South Dakota, part 2

Mount Rushmore!

Goofy Dad squishing George Washington’s face

Joe wanted to box

In the Visitors Center, the boys could push down on a lever and see the explosion on the side of the mountain through a video.  This was a huge favorite.  Luckily, we were the only kids there so no one was concerned that we were dynamite hogs.

Joe found some gold!  Not really, but I’m pretty sure I’ll still have those sparkly rocks in my purse in three months.

After our time at the monument, we drove around the Needles Highway in the Black Hills National Forest.  Man, that would have been a great family shot… thanks, Andrew.  Mt. Rushmore is over Scott’s shoulder.

The tunnels we went through were were so skinny.  It was super cool to honk in them and listen to the echo.  Not sure the animals appreciated it as much as we did.

The Explorers Club meets again!

No, that’s not our boys, thank goodness.  We saw this formation from afar but only realized it was being scaled by someone.  Holy cow.

Back to those skinny tunnels, some moron tried to squeeze his RV though it.  A bystander was nice enough to ride on top to make sure he cleared the sides.  It took him half an hour, but he made it through with just a scratch.

Andrew goofed off while we waited.

Then they all joined him.  Such goofy kids.  They did great for being in the car so much that day.

And we got up close and personal with some bison. The one up top was, um, scratching himself on that post. I felt weird video taping it. There’s a tent just off to the right. Hope those folks weren’t in there!

Silly picture with mom.

Just on the other side of the first sign was this sign.

Some of the needles are in the back ground.  Of special note in this picture is mom’s necklace.  I didn’t begin the day with it.  It was a gift.  Scott was watching Luke checking out necklaces at the Rushmore gift shop.  When he questioned him, Luke announced that he wanted to get a necklace for mommy and he wanted to pay for it himself.  They selected a nice dragonfly one and he gave it to me on our way out.  It was so touching, I almost cried!  He was embarrassed that I liked it so much.  A few minutes, later sitting down for lunch, the waitress noticed it and commented how much she liked it, too.  I told her it was a gift from my sweet son Luke, and I gave him a big kiss.  His response:  a totally red-faced “don’t mention it” – as in, '”really, mom, please don’t mention it again.”  Love it!

South Dakota, Part 1

We’re on our first family vacation!!!  We’ve taken some small vacations, but nothing like this!  From Milwaukee to Mitchell, SD the first day.  We woke up, went to Mass and headed to the world famous CORN PALACE!

The exterior is made up of corn cobs or other corn material.  Dad had to lift up Joe so he could feel it.  The best thing about the Corn Palace for the boys was the full sized gym floor and stage on the inside (think, high school gym).  Apparently, it holds basketball games, circuses, and other special events in this small town.

We just couldn’t help ourselves.  We had to stop at Wall Drug!  Another tourist trap, yes, but the boys had a blast.  The look on Andrew’s innocent face is hilarious while he sits beside the scantily clad statue.

In the “Backyard” the boys enjoyed some little rides.  An old man saw them at lunch in the cafeteria and thought they were so well-behaved, that he gave them all quarters to spend outside.  Thanks, old man!  You made their day.  Plus, you made mama’s day by noticing how good the kids were being!

Andrew and daddy

Daddy in his native American garb.  Makes one handsome woman, no?

 

Close up with a buffalo.  I had to get this shot in case we didn’t see any more buffalo on the trip.   Spoiler alert:  we did.

Look out, Davy Crocket!

Yes, we were standing in the middle of the street for this picture.

Luke and Pat relaxing in the hotel pool.  While taking this picture, I noticed a few floaties next to Luke’s elbow (click on the picture to see it close up, but really, you should just take my word for it)  Yep… poop.  Andrew’s.  I was mortified to see it at first, and even more mortified to learn that it was Andrew’s.  It was a terrible clean up in the pool’s bathroom.  It was such a mess, I didn’t even want to take him upstairs to our room.  So that was the end of the pool play at that hotel.  We only had two more days there before moving on and I’m sure they cleaned it up, but still.  Gross.