Change is a comin'...

Hi all! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated the blog! We've been very busy! There are lots of changes that are about to happen and we've been trying to get as organized as possible. Now for some updates...

Jackson is almost 17 months old! I can't believe it! He is quite possibly the happiest little boy ever. He loves exploring and destroying and climbing everything that he can in life. He's starting to say quite a few words (favorites: car, doggy, shoes, ear) but is more interested in carrying on a conversation in his own little language. He talks all day long... literally. He loves reading books and dancing to any type of music we play. He also LOVES to eat but has actually gotten quite picky which has been an adjustment for Mike and I... we can't just feed him whatever or he'll spit it out and hand it back to us!

As for Mike and I... we had a great fall. We started it out by hiking to Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park with my Dad. It was amazing! Truly a once in a lifetime experience. Then we dove into school and rotations. Mike had a few different rotations and enjoyed most of his experiences and met some great contacts for the future. We both worked hard and both ended up making the Dean's list!

One of the bigger things that happened in the last few months is that Mike signed a contract to work for Fred Meyer in Juneau, Alaska for the next three years! We are so excited and will be heading up towards the end of May. We were able to travel to Juneau over New Year's to visit and house hunt. We loved the area and the trip really confirmed that we had made the right decision. We met Mike's new co-workers as well who are all extremely nice! House hunting went well... the cost of housing is quite a bit higher up there but now we know what to expect and are saving up to buy our first house!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's! Thank you to everyone for all of your love and support over the last few years :)

Love,

Addie, Mike, and Jackson

ENJOY SOME PICTURES FROM THE LAST FOUR MONTHS!

Listening to some live music on campus in September

On our hike up to Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park

The three of us outside our room at the Chalet

Sunset at the Chalet

On our hike down from the Chalet

Dirty Man

The first snow of fall 2009... sometime in October

At a Griz Football game

The Garden Gnome!

At the Sandy Beach in Juneau... that is a pump house from the old mines in the background

Mikey :)

Iceburgs on Mendenhall Lake

An Iceburg in Mendenhall Lake

Mendenhall Glacier

Crazy Boy

At a Griz game

Christmas Eve in Anaconda

Doing his signal for "HOT!" by the fire

Bathtime in the sink in Kalispell

He's ONE!!

It's quite unbelievable but Jackson is already a year old! He had a great birthday and loved seeing all of his friends and family at his party! A huge thanks to all of our friends who made his day so special! Mike's family drove to Missoula from Anaconda and Butte, my parents came from Kalispell, and my friends Casey, Rob, and Kelsey came over from Spokane! It meant so much to have you all there with us!

Other than that, life has been pretty busy! I'm back at school and Mike is working at the country club until his next rotation starts at the end of the month.

The pictures below are of Jackson's Birthday, his most recent pics from Sears, and from my cousin Sam's wedding in Ronan! Congratulations to Kelly and Sam!!

His first car! It was his present from Mommy and Daddy for his birthday.

Riding with Great Grandpa Briggeman at his Birthday Party.

The cake!

There was frosting in his ears and up his nose!!

Sear's pics, thank you Great Grandma Bonnie!!

His first visit with Horses. Cheff Guest Ranch, Ronan, MT

Driving the tractor at the Cheff Guest Ranch with his Great Aunt Mary.

Hiking in the Missions!

With his cousins Charley and Owen

At Sam and Kelly's wedding... Gorgeous location!

The Happy Couple!

Get ready world... the monster is walking!!

Okay, well he's not walking a ton yet but he's walking halfway across the living room! That's pretty far for a little guy! And pretty scarry for his Mom and Dad! We can't believe that he's already old enough to do that. It's all gone by so fast.

Other than walking, Jackson keeps adding to his amazing personality. He gives a great 'stink eye' look, he's as dramatic as his mother is (yes, i'm finally admitting to it), he's now actually turning food away, and he LOVES driving.

We're getting ready to head back to Missoula in about a week and back to the grind of school and unpaid pharmacy rotations. But we're excited!

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Jackson with his cousin Marli!! (And Kaci :)

The Fam at the National Folk Festival in Butte! So much fun!

More at the Folk Fest!

Jackson LOVED dancing with Uncle Aaron!

One of his looks.

Crazy haired boy after a boat ride at Flathead :)

All the 4th generation kids at the Briggeman Family Reunion in Deer Lodge. From oldest to youngest: Charlee Thomson, Owen Thomson, Jackson Taylor, Marli Wright.

Being a goofy boy!

Soaked in watermelon juice at Auntie Casey and Uncle Rob's wedding in Spokane!

Crossing the creek with his Daddy.

Driving his Daddy's (formerly Great Grandpa Gee's) 1958 Chevy Biscayne! His favorite car to drive EVER! He was jumping up and down and laughing his head off :)

So happy to be driving!!