South Dakota at Last! ( Part One)

 

I say "at last" because we had been anxiously anticipating this trip since Santa gifted it to us at Christmas.  Thank you Santa, wink wink.  Here are 2 of the happy travelers, ready to go at 7 am!

We decided to break up the trip with a stop in Sioux Falls and took in their local zoo.  It was really fun.  Peanut even got to ride a camel!  This is the same kid who was a bit too nervous to indulge in the pony ride last summer.  How he's grown.

Sister didn't seem to mind that her camel ride was a bit more stationary.  At the time she didn't mind anyway.  She seems to have given it some more thought however because since we've been home she had asked me repeatedly if she can also ride a camel someday.  Like at least 10 times she's asked!  

So in true Sis fashion when we roll into the hotel around 3 she proceeds to announce, "It's my resting time" and crawl into bed.  The hotel had a waterpark on site and I offered to let her join the boys who were planning on checking it out right away.  Nothing doing.  She just said, "I will go after my rest." So she rested, and I actually ended up going to the waterpark with Peanut so Best could catch up on a few work emails and relax a bit after driving.  She did make an appearance in her watermelon bathing suit later and got her toes wet...literally.  We had fun though and had a nice dinner in the hotel restaurant where the kids got free ice cream AND about 5 things each from the treasure box.  What a life those two!

We got to bed early and everyone slept well which was good because day 2 was probably our busiest day of the whole vacation.  First stop Wall Drug.  (You'd never know it was coming)  ha ha

This kind of quirky fun is right up our alley and Peanut loved this piano playing ape!

And Sis was very brave posing with some giant animals too!

Lots of souvenir shopping here too.  Peanut got a really cool helicopter and Sis finally settled on a drum.

And then we had ice cream.  Because we always do.  Always on vacation at almost every stop. Smile.

Our second stop of the day was Bear Country USA.  I had really enjoyed it when we went almost 6 years ago and knew the kids would get a kick out of the proximity of the animals.

 Those binoculars are getting lots of use Grandpa Chuck!

And we're training Sister in on a junior model.

It was so awesome to see these beautiful creatures up close.

These huge beasts just look so soft and cuddly!

These two always have fun together and I love to hear Peanut instruct Sis on where to look and what to do.  She does what she wants but its just so sweet that he doesn't want her to miss a thing!

I couldn't believe how great everyone was doing come dinner time on our 3 stop day.  I really don't remember if we squeezed in a nap for Sis but I can assure you if she was able to she did!

The Cowboy Dinner took place at a little place called Fort Hays.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't ever a real "fort" but they have lots of authentic looking buildings there and it's where part of Dances With Wolves was filmed along with many other westerns.  There were plenty of opportunities to learn about how they did things long ago such as making your own rope!

Peanut was very excited about the challenge of pumping and worked up quite a sweat on this rig.

While Sis preferred the shade of her surrey with the fringe on top!

Dinner was great and we were in the second row for the show.  Our table companions were some seniors who got such a kick out of the kids and they were so nice to visit with.

Peanut really enjoyed the lemonade out of the tin cowboy cup.

 I wasn't sure if the show would be too loud for the kids but they loved it.  Peanut was singing along to Johnny Cash and Sis was standing on the bench dancing! The musicians were talented and funny and we had a great time.

We headed back to the hotel with 2 tired kids and had a good nights sleep.  Again, I was so happy everyone slept well because the next day was the long awaited trip to Mt. Rushmore!  More to come...

Five.

 

 

Peanut's birthday is such a nice time of year.  I guess anytime you celebrate your child's birth is a great time but I love how my children's birthdays worked out.  Sissy's is the same week as mine so we celebrate together and Peanut's is right at the kick off of summer.  A much anticipated event here after the long winter.  And of course he was anticipating it pretty  much since the Christmas hub-bub died down.  Theme was an easy choice this year as Transformer mania is in full swing at our house.  I was able to make these invites for free on the computer with a little help from Pinterest and the mini bowling/arcade was a great choice of venue!


I had ordered him this Transformers shirt as a birthday gift quite some time ago and I knew he'd love it.  It was even more fun when a few days before he started saying how one of the boys in his class had a cool Transformers shirt and he'd like one too.  Surprise!  We gave it to him the morning of his party and had him put it on after breakfast.  Smile.

 

Here we are at the bowling alley.  You can see by the ball in his hand that this was designed for kids.  It was great.  We didn't keep score and all the kids got to try it and just do as much or little as they wanted. 

About 12 of Peanut's friends were able to attend and it was just the right amount.  A fun party but not too chaotic.  It was really low stress and the kids were happy and great sports.

Of course we were so happy that Gammie and Papa could join in the fun!   Here they are with Sissy who is in a new Minnie Mouse party dress.  She looked so pretty and was so happy to celebrate her Bubba.

Some of the boys playing shoot em up!

One of the conditions of the venue was that the cake had to be store bought.  Up until now I have made all of Peanut's birthday cakes and he has loved them.  I had planned on making a cake again and just decorating with Transformer action figures but instead we got this!  Super cool and very easy for Mom.

He picked chocolate and that was a hit with everyone. 

Sissy had thought for awhile that she would be also getting her own cake and everytime Peanut mentioned his Transformer cake she would add, "And I will get Winnie the Pooh cake." (Which was what I made her for her 2nd birthday).  So we explained that she had already had her birthday and now it was Brother's turn and she understood perfectly.  She asked, "I will eat Transformer cake too?"  And as soon as that was confirmed she was just fine.  Cake is cake, she just wants her piece of the pie.

Of course he received lots of fabulous gifts.  A big Transformer from Gammie and Papa, legos, a new soccer ball, and lots of other fun stuff.  Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Chuck sent books, videos, and a check (that Peanut already has plans for.)  Thank you everyone for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

It was such a neat place and we had it all to ourselves so some parents left and some stayed.  I was glad that they felt comfortable enough to do either.

It was a great party.  We packed up, headed home, and we were just finishing up unloading when we got a call from our favorite new neighbor Mr. Dennis.  Mr. Dennis was the Chief of Police in our town for many years.  I know him from my time working at the golf course and I knew his wife Jill because she ran our local fitness center.  I was so happy to find out that they would be our neighbors because they are such nice people. 

Dennis knows how much Peanut wants to be a Police Officer when he grows up so he arranged to have Officer Madigan make a surprise visit.  Peanut was so excited to receive a personal tour of the squad car.  I am so happy that my boy respects these hardworking members of law enforcement and I will be proud if he chooses that path.

They got badge stickers and activated the siren too!  What a great way to wrap up the afternoon.

2 and 5.  My little loves.  Thank you Best for taking this picture of us.  I wish you were in it too. 

It was such a great day and there was no after party let down because we knew we were gearing up for our big summer vacation in two short days...but more on that later.  Happy Birthday my sweet Peanut.  You are growing into a person of love, intelligence, compassion, and creativity.  I am so proud of you.  Have a great week friends and family!