Black Hills, SD

June 14th we headed out to South Dakota to the Black Hills. We had a nice but long drive. We stopped at Wall Drug to look around.

We tented at the Beaver Lake Campground. It was a beautiful campground, we were camped next to the playground and they had bikes we could borrow to ride around the campground. They had tame rabbits that the kids could feed. The first night Mark and I froze, it got down to 40, somehow the kids didn't notice. The second night, it stormed, Kyra and Kyleigh slept through it, Valynn and Mason woke up long enough to move their sleeping bags into the center of the tent and went back to sleep. The third night it got down to 45 so once again Mark and I were cold most of the night.

 Sunday the 16th we went to the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore. We did the hiking trail around Mount Rushmore.

 Monday we started driving around Custer State Park but had to make a detour because the passenger window rolled down but wouldn't roll back up. We drove part of Needles Highway before heading towards Rapid City to find a dealership to fix the window. As we were driving to Rapid City, it rained and hailed, which of course came through the open window. Taking pity on us, they moved some things around and got us in and got the window fixed. Tuesday we finished Custer State Park. The kids thought the park was cool. We did some hiking and rock climbing, we drove through the tunnels, checked out a small cave, and looked for animals.

 We came out of this tunnel

 Hiking

 One of the tunnels we drove through.

 Small cave that we found.

 This bus only hit the side of the tunnel once. As you can see, there is no room for error.

 Waiting for mom and dad to catch up

 Bison roaming alongside the road.

Tuesday afternoon we met Grandma, Grandpa, Paige, Adam, Ty, Joy and Uncle Brady at the cabin we rented. The cabin was big enough for all of us. Wednesday we went to the Reptile Gardens. We took in a Bird Show, Snake Show, and a Gator show. We saw Prairie Dogs and Giant Tortoises.

 Valynn was part of the show.

On Thursday we rode the 1880's train and then did the Alpine Slides. The kids loved the Alpine Slides. Valynn and Mason were old enough to go on their own, Kyra and Kyleigh had to ride with an adult. Grandma, Grandpa, and Brady met us on the other end of the line.

 Valynn

 Mason, Mark and Kyleigh, Brady and Kyra, Paige and Joy

 Paige and Joy, Adam and Ty

 Grandpa

 Grandma

 On Friday we went to the Rushmore Cave. We then went on the Zip Line and then did the 7D experience. The 7D was a 3D show where we each sat in a chair that moved and shot things on the screen. Obviously, the kids thought this was the best part.

 In the cave.

 Chantel and Paige on the zip line.

 Brady and Kyra

 Brady and Kyra. 

 Valynn and Mason

 Mark and Kyleigh

 Adam and Ty

 Grandma and Grandpa

After the cave Valynn, Mason, Mark and I checked out the aerial park. What fun we had, climbing and zip lining. Valynn was fearless. Mason did good until Mark had trouble with one of the obstacles but he continued to the end. I'm sure we'll be back.

 Mark zip lining

 Mason ziplining

 Valynn

 Chantel

 Saturday morning we started back to Illinois. We checked out the Badlands of South Dakota on our way home.

We got home Sunday, the 23rd. Then it was a mad dash, Mark got most of the lawn mowed because the ditches were actually dry. The kids and I went out to the garden to pick peas, radishes, and lettuce. We got done before the storms hit and we got 4 inches of rain. Due to the roads being flooded, we cancelled Vacation Bible School on Monday. We had a little water in our basement but nothing serious.  We ended up with another 1.75 inches of rain before it was all done, along with temps in the high 90's and high humidity. We had another successful year of VBS. Thursday I came down with a virus so we had to miss a day. Kyra had her last Tball game on Saturday, the 29th.

 This week is our first "official" week of summer with nothing going on. The kids must not have liked that idea because Monday afternoon we headed to the doctor because Mason had poison ivy that made him balloon up in his face and forearms. We got some stronger hydrocortisone and he is doing much better, but I guess Kyra wanted in on the action because she broke out with poison ivy and her face also swelled up. Valynn also has a small patch on her face. We found the source it the ivy is climbing a tree the kids like to climb.  The 3rd we went to the fireworks in Wyoming. The 4th we went to Oak Run with the Ingles for a picnic that their whole family hosts every year and played on the beach. We then went to the Johnson's for supper where the kids went swimming and played.

We hope everyone had a great 4th!