Lakehouse: Billings MT + Cody WY

Billings MT

We started the 2016 new year with some family visits. We went to Montana in March.
We stopped by Spokane on the way to see Stephanie and Ryan and their new baby Alexis.

The weather in Montana was incredible, so we spent some quality time outdoors, including a hike on the steps on the Rimrocks.

Short hike with a good view of downtown Billings.

Then we visited a creekbed Mandy recommended for agate hunting. Dad brought his rock hammer along to see if any rocks had hidden beauty inside.

 Clementine helped by knocking down Stephen's stone house.

Gramma Pearl helped Mary and Nancy prepare a big dinner- meat and potato pasties.

Mary is a new grandmother to baby Alexis, and also her older grandaughter Teyla. (Mike and Paula's baby)

 

Ginger made a birthday cake for Nick with the characted Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Nick celebrated his birthday by beating Gramma Pearl at scrabble! (This is a small view of Nick and Mandy's new house)

Cody WY

Ginger got to visit Kristian's wonderful Gifted and Talented classroom for Cody elementary schools. We had a lot of fun trying out some of the STEM projects, design ideas, and robotics. She has lucky kids in her classroom.

Tacomawa: Dori's Wedding Story WY + Billings MT + Reunion Powell WY

Dori & Brandon's Wedding

Childhood friend Dori married Brandon in beautiful Story, WY...

Kristian and Ginger were happy to see Dori and celebrate with her!

 

(Above and below photos by Amos Olson)

Ginger made Dori's wedding cake, but Dori added on a few flowers...

Don't drop it... don't drop it... and dance! (two photos below by Amos)

Congrats to the happy couple & many years together.

After the wedding, we spent the day in Sheridan, WY.

We liked the quirky architecture of the historical Sheridan Inn. Kristian did student teaching in Sheridan for her elementary education degree. (She's just recently been hired as the Gifted and Talented teacher for Cody elementary schools!)

 

It's been one year since Kristian & Amos were married! Happy Anniversary!

 

Billings MT + Bridger MT

Ginger visited with friends from Billings West High, Julie and Talia. Julie has become a foster mom and is hoping to adopt. Talia is going to go to college in Spain this fall to study international business. First, she'll mentor a group of Japanese students who are visiting the US for two weeks in August. We helped her brainstorm ideas for fun activities, ways to practice English, and American customs to participate in. 

Nancy's aunt Lois passed away, 16 months after her husband Stanley. She had a beautiful funeral, with poems, psalms and songs she had chosen in advance. The family had written down favorite memories of her, and a granddaughter shared a poem about her at the graveside service.

Lois joined Stanley at the Bridger cemetery. (His military gravestone lists his service in WWII and quotes John 11:25-26) Their four daughters shared a happy moment remembering their parents at the gravesite. From left, Terry, Stacey, Rena and Penny. 

Grandma Pearl has been walking with a walker since she had surgery on her leg. Uncle Jim retired that week, now he and Mary are having many adventures.

Nancy visited the Langstaff graves, her father, infant sister, and grandparents. She braved the sprinklers to put yellow irises from home on their graves.

We picnicked at the Bridger park, where we had reunions when we were kids. We wanted to recreate some old pictures with Bessy the Cow. (Old pictures on right)

 

 

Montana is beautifully green this year. We drove through the country roads.

Nancy and Ron are going to continue at the church in Glasgow for another year, but they visit Billings often.

Ginger and Ron reading comic books, and Mandy shares her work lunch as a picnic when Ginger drove into town.

 Powell High School: 10 Year Reunion

It's been 10 years since high school graduation! The Powell High School class had a reunion, and were welcome to invite any old classmates (Ginger actually graduated from Billings West, but spent 11 years of school in Wyoming first.)

photo by Amos Olson

From left, Elisha and her baby Maggie, Elizabeth, Ashley, Laura and Kristian.

Amos and Kristian live in Cody, 30 minutes from the hometown. Amos made a mix of the popular songs of 2004 to listen to on the drive. Ginger made a panther cake, and we played lots of board games.

Danyon has been working in the film industry in Sundance, Utah all summer. She plans to move to New York City or Los Angeles! Her family picked her up at the Cody airport. Craig, Danyon, Lisa, Kristian and Amos.

The weather was a bit too blustery for an outdoor photo session, but Amos set up a white screen and lights in the basement. Here's a behind-the-scenes shot of Kristian's fashion blog, Without a Style.

Tacomawa: MT+ Kristian's Wedding WY

Montana Trip

Ginger flew to Montana for a week. It was her first time with iPhone and instagram fun! She tried to take lots of family photos.

Nancy and her irises, Mandy and Ginger looking twinly.

Uncle Larry and Aunt Kay were visiting from Arizona. It had been years since Ginger caught up with them. Nick, Mandy, Ron, Jim, Ginger, Mary, Nancy, Kay, Larry, Gramma Pearl.

Kay and Ginger, Gramma Pearl with three of her children!

Mike and Paula have owned their own house for one year now.

Ron and Nancy enjoy early morning walks. We found a playground. 

 

Visiting Nancy's aunt Lois, Ginger showed her some photos of cakes she's been making recently. Lois looked through her closet and pulled out five photographs of cakes she made in the early 70s after taking a Wilton cake-decorating class! She said it was fun, but too much work.

Gramma Pearl is doing well and played Scrabble, like always.

Ron and Nancy are continuing their interim ministry adventure across Montana. This fall, Ron will be pastoring the United Methodist Church in Glasgow, MT.

Until then, they are taking a long vacation to Poland to research Kapalka family history, and to Slovakia to help Bill and Nona Baker's mission work with the Roma gypsies. More to come!


Amos & Kristian's Wedding
Cody, WY

Amos' family owns a goat farm outside Powell with a lovely view of Heart Mountain. They had 15 baby goats. (Ginger and Sarah took 100 goat photos.)

 Kristian's bridesmaids were her sister Danyon, college best friend Sarah, and Ginger. On the morning of the wedding, we had a hair appointment in Cody. Kristian had a book of 50's and 60's hairstyles. Ginger and Sarah got beehives! It took 30 bobby pins, lots of back-teasing, and a can of hairspray. Kristian's hairstyle is the Veronica Lang. Danyon did Kristian's make-up, Shannon made the beautiful bridal veil.

The ceremony was wonderful and beautiful. Their personal vows gave everyone tears...

 Kristian has more on her wedding and honeymoon to Paris, and lovely art and graphics on her blog!

 We took photos at the sweet old art museum arcross the street from Cody United Methodist Church. At the reception, caught up with friend Dori!

Kristian and Amos cutting their pretty cake. (Mandy and Nick were in charge of delivery from a Billings Bakery.) Amos' 14-year-old niece caught Kristian's bouquet. (His mom yelled, "Give it to someone else!")

Amos and Kristian have taken dancing classes for a long time, and were fantastic "cutting a rug." Ginger danced with her mom- Nancy likes the Twist. 

Danyon with best friend Mandy! Bridesmaids looking cool in shades. The background of this post is photobooth photos from a camera/printer setup that Amos made.

Congrats to the happy couple!