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Four years ago today Josh and I packed up and set off on our Portland adventure. Looking back we now refer to it as our 3 year vacation. I'm so happy that we had the opportunity to live in Portland and to meet so many great people.

One year ago today Piper and I hopped on a plane and headed back to Minnesota. Josh followed behind with the moving truck.

Lots has happened in the last year since moving back to the Mid-west. We bought a home and are settled in Sioux Falls, Piper has grown and changed so much, and we are now expecting a baby boy. I do get a twinge of homesickness for Portland everyday but I'm so happy with our life here in Sioux Falls. If I've learned anything in the past 4 years it's that life is full of changes and surprises. There is not much you can do but hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

Palisades State Park

We were all feeling a little cooped up yesterday and with the knowledge that it may be the last nice warm day for a while we decided to get out of the house and head to Palisades State Park.

We had a fun time exploring and letting Piper run around. Piper wasn't real interested in the hiking trails so Josh and I took turns going off on our own to check out a couple of the trails.

Piper loved trying to find grass hoppers and try to catch them. She also kept talking about something that Josh and I couldn't understand. We thought she was saying pine cone but we later found out she was saying play ground.

When we got home she told us all about the big rock that she and Josh sat on. I know her favorite part of the day was climbing on the playground and going down the slide but it sure felt good to get outside and get some fresh air.

Fort Belmont

Today Piper and I met up with my mom in dad in Jackson Minnesota at Fort Belmont. I've been driving past Fort Belmont all summer seeing their sign for the Fort Belmont Rendezvous. I've used to go to Rendezvous as a child and I asked my parents if they wanted to meet us there. The sights and smells definitely brought back memories.

The Rendezvous was real small but we still had a great time. Piper loved the horse pulled wagon rides, and getting to go inside all the old buildings.

While my mom, Piper and I were checking out the fort tower and the sod house my dad was busy buying toys for his future grandson. Some how he managed to find him a bow and arrows and a sling shot. I told him these are toys baby boy will have to keep at Grandpa and Grandmas house.

We all had a lot of fun and here are some of my favorite photos from our little adventure.

Cat Mask

Piper and I took a trip to the craft store today so I could get supplies to make a Halloween picture frame. Piper spotted a cat mask and got a big kick out of putting it up to her face and saying "meow meow".  I thought it might be fun to let her paint it. She did an awesome job. Of course the first thing she did with the paint brush was dip it in the yellow paint and stick it up to her lips. Once I explained she should paint the cat she got the hang of it right away.

I added some whiskers while she was taking a nap.

After it was nice and dry she had a great time pretending to be a cat, and seeing how all her stuffed animals looked when she held it up to their faces.

Piper had an electrifying trip to the park tonight.

Halfway There

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and that means I'm halfway there. It also means we had my 20 week ultrasound and I know the baby's gender!

We found out today that we are having a little baby boy! We are so excited!

Everything looked great during the ultrasound and he also gave us a little smile.

Only 20 more weeks and I get to meet my little guy.