Update Time!

Hello wonderful family!!! What a full summer it has been already with weddings, travels, birthday and anniversary celebrations! I have such a good time reading up on everyone's comings and goings, and I am glad to hear everyone doing so well!! I am enjoying the new digs in Connecticut. I think I will like being in the Northeast for a period of time. The small New England towns are great and being close to Boston and New York is not a bad spot to be either!  Over the 4th of July weekend I went camping in a great spot in Western Massachusetts.  I hit up 4 state parks and saw some really awesome trails.  There was a great camp spot in Tolland State Forest where Cooper, Ali and I spent a couple of days enjoying nature. I've attached a few photos to capture the weekend. The last photo are the rings that Ali and I gave each other after I asked her to marry me. The big day is not for another year, and will take place in MT. We are excited and looking forward to this new life adventure. We will keep everyone posted on plans as we figure them out.  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer! I wish I could come back to MT this year for the family picnic, but I guess I will just have to try to make it next summer!

Love to you all,
Jen

 

Happy Anniversary Schultes!

These two cuties had their 9th anniversary yesterday!  I thought I shouldn't keep posting on top of the one before so waited until today.  They have three beautiful children and make us so happy by being in Helena.  We get to be a part of their lives and see the beautiful marriage they have built!  Love you both!!

Happy Belated, Mattie Boy!

Happy belated to this awesome dude!  They were in Sheldon, Iowa at Kelly's folks for his birthday!  You are an amazing father, husband and son and we couldn't be prouder of you!  Hope you celebrated big!!  Love you Matt!!

Happy Belated Birthdays to These Two Beauties!!

These two adorable girls celebrated birthdays on June 25th and June 26th!  Didn't get anything on the blog then but wanted to let them know how much we love them both and how proud we are of both of them!  Wish you could have been fishing on your birthdays!!  Love you!

Family Picnic update!

Friday is July 1!!  Then it is just a few short weeks until July 24 and the MOORE FAMILY PICNIC!!  So here is the skinny...

Wingys will be camping at this beautiful spot on Canyon Ferry~Goose Bay.  This is on the other side of the dam and on toward Townsend.  It is quite a ways down the road but worth the drive.  We plan on getting there Friday evening.  Anyone wanting to join our little group for the camp out is more than welcome!  Believe me, we have  a great time when we camp!  The family picnic will be at the same spot, Goose Bay campground, on Sunday afternoon.  Come whenever you want.  I haven't decided on a menu yet, but I will get that news out in a timely manner.

PLEASE let me know if you are planning to be there, if you are going to camp, or generally what your plans are.  It will make planning things a ton easier.  If you do plan to attend the picnic, please bring a chair and your own drinks.  I will probably ask for salads and desserts or other sides as well when  I figure out what I am making!!  If anyone has a great idea, I am open to suggestions within reason (remembering that I will be working out of my itty bitty camper!)

Sam thinks we need to rent a boat.  I am not opposed to that but I won't take that on as a task.  So if people are interested in that, we will need a volunteer to check into it.

So, gather your kin and join in!  I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as can make it.
Love y'all!

Mary

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Cheers to an amazing mother, wonderful friend, and extraordinary grandma! You are an incredible woman and one of the most loving and patient people I have ever met. Here's to another 66!

Hood to Coast - Running for $10,000

Hello family!

Myself and seven other New York Life Administrative Managers from the West Coast are running The Hood to Coast Relay from Mount Hood to Seaside, Oregon.  It's a 200 mile relay that we'll start on Friday, August 26th and finish August, 27th.

We have decided to run this race to fund-raise for Providence Cancer Center in Portland, which is a Top 5 Immunotherapy Program in the nation and is revolutionizing cancer treatments.  We are trying to raise over $10,000 dollars for Providence and are over half way to the goal.

I was not going to run this race due to my ankle ligament tears but I joined the team this week and am going to try and get in running shape in time for this race.  It'll be a fun time but the best part will be the money that will be raised for such a great cause.

There is absolutely no pressure to donate but any amount helps if possible!

Click Here to Donate

Thank you and love you all!

