to see you all in the next few months! Love you all very much and take care!
Nick
P.S. Abe- I got the letter, I really appreciate it! Helps a ton!

City League BBall, Baby

Tonight was a big night for C and C Physical Therapy's city league basketball team. Tonight marked their first ever post season win. Ben and I are on my Uncle Burt's basketball team and are the only two players under 40. It's a blast. The team hadn't won a game in two years so they recruited some younger ball players and it seems to have lit a spark. We won our game tonight and moved into the quarter finals on Wednesday. Here are a couple action shots. They can be kind of blurry because we move so darn fast so if you get motion sick (Jen - Cloverfield) then be careful. Above: Ben is numero 41 going up for the big board and then in the other one I am numero 10... just walking.

The Wells Institute

I spent a bit of time in Missoula last week, so I got some visiting in with Maurika and family. All are doing well, having recovered from a couple bouts of winter-time maladies. One of the joys of this trip -- I got to here Rileigh perform in a school choral concert. She even sang a solo. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera to the concert; I suppose Rileigh is happy about that. Despite her self-professed nervousness, she sang very well.

Here's Piper -- all eyes at six weeks old.









Here is Maurika with two products -- Piper, of course, and boxes upon boxes of Read Underwear. Keep your eyes open for the debut of her web site.