Summer Trip - Day 7

On the seventh day of our trip, we left Casper and drove out to Independence Rock.  We took a walk around it, and the kids climbed up and found some names.  We explained to the kids why it was called Independence Rock.  They must have found it pretty interesting, because when a missionary at a visitors center asked them about it later, they knew the answer.  The missionary was impressed and told them they were the first kids or teenagers that had ever been able to answer that question for him.

Then we drove out to the Martin's Cove visitor's center.  I had been there before, but this was a first for Jeremy and the boys.

We, of course, had to take Thomas's picture by Thomas Boyington's name on the Willie Handcart list.  Thomas was named after him because it always meant so much to me that Thomas Boyington (my great great grandfather) was part of this company.  He must have had tremendous strength and dedication.  I hope my Thomas will grow up to be the same.

The big boys took the opportunity to pull a handcart.  Notice Devil's Gate in the background.

The little boys enjoyed their ride.

They also enjoyed pulling one of the mini handcarts.

After we left Martin's Cove, we went out to the new visitor's center at Sixth Crossing.  This is where they focus on the rescue of the Willie Handcart company.  I can't believe that I didn't get even one picture there.  It is such a shame because the visitor's center is beautiful and the movie about the Willie handcart company is so well done, and the presentations are also so well done.  The missionaries were so knowledgeable.  We had a great visit with them.  We were the only ones there, and they told us that the visitors have been few and far between.  I hope it picks up, because it was truly one of the highlights of my trip and definitely the highlight of my day that day.  If you get a chance to visit - take it!

From there we drove to Cokeville for my family reunion.  It was nice to catch up with so many relatives I haven't seen in awhile.  From Cokeville we went down and spent a week in Orem at my parent's house.  Sorry - no more pictures.  I guess I was tired of playing photographer and we were super busy helping my parents re-do their basement bathroom.  It was good to be in Orem again for awhile.  I still love and miss it there.

After the week in Orem, we headed back to Taylor and we are happy to be back in our own house (and beds) again.  

We had a great trip and made so many memories.  I just hope I can talk my kids into doing it again for another Christmas in a year or two.

Summer Trip Day 6

This post will be short.  On day six we left Hill City, SD and traveled back into Wyoming.

First we traveled over to see Devil's tower.

Here is a closer shot of it.  Pretty interesting!

After we saw Devil's Tower, we traveled south to Casper.

When we got there we took a little hike to these falls.  I can't remember their name, but they were pretty.

After that we checked into our hotel, went to dinner, came back to the hotel and went swimming, and then just relaxed in our room for the rest of the evening.  It was nice after all of the running around we had been doing for the past week.

Summer Trip - Day 5

For the fifth day of our trip, we stayed in the Mount Rushmore area.  There is so much to do there!  We started out the day with a trip to Rush Mountain Adventure park.  We took a trip down their zipline and also we went on their new Mountain Coaster.  It was fun.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a single picture.  But, I did get a picture of this cool overpass that we saw on the way.  How often do you see an overpass like this?

Next we went to Custer State Park, and drove the Needles Highway.  It was incredible!!  I will keep my writing to a minimum and mostly let the pictures speak for themselves.  Just be aware, that I took a lot of these pictures through the windshield of my car, in the rain, so that is why some of them may look a little funny.

There were three of these narrow tunnels that we had to drive through on the Needles Highway.  We were a little nervous about driving the suburban through, but when we saw a tour bus do it (basically scraping the sides as they went), we decided the suburban could make it without a problem.

The road was really narrow, with drop offs on the side, so you had to be really careful, but this is a beautiful ride that everyone should try to make at least once in their life.  The following pictures should be proof enough, but they are nothing like being there in real life.

Day five was another amazing day that I will always remember!!

Summer Trip - Day 4

When we decided to go to Mount Rushmore, I knew I wanted to sneak in a quick trip to North Dakota somehow.  North Dakota was a state that I had not visited, and let's face it, since I live so far away, it is highly unlikely that I would get that close again for a long time (if ever).  So as I got looking at North Dakota attractions that were within a few hours of Mount Rushmore, I decided that we should visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

We enjoyed the visitors center at the park.  Especially the short informative movie about the park, and about Theodore Roosevelt's experiences there, and love for the area.  We also enjoyed seeing his cabin.  It was pretty small and rustic.  It was crazy to think that someone born to such privilege, who would go on to become President, would stay in such a place.  Very interesting!!

The park's badlands were interesting.  They would remind you a lot of the scenery in "Dances with Wolves."

But, I think my favorite part of our entire trip to the park, was a hike we took  up to overlook the Little Missouri River.

I was a little worried that our boys wouldn't see any buffalo in this park, since we had been promising them they would see plenty, but just as we were on our way out of the park, we saw this herd.

I love National Parks, and this is a nice one to visit if you don't like crowds.  The visitors were minimal, and I am really glad we took the time out to see it.

We only had a half day to spend at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, because we were trying to stay on schedule and on budget, so after we finished up there we headed back to South Dakota.  We checked into our hotel in Hill City, and then hopped back into the car and headed to Mount Rushmore!!!

I was surprised at how beautiful the area around Mount Rushmore is.  These are a couple shots of the drive to get to the monument.

Finally - we arrived.  It was sooooo cool!!  I have wanted to visit Mount Rushmore ever since fifth grade, and I finally got there!

To prove it, here is a picture of me standing in front of it!!

Isn't it amazing!!  We were all in awe!

We went through the museums, which were really interesting, and then we decided to go down to the amphitheater and wait for the evening's lighting ceremony.  It was so awesome to be able to sit there and look up at this incredible American icon.  The weather was perfect and we so enjoyed our time there.

Not too long after the ceremony started, it started to rain, and lightning, so they stopped the ceremony, and just lit up the monument.  I was bummed that I didn't get to see the ceremony, but it was just amazing to be there and see Mount Rushmore both during the day, and lit up at night!!

Day four was a fabulous day that I will always remember!

Summer Trip - Day 3

Day three we left Lusk and traveled into South Dakota!!  The pictures above are from the drive out of Lusk.  I thought it was really pretty.

When we entered South Dakota, all of my boys (including Jeremy) got to add a state to their list of states visited.  I had already been to South Dakota, so I didn't get to add a state to my list.

Once in South Dakota, we decided to visit Spearfish Canyon.  It is really beautiful.

We stopped and saw Bridal Veil Falls.  You can see this from the road, so it is an easy stop.

We then took a hike to see Spearfish Falls.  Here are my little guys on the trail.

More pictures from the hike.  This was really fun, and beautiful!

Finally, at the falls!

Then we took another hike to see Roughlock falls.

Pretty scenery from the hike.

Roughlock Falls!!

And to prove we were there - - here are the boys in front of them.

A picture from the hike back.  All of the boys loved these hikes - except Drake.  He loved them until about the last mile of the last one, and then he decided he had had enough.

I took this picture just so I could remember how clear the water was here.  So pretty!