Rushmore or bust

On a gorgeous sunny day that still had a bit of a chill in the shade, we headed over to see the Big Heads on the hill. Before we got closer, we saw the real guys in person!

"Which one is Mr. Washington," Dude asks now. At the time, he clearly had no interest in being anywhere near the old guys.

We had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful hike with Nana, Bopa, and Uncle Rick! It wasn't open the last time we visited so we broke out the shades and explored in style. The backpack was supposed to be for G, but you can only contain that child for so long. However Dude was more than happy to catch a free ride that allowed him to be as social (or anti-social) as he pleased.

Also typical for G, she finds the one place she's not supposed to be and goes straight there. She likes to wave at those types of places as she passes them by.

Then we headed into the Visitors Center to work and sweat at becoming a Jr. Park Ranger, for the second time in two days. It's like a game show. Where can we become one next? Again, Dude didn't want anything to do with that real park ranger. He's like that sometimes. That's why we put that hat on him. When he's too grumpy, he lowers his head and grunts - totally unwilling to make eye contact. But the hat has eyes on it anyway, so it's almost like he's still looking! Or something.

This time the kids also got to go back and see a laser-light show at night. Pretty sweet!

Road trip!

Driving anywhere for more than a few minutes with this gang can be a bit of a challenge, but thankfully Nana and Bopa decided to fly to Dickinson and help me drive down instead of meet us there.

I don't think I was the only one grateful for this. Here's our "quick" bathroom break (Ha! As if anything is "quick" with 5 kiddies!):

Ham:

Quick picture op at the "geographical center of the United States" in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Still can't completely wrap my head around that one, but it's a cool, shiny plaque with flags from every state! And why is Dude off by himself? Because he "wanted to point to Texas" instead of to where we actually were. Naturally.

And yes, we were wearing coats in July. A freaky cold spell surprised us with 50 degree weather the whole trip. So weird! Thanks North (and South) Dakota for keeping us on our toes!

North Dakota fun!

 A sunny AND warm day? Time to head over to Medora for some good times with Nana and Bopa!!

They have the greatest playground ever there. Seriously love it. Even if you could lose a child or two there if you blink...

Then we headed over to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park while the weather held. The girls were working hard on passing off the requirements to be sworn in as Jr. Park Rangers (to be finished another day). Everyone else was just chasing prairie dogs. Except G. She was studying buffalo chips. "Hmmm..how do they feel? What do they smell like? How much taller can I be if I stand on them?"

"Then again, those holes sure are interesting too! Probably mostly because all the grown-ups keep telling me not to stick my hands or feet in them!" We're just no fun. However, neither are the poisonous spiders and rattlesnakes that can hide in the holes.

Look! Buffalo babies! They look just like cow calves. When do their heads go from tiny and cute to massive and hairy?

Time to hike to the second highest peak in the park! Those are some steep steps for tiny legs, even if the second highest peak is only so high.

Of course, it would be helpful if tiny legs would accept help instead of being all "I do it!"

Regardless, it's less trouble when you look cute in cowboy, I mean, cowgirl boots.

Ta dah! Even Baby L made it to the top!

 Is it any wonder this area is called "Big Sky Country?" Stay away from that edge kids!

Neener, neener, neener.

Blah! (Thanks to Dude, this is now what she does when you ask her to smile. Thanks a lot Dude.)

All safe and sound and having fun! Sure do enjoy exploring. And sure do enjoy having Nana and Bopa here!!