-Nate

Here's a picture of most of the team and also a link to Providence Cancer Centers so you can check out the cause as well.

Providence Cancer Center

Here's to 41 Years!

Happy anniversary to these two loving, crazy kids! We are all so blessed to have you in our lives and I'm very thankful that Dad didn't take "no" for an answer the first 3 times he asked you to marry him, Mom! You two are meant to be and have been such an amazing example of love, partnership, and support the past 41 years. Sláinte!

Love,
Molly

Happy Birthday, Abe!

Although the day has passed in Qatar, it's still Abe's birthday here. We hope he had a good one!

Congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Michael Buyske

We just shared the most perfect weekend ever!  Kelly did some digging and found two houses on the ocean to stay in for Mike and Melissa's wedding.  They were perfect - right Jen and Ali with the stairs??  Kelly cooked her little buns off and brought enough food for everyone on Thursday night!  Friday the guys all got together for lunch and we women shared a shot of Hot Damn in honor of Mike - minus Erin who was napping.  Remember, this girl had a C section May 24th and drove from Billings to Port Ludlow to share in Michael's day!  Jen, Ali, Molly, Meg and I loaded up and drove the half hour to Melissa's parents beach house to decorate the hall for the rehearsal dinner.  This was our smallest one as it was just wedding party and siblings and families.  I had to drive a half hour back for the rehearsal so the girls ended up doing it and they did a fantastic job.  Nautical theme which was a blast!!  We had BBQ'd burgers and dogs, MT beer and WA wine!  Saturday we decorated the reception hall and tent for Melissa.  Her decorations were simple and beautiful.  Ginger and Roy Bilile stopped in and we had a great visit!  Pictures at 1:30 and we were all dressed and there.  They weren't taken until 3:15 as the photographer was dragging poor Melissa up and down hills and stairs at another location.  The wedding was simple and beautiful.  A bagpiper escorted the crowd the two blocks to the reception which was lovely.  Hors d'oeuvres and drinks were served then dinner.  We moved to the hall for dancing.  The whole weekend was just fantastic.  Thank you to Johnny, Annie, Rika, Hanna, Bri, Peter, Sabina and Sailor for making the trek!!  Marc's brother, wife, two daughters, one husband and two kids were also there.  My only regret was that we did not get a Buyske family picture for Marc's dad.  Erin, Henry and Harrison left right after they ate as Henry was melting down.  The view from the house was amazing!  We then hosted a brunch for about 40 or so on Sunday at the house.  Had lots of breads, fruit, mimosas, eggs!  It was a nice time to get to sit and visit!  Mike had six of his high school friends come to the wedding and two made it to the breakfast!  All in all, couldn't have asked for a better time!  Thank you Mike and Melissa for all that you did for everyone.  Meg was in charge of reception decorations and picture taking and did it up in real style!!

Congratulations Madison Jo Wingerter

Maddie finally got a graduation hat that fit her!  Onward to University of Montana Western to study Elementary Education.  Congratulations Maddie!  You are an awesome young woman and you will do great things~

Moores in the Middle East

Welcome to the Newest Member of the Clan!

On Tuesday, May 24th at 9:03 p.m. we all welcomed Harrison Sanford Buyske to the world.  He weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz.  Wasn't quite the way they had it planned but Mom and Harrison are doing well and that is what counts.  I was lucky to be there and to get to take care of Henry today.  What a character.  Below are the many faces of Henry with his new hat!  Congratulations to Joey and Erin, Harrison and Henry!  Love you all!

Happy belated birthday Jake!

Jake's birthday was Friday 5/20.  He said he had a great birthday with dinner at a brewery and drinks with friends.  He even had a visitor from California show up and sleep on his couch!  That was the start of a crazy busy weekend for us which is why this post is late~

We were so thankful to celebrate Nick's wedding with Jake and Dee and we look forward to having them home for Memorial Day weekend and Maddie's graduation and Nick and Christina's party.  I love you tons Jake and I am so proud of you and all your accomplishments~

Love MOM

New CD coming

Hi, all. My new CD is almost ready for release. The album is call "Now & Then," and the lead song is "Old Hometown." It's essentially about Harlowton, pictured here. I'll put out more news as it arises.

