Brielle's Big Week

Brielle's adoption was finalized on August 7th with our attorney DaNece Day and Judge Deegan. Brielle seemed to know the day was all about her and she was happy all day. So were we! On August 10th. we all got to enter the Billings temple to have her sealed to us for time and eternity. Our very talented friend, Christal Bridge, took our photos. We played at the indoor water park for hours the night before. We drove back to Gillette after the temple and Jared gave her a name and blessing in church the following day. We had so many loving family members and friends help celebrate this big week. We are incredibly blessed to have this sweet baby girl as part of our family!

July

We had a wet and rainy 4th of July. The rain stopped long enough for the parade downtown. Brielle quite liked the excitement and the boys came home with grocery sacks full of candy and goods. The big firework show was postponed to the following week but we lit off a few of our own in the rain.
We also went camping in Spearfish canyon with our new toyhauler. Just as we arrived a big hailstorm hit and we took refuge under a tree. The toyhauler did well but our pickup received some damage. Both times we have camped in Spearfish there has been a big hailstorm (the first time even a tornado warning.) But we had a great time checking out the fish hatchery and playing in the creek and the playgrounds.
Later in the month we traveled to Martin's Cove. The boys enjoyed pulling handcarts and climbing Independence Rock. Brig climbed all the way to the top and back down before I could even get to the base of the rock pushing Brielle in the stroller. Jared's great great grandparents were married at Independence Rock on their way to Utah. And we both have ancestors that were a part of the rescue committee for the handcarts.

Swim lessons were a success! Both boys passed their levels!

Giant woolly mammoth at Casper college.

Lots of lazy crazy summer days with friends.

We toured one of the coal mines outside of the Gillette.

We also went to Billings for a weekend and checked out the zoo. And what's a trip to Billings without a ride on the Ferris wheel?