2 National Monuments and a Butterfly

After being kindly encouraged by Lisa Bergstrom to be anything but ourselves at the party she and her husband were putting on (like we have been every year their party has been held... we really just don't get in to dressing up!), I asked Chelsea if I could borrow her Statue of Liberty outfit. It was in the shower that morning that I had an idea for Danilo. It would be perfect, and I'd have to work out some details, but I knew the hardest part would be convincing Danilo it was a really good idea. I never convinced him, but he flattered me by dressing up anyway.



Gracie's costume had been decided weeks before... sweetest butterfly I've ever seen!

Keystone, South Dakota

Where you can

ride bison

get this close to a bear

and see Mount Rushmore from this vantage point,

all in the same little town (well, Bear Country USA is about 15 minutes further, but pretty close anyway). My mom decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting Mount Rushmore this Labor Day weekend and took all of us with her.

please notice the striking resemblances in the faces above and below

It was nice getting Danilo back for a couple of days. He's been missing a lot since the semester began (we know it's going to be worth it, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel... it's called June).

Thanks to Mom for the idea and the education we received on the history of Mount Rushmore and to Dad for driving 11 hours there and 11 hours back. It was an uplifting weekend being with people I love in such a neat place. My soul filled with gratitude for our country as we watched the evening program at Mount Rushmore after which any past or current service men and women in the audience came forward as the flag was lowered for the night.