South Dakota, day2

We had hoped that the kids would sleep in, but they didn't.

This picture was taken at 6am. *yawn*

The kids headed down for free breakfast, and then we met up with RV and kids for Mount Rushmore.

 I love both of these pictures!

 There was a viewing area, and the kids enjoyed that.

Then we walked the presidential trail.

 Each section had a deck and a different view point of the presidents.

 This was the 12th picture. I had it set on timer, and it was a funny set of pictures.

We asked the passerby's to help us out, and they did a fine job.

We checked out the museum, the video, and the visitors center and then it started pouring.

We then decided to eat lunch and head to Rapid City for the Journey Museum.

It was fun and had a video to watch.

After the museum and the rainfall, we came home to hang out.

We had grilled pork tenderloin, cous cous, and green beans for dinner. The rain stopped long enough to have s'mores!

Sydney loves Scarlett. Juliet loves Sydney. Scarlett loves everyone.

After dessert, Mason was on deck duty.

It was a beautiful night, and the kids had so much fun with their cousins.

South Dakota, day1

RV and NV decided to do a vacation together!

There were so many options, but South Dakota was something we really wanted to do together, and there is no time like the present, and here we are!

We left before 7 am. Colorado Sunrise.

We got the kids "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls" at Johnson's Corner.

 Mason was SO EXCITED!

On the way out, we saw a Monster Truck!

Wyoming...

South Dakota!

Our cabin was cute, quaint, and if Nathan and I held hands we could touch either end. So, that tells you how small it was!

But, it came with a view, a deck, a grill, and a fire pit!


Ryan and Veronica had not arrived yet, so we went out to Jewel Cave.
There was a lot of fire damage. The kids said it looked like all the truffula trees had been chopped down!

 Then, we were stuck behind a pace car. I absolutely loathe pace cars.
It seemed like every major road in South Dakota was under construction, starting the day we got there.
The kids enjoyed watching the construction, but seriously if you can avoid SD in June - DO IT!

But, eventually we got there, and it was incredible. The hikes, the Black Hills, and the zombie tour guide.



My kids loved the cave.


There was a very old lady with a group of other people who was hushing my kids the entire time.
They weren't even being loud, but she was acting like she was allergic to children.
I made it a point to loudly say "come over here Mason, some people don't like kids." or something of the like. The tour guide, who was older than the cave, later told Nathan that she appreciated Lucas's questions, and was curious herself about a few of them, and was going to look them up and get back to us.

After Jewel Cave, the kids went into the visitor center. There were Rangers inside and gave the kids all sorts of fun things to do outside. So, off they went.








After the cave, we drove through Custer and stopped at the Purple Pie Place.
I LOVE pie! I LOVE it so much, we had pie for our wedding instead of cake!

We bought Peanut Butter pie and RumbleBerry Pie

We drove by Crazy Horse, because we knew we were going to skip that on our SD Vacay.

Thanks to my friends who recommended that we forgo this activity.

We didn't feel like we missed anything, so thumbs up.

When we got back to the cabin, RV and KIDS were back and we inhaled dinner, and then shared dessert!

Tortellini Salad, Apple Slices, and Summer Sausage. Weird, and just what they asked for.

Dessert Time

SO GOOD.

Then it was bedtime. We were beat.

Bridget and Scarlett...OUT!

A Hole!

On Sunday, Bridget woke up with a pretty loose tooth!

She worked hard on that tooth ALL day, and then we came home after church and she tried everything that people had suggested to get it out!

Lucas was a little hurt that he doesn't know what it feels like to have a loose tooth.

Sister H made him feel a lot better by telling him about her son, (who Lucas aspires to be) who had to have his first teeth pulled out, too.

 Once Nathan fake pulled it with pliers, she stuck her tongue out and it popped right out.

Then she checked it out with a microscope.

She is THRILLED!

(incidentally, L and B both lost their first teeth at 6.5)