Black Hills...But they didn't look black

This was engraved in pillars displaying flags from every country down the walkway to the Mount Rushmore Heads. They had all the states engraved (one on each side of the pillars) in alphabetical order.

While Mom, Dad and Marla watch Julia, Jeremy and I took a hike around Mount Rushmore. This was a view through a cave below George.

Here's Lincoln. All those rocks below the heads are part of the mountain that were blasted off during it's making.

This is me in the elevator after our hike, I was about to die. Jeremy thought there was something wrong with me. Ha Ha

I LOVE wax figures, always have. I've been just as obsessed with them as I have pregnant women! We visited the National Presidential Wax Museum while we were in Keystone (Mount Rushmore) This is George Washington.

This is Abe Lincoln before this beard.

Mr. Bush Man

Jeremy and I got to take a helicopter ride around Mount Rushmore. This was the view. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Jeremy thought it was worth $65.00 a person, but I thought I paid those jokers $65.00 to make me sicker then a dog.

This is an old Miners building/shaft from the 1800's that we saw from the helicopter.

Don't drink and drive folks. I don't know if this person was, but it sure looked like it. This car was at the entrance/exit of our hotel the morning we left Keystone. Hilarious!

Julia's First...

Visit with her great-grandparents in North Dakota. Great Grandma Mable seemed to have a hay day with a baby in the house. It was great to see Jeremy's Aunts and Uncles too! Thanks for letting us come visit!...

...family picture with daddy, great grandma Mable and great grandpa Duane...
...picture with George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe :-)
...visit to Mount Rushmore, absolutely beautiful!
We were all completely amazed at how the heads were carved...and not one man killed during those 14 years!

Julia's Arrival

She Was born on Wednesday, July 30th at 1:39pm and was 7 pounds 13.6 ounces.

Daddy getting to hold her for the first time.

Momma gets to hold her for the first time. (This is also her favorite picture.)

This is the Nurse (Kristi) who did the delivery.

These are some of the nurse's on the Maternal child unit which Jennalee used to work with.

If you are wandering what is on top of Julia's head, it's a hat made to look like a wig with piggy tails. Marsha is the nurse who made it for her pictured here.

Our first bath ever!

She cried pretty much the whole time.

All clean!

After the bath we got another cool hat, also made by Marsha.

Grammie Gets to hold Julia!

Pappa Gets to Hold her for the first time.

Going home time (we got to leave Thursday afternoon.)

Blessings from Work

The ladies at work gave me a baby shower along with another preggo that works with us. My other co-worker is also expecting a girl. We were so completely Blessed with many practical yet fun things! Thank You everyone!

Most of what I received. We also got some diapers and baskets.

Sweet, precious pink shoes!
A Hawiian duck and beach duck, how cute!
A precious moments angel that says (in a little kids voice) Now I lay me down to sleep...etc
Receiving blankets and wash cloths
I LOVE this book, it's so precious!

Kitchen Happenings

Jeremy and I decided to become ambishous this last weekend and try to get new countertops installed before Julia is born. Here are some before and afters!

The south counter sporting the 1950's white shiny laminate with gold speckles

The west counter with the same laminate. Previous owners must not have had enough countertop to finish out the whole length or they thought it would be amazing to just have finished, chipped wood as part of the counter (far left)

The wall behind the sink is sheet rock that got torn up last fall when Jeremy ripped off the dark brown paneling.

Jeremy had a horrible time getting the old countertops off. When they were installed years ago the people had screwed down wood and then filled the screw holes with putty. They then glued the laminate down...tight. So to get the old ones off he had to chip all the laminate away then the putty and finally got to the screws. We would have been done much sooner Saturday then 10:30pm but that's alright. The joy of owning your own home...it gave us quality time together!

The finished result with a new faucet and sink!
Me and big belly making some tea on the new counter, it was pretty amazing
I LOVE our new faucet!!! The top part pulls out to use as a sprayer
Hey look...it's all one piece!
South counter. Our microwave use to be on this counter and take up most of the space but God royally Blessed us on Saturday when we found an amazing deal on a microwave hood combination that we'll be hanging above our stove hopefully before Julia is born. Now I have more room to decorate in our little kitchen! The fun cutting bored leaning up against the wall is compliments of Emilie Chase. It was my birthday present!

Hunting for a Camera...maybe

Jeremy and I would like to have a nice camera before Julia is born rather then spend money on a camcorder. (We figure we would take pictures a lot more then videos) We are searching for a Digital SRL yet very reasonably priced. Does anybody have suggestions about one they personally love?

Relieved!

Last night and today I didn't feel Julia move for about 16 hours.
I called Bradley's office this morning and they told me to come in immediately.
I'm trying not to freak out but call Jeremy and my mom crying.
Poor people, they probably couldn't understand me through me being hysterical.
I've had to deliever demise babies before and was terrified something had happened to her.
They hooked me up to the monitors and she was as reactive as could be!
She still isn't moving very much but Jeremy and I are relieved that we atleast know she's alright.