Black Hills Camping Trip

Mid July the Harris family headed to a campsite near Deadwood, South Dakota.  We made sure to hit up the town the first day at camp.

Tuff and I on the streets of Deadwood.

I think this is supposed to be Wild Bill?

Some of the buildings downtown placed manikins in the windows of the upstairs to represent women in the brothel houses of the old days.

Mam, Grace and Papa.

Papa Jerry and his mom Merle Jean.

At the campsite.

Cousins at the camp!  All girls of course.

Camp chef.

The little girls enjoying a meal together (Amara 6, Grace 15 months, Kylee 2 and Kaydee 3).

We enjoyed some free fun at Storybook Island in Rapid City.  

Tuff getting into character.

Or maybe this one is more fitting?

Daddy-daughter photo opp.

Mam and Papa!  Ha ha.

Tuff's sister Jeri Lyn and Grandma Merle Jean.

Ok so Tuff loves to pose like statues, and Storybook Island did not disappoint for posing opportunities.

We also tried out Bear Country USA.

Saw a bunch of critters, including Elk, Reindeer, Artic Wolves, Bison, and Bears of course.

Tuff captured the cubs in the trees.  I love this one.

Grace slept through the entire park.

After that we went to a petting zoo.

Grace's Auntie had to rescue her from the goats.  She did not like the petting zoo.

These little goats would jump right up on your lap.

Last day of camp photo.

Tried a funny photo.  Right as we were taking our photos a truck pulled up to empty the outhouses.  Stinky!

As for the rest of July, we've been in Minnesota.  We are making our way back to Billings within a few days and I'll update as soon as we get back.

Mega Catch Up on Summer Festivities

Wow we got behind on the blog!  The entire month of June we had no internet so no updates.

First of all, we moved June 27th to the west end of Billings.  That concluded six months of living with Donnie and Kassia.  Now they are anticipating the arrival of their first born, due August 3rd.  Yay!

Some June highlights:

Strawberry Festival in downtown Billings.

Kassia and me.

Kassia (8 months pregnant) and Donnie enjoying some strawberry shortcake.

Father's Day 2013

We traveled to Colstrip and spent the day on the lake with Tuff's family.

Harris Family.  Top row left to right- Toni (Tuff's little sister), Melody (Tuff's mom), me, Shawnee (Tuff's neice), Kylee (Tuff's neice), bottow row- Amara (Tuff's niece), Jerry (Tuff's dad), Kaydee (Tuff's niece), Grace, Tuff and Jeri Lynn (Tuff's sister).

Papa Jerry and Tuff.

Tuff and Grace Fathers Day 2013.

Tuff and Grace Fathers Day 2012.

The move to the west end.

Our small group friends Ben and Katie helped us unload our trailer....many of the things inside being unearthed for the first time since June 2012 when we first packed it out of Pittsburgh.

There it is.

We are renting from Tuff's cousin Brad and got to spend a little time with the family before they left town.  In the picture below is their son Pierce playing with Grace.  An empty house is so fun!

Pierce was teaching Grace to jump on the bed.

We spent the last two weeks going to garage and estate sales for furniture.  All we brought in the trailer for furniture were a few items.  We'll take pictures again when we have it furnished.  Haha.

Found this little critter crispy and tucked in all the packing.  Yuck!

My friend Shari helped me pack a year ago back in Pittsburgh.  She wrote little notes all over our packing boxes.  So sweet to find these notes a year later!

We will miss the spray park nearby Donnie and Kassia's home...now we live 12 miles away.

E.R. trip.

Also in June a fun time at the park landed us in the emergency room.  Tuff was holding onto Grace's arm and she went the other way.  It resulted in Nursemaids Elbow.  The ligaments in elbows of young children are really flexible.  When Grace's arm turned, the ligaments rolled over to the other side of the elbow, making it impossible to move her arm.  The doc took two seconds and slipped the ligaments back into place.  Problem solved.

Not happy about the situation.

Ok now onto July!

Fourth of July 2013

We tossed around many plans for the 4th but in the end stayed in Billings and went to our church's event, Celebrate Freedom.  Tons of fun for the kiddos.

Bubbles.

Kassia, Shawnee, Grace and me.

Grace and me going up the inflatable slide.

Coming down!

Bounce house.  She just sat there and enjoyed everyone else bouncing her.

The Celebrate Freedom grounds just after the fireworks.

Kassia's Baby Shower.  Again she is due August 3rd with a little girl.  We're so excited to meet the little princess.

We left Bilings on July 11th for the annual Harris family camping trip.  This year it was in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  I will update soon on that vacation!  Until then...