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Anniversary - Part 2:

We took our trip to Frankenmuth in mid-June to celebrate our anniversary. They had a maintenance issue w/the king room we'd reserved, so we got upgraded to a fancy king suite in the tower, complete with whirlpool tub and a wall of windows. It was awesome. We wandered the River Place shops, walked downtown Frankenmuth, took a River Boat tour on the Bavarian Belle, did a nice dinner out on our anniversary, and even met up with Scott and Judy (close friends) and their daughters for an early dinner and park visit one night. It was a wonderful, relaxing trip. Lots less putt-putt and DDR than last year, due to the pregnancy, but we really enjoyed ourselves. Some pics:

Ben and I- near the Bavarian Inn where the Cass River runs through their property.

The tower at the Bavarian Inn. Our room is that top row of windows in the tower.

The Bavarian Belle River Boat- built as an exact replica of early Mississippi River Boats. Took a nice hour tour up the Cass River. Just beautiful.

One of the gazillion shots I took of the river. It was just so beautiful.

And Then There Were 3:

Well, not officially 3 of us yet, but we are getting more and more prepared all the time (we hope). At the beginning of June, a friend and coworker of Ben's, who happens to be the art teacher, came to paint the trim around our nursery with what I call the Winnie the Pooh "extras". It's honey pots, butterflies, bees, etc. Then at the end of June, my mom and sister and I painted some canvasses of Pooh characters to hang on the walls. They are all up, and the furniture is put together... so we are getting closer every day. We began childbirth classes this past Monday and have three more of those to go. We are at week 34 of the pregnancy now... 6 weeks to Rebekah's ETA. Feeling the normal jumble of emotions that first-time parents experience: joy, elation, excitement, anxiety and terror. =) We can't wait to welcome our little girl into the world. Here are some pics of the nursery, as well as the growing belly.

Cassie, the art teacher/coworker of Ben's, and mutual friend, starting to paint the pictures in the trim.

A completed section of trim.

Mom and Jen start to draw characters on the canvasses. I printed pictures off the computer, the drew. I did not help with this part!

Painting begins. I DID actually help with this part- and figured I'd better have proof, since things of an artistic nature are not in my normal repertoire.

All 5 completed character canvasses: Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Roo.

One shot of the nursery, with some furniture ready to go!

Another shot of the nursery.

The belly at week 32. It's only grown 2 more cm since then, so this is close enough. =)

Coming Soon:

I have baby showers the next 3 weekends in an row. With college and church friends on the 18th, with family and friends from the hometown on the 25th, and with Ben's family and hometown friends on the 31st. It's an exciting time, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to post from all that, as well. Until then!! =)