Introducing Nickolas and Christina Wingerter!

 Congratulations to Nick and Christina!  The wedding was great and our weekend was fabulous!  Miranda found the perfect house for our gang, but the weekend went way too quickly.
It was great to see Mike, Melissa, Matt and Kelly with the gang.  Welcome to the family Christina!
Love you both~

Gramma, Cont.

[Des has been waiting her turn to post about Gramma, but I think we can skip some of the younger kids and get this moving again]

On the evening of Gramma’s wake, once we were back at the hotel, I told Abe I had a story about Gramma that I wanted to share.  However, as we had come straight from the airport a bit late, and were not there when the wake began, I wasn’t sure what the parameters of the event were (i.e., only immediate family was asked to speak; it was meant to end at a certain time and that time was up; etc.) and so I decided against it. 

On the hotel bed, I told Abe my story of the one Thanksgiving Rika, Rileigh, and I spent in Gramma’s kitchen preparing labor intensive (it took us all day) appetizers for the party.  They were bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese and homemade herbed macaroni and cheese in crispy oven-baked parmesan cups.  When we arrived at the Thanksgiving dinner in the cafeteria of Mary’s school, there were a number of us in the kitchen plating and otherwise preparing our food.  Gramma was standing near me at the time.  (All day she had been in and out of the kitchen, and had asked at one point what we were making, but didn’t react much, if at all, when I tried to explain.  She just nodded and said “oh?” and kept walking.)  I asked her then, in the kitchen, if she wanted to try one of the bacon wrapped dates.  She didn’t seem to really, but she said OK.  She took a tiny bite and put it down.  When she had swallowed, I asked her what she thought.  She said, in that cute shaky voice of hers, “honey, it wasn’t worth the effort.”

 At Gramma’s funeral, when the cousins, led by Matt, all gathered around to tell a few stories and have a drink in Gramma’s honor (one of my most treasured moments of the weekend, and with the Moore family ever), Abe chimed in with a story.  Incidentally, it was MY story.  I was . . . surprised . . . to say the least . . . !  As Abe delivered the punch-line and we all laughed (I laughed at my own story!), I pictured telling Gramma this very thing.  “Gramma! Abe stole my story!  The one about you eating the bacon wrapped date at Thanksgiving and how you told me it wasn’t worth the effort.”  And I pictured Gramma putting her little arm around my neck (I know for most of you it was waist, but I’m short enough that she would put her arm around my neck instead) and I could hear her voice perfectly clear and rolling, or sing song-y, as it was: “well, honey . . . what. are. you. going. to. do. about. that.?”  “Hmm . . . just laugh, I guess, Gramma?  It was really funny.”

 On a more serious note, I am grateful to have known someone who was so capable of loving, so capable of making everyone feel so special, as has been said again and again here on the blog.  Gramma wasn’t lucky to have a funeral so well attended and so deeply full of love - it seems she fostered it over her 92 years, genuinely, thoughtfully, and purely.  It’s a remarkable thing, really.  I wish I could channel that somehow, and love that way.  In the meantime, I’ll just ask Gramma when I’m not sure how.  It’s easy enough to call up that voice.    

Desiree

Happy Belated Birthday, Joey!

I posted happy birthday on Facebook but didn't have access to a computer to do the blog!  Joey turned 35 on Sunday, Mother's Day!  What a perfect day for a birthday!!  So proud of you, Joey, and who you have become!  You are a great dad, husband, son, teacher!  We hope you enjoyed your day and have three times this many years of birthdays!  Love you!!

Congratulations, Shane!

We just want to give a big CONGRATULATIONS to this sweet guy for completing his masters in library science and graduating on Sunday, May 8th.  We are headed to Chicago to celebrate with Shane, Molly, his parents and Jen!  Mother's Day, Shane's graduation, Joey's birthday - what could be better!!  Way to go, Shaney boy!!  We are so proud of you!  Love, Marc and Jan