Madison's Baptism, Westminster MD

We have been in Westminster Maryland (about 45 minutes north of Baltimore) for the weekend visiting with the Baker family.   James' sister Laurie lives here and her daughter, Madison, recently turned eight and was baptized this weekend.

 Madison

James' parents came from Montana, his sister Julie came from Utah (with Olivia) and Brian's parents and sister, who are local, came to the baptism.

Sherry, Julie, Ward, Laurie, Brian, Charles, Carol, Beth, Maija, James

Olivia, Kiely, Landon, Madison, Cooper, Hunter

Olivia and Madison

Landon

After the baptism we all went out to lunch to celebrate and also as a birthday lunch for Madison who turned eight on March 21st and Kiely who turned 6 on March 24th.

Madison and Kiely

Landon

Then we went to a 3D movie called "How to Train Your Dragon".

The rest of the weekend we spent just hanging out. My brother and his wife (Pentti & Amy) come up to visit on Sunday afternoon from DC. It was great to see them for the afternoon. 

We are very happy that we could be here to celebrate with Madison and to spend some time with the Scoffield family.  We are leaving for Italy this afternoon.  It will be a long day/night but I am excited for Part 2 of the trip.

Ciao!

Maija

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

February 26th - March 3rd we traveled to snowy Colorado to spend a couple of days with my family.  For those of you who don't remember where I grew up, it is a tiny town called Ignacio in the southwest corner of Colorado about 24 miles from Durango.

Luckily, the weather was very nice when we were there (50's) but there was a LOT of snow.   This is the front of my parents house.

 

 We had a nice time visiting with my parents and my brother Oscar and his family.  We especially loved playing with our cute nephews.

 

Deekon, Lincoln and Oscar

 

James and Linc

 

Linc and "Deety" (as Linc calls him)

 

 "Pappy" and the boys

James and I went to Pagosa Springs one day to sit in the hot springs.  Pagosa is about 70 miles from Ignacio.  

It is a natural sulfur hot springs that was very relaxing but a little smelly...it took a few days for the smell to come completely off of our skin!

 

  

 

The pools ranged in temperature from 99 degrees to 113 degrees.  James was brave and went into one called the "Lobster Pot" which was 112 degrees then hurried to plunge in the pool that was 47 degrees.

Deekon is 5 and loves to play cards.   We had a nightly after dinner game of Go Fish.  We also played multiple games of Trouble. He is such a smart little guy!

Lincoln is 2 and a half and would play games with us for a few minutes but was quickly bored.  We loved all of his little sayings and funny words...and his cheesy grin everytime we would take his picture.

 

  

We were very happy to have my Aunt Betty and Uncle Dave come visit for a few days.  I had not seen them in about 5 years and James had never met them. It was nice to catch up with them.

We also went bowling one afternoon before we left to come home.

 

                     Lincoln and Oscar

  Randi, Oscar, Aunt Betty, Grandma Aila & Linc

 

                                           Mom and Maija 

  

         The boys doing their "sweet" smiles

We had a really great time. It was nice to spend some time at "home" with the people that I love.

Maija