Augustus took another "big adventure" (according to Grandma Sharon) to Pocatello to meet our dear friends, the Ministers. We wanted to see them before they take their own new adventure moving to Oregon this summer. Augie's overwhelming cuteness convinced Malanie to make the trek up to Jackson Hole for our Memorial Day baptism celebration. Will you be joining us?

So good to meet you!

Augie boy!

No sweat!

Augustus loves to attend our Stroller Strides exercise classes, and last week, we were surprised to find a photographer (the fabulous Katy Gray) at our workout session. She was there to snap a few photos for the June issue of Wyoming Woman magazine. At least the baby was bathed and dressed!



Who wouldn't want to kiss him?

Yep, we always smile during our workouts!

Check out that drool!

Left: 5 months old, Right: 2.5 months old

Burn baby, burn!

Home, Home on the Ranch!

Augustus and I were missing Jacob while he was busy with baby calves, broken tractors and bumpy fields, so we skipped out to Blackfoot to spend a couple days on the ranch. Our biggest discovery was how much Augie loves his cousin Ryker, who was the first to get a full laugh out of the baby!

Great Granny and Grandpa Great's basement bedroom

makeshift changing table

Baby A hanging with Daddy and cousin Stratton

Meet and Greet Great Grandma Strom

Thanks to Papa Strom, we were able to introduce Augustus to his Great Grandma Strom via Skype. Tesha, Elaine, Greg and Gary all joined in on the fun! ASH is the first great grandchild and a treasure.

Classy as ever . . . we love you Great Grandma!

Augie's Chicago fan club!

Rub a dub dub . . .

. . . TWO men in a tub! On Sunday, Augustus took advantage of having his Daddy in town, and they took their first bath together. Daddy was all business with the green frog washcloth, but ASH was in it for the laughs!

Don't forget the netheregions!

Happy baby!

To the young bidder in the back!

We culminated our latest trip to the ranch with a visit to the weekly Blackfoot Livestock Auction. Augustus was a perfect gentleman (rancher) and bought one black calf to bring back to the farm with us!

No really, we find all those heifers to be super exciting.
(But can you even stand his outfit!?)

Mami and me in the stockyard!

Daddy and Grandpa Joe loaded the one little calf into their big trailer.
(Better than the back of our car, I guess.)

Bear.

There really are no words to mark the passing of Bear. There are just tears and a haunting emptiness in our home. Tufts of Carhartt-colored fur are melting out of the front yard snowbank, and the vacuuming of our big red rug brings no joy. She lived her 14 and half years at Jacob's side never once knowing she was a dog, and she was right. She was so much more than a dog, to Jacob and everyone else she met. She told vivid stories and understood fluent English. Our memories of her run deep, and our only peace is knowing that she is not in pain and is sent off with our purest love. Godspeed Bear.