As if you all haven't had enough, here is the rest of our trip:
Bear Country U.S.A.
We enjoyed having tons of bears walk right by our car windows...the kids were loving it. Derek was too:}
Is there anything better than watching baby bears play?
Chuckwagon Dinner and Show:
We had a chuck wagon dinner where part of "Dancing With Wolves" was filmed. Here is the generals office that is in the film:
Such BEAUTIFUL country.
Watching how a tin plate is made.
Dead or Alive?
The dinner and show...see the cowboy on stage?
Chow Time!
Scotts Bluff & The Mormon Trail:
I loved stopping here. I felt such a connection to my LDS heritage and those who sacrificed so much to come to a better land where they could worship as they please. I'm so proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Can't imagine pulling one of these over 1300 miles!
Although I would have preferred a wagon over a handcart....nothing beats an air conditioned car!
Nebraska:
I couldn't resist stopping and getting this picture. I loved the fields and fields of rolled hay.
Wow...where to start. I've been to a lot of parks, all over the world, and this is hands down the BEST public children's park I have ever been to. I could have spent hours and hours there. And, if someday, I'm a millionaire, I will donate a park like this to my city. See if you can figure out what all the storybook characters are!
Who knew that Rapid City houses a very awesome Reptile Garden with a spectacular Alligator/Crocodile show. Definitely a highlight for the boys and me! We loved watching Jim (or whatever his name is) wrestle with the alligators.
Dragging the Alligator out of the water.
Taking a ride and teaching us how to keep the alligator from biting your hand off.
G-man is 12. We call him Jawage. His real name is Gabriel. Having him as a son is a real treat. I found the following photos of him that pretty much sum up his personality.
This pretty much sums up his fun, dramatic, goofy personality. Darth Vader for Halloween a few years ago.
Ground Zero--he recently took a choir trip to NYC
BTW, thanks B & R for going to his concert. He loved having family come see him sing. You are awesome uncles. Thanks for representing us!!!
typical Gabe
He looks bigger than Lady Liberty.
One of my all time favorite photos of G & N--truly shows what good buddies they are!
What type of cupcakes do you send to school for your son's April Fool's Birthday?
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs of course...
I love that Eli's birthday falls on April 1st. I love that he was even born in Japan on April 1st. There is a conversation starter. Personally, I think the cupcakes look a little gross, but they were a hit!
I loved visiting the Badlands National Park. It looks like it should belong in Southern Utah, but instead these glorious rock formations are stuck in the middle of the gorgeous green hills of South Dakota. Such a sight.
The Green Grasslands leading up to the Badlands.
I love the mixture of green/rock. I could have stared forever.
The Badlands....
This picture does not capture how scary it was for N and G to climb out on this cliff. I was terrified and was sure that if Derek were with me, he would not approve.
And, we would have been crazy to not stop at Wall, SD that houses a famous drug store called no other than Wall Drug. It is most famous for the animated T. Rex that comes to live every ten minutes. Eden was beyond terrified, and even watching this video of it, she keeps saying, "That dinosaur cannot get out!" We enjoyed a nice country lunch and even grabbed us a bag of fools gold. What can I say, I'm bit obsessed with small town America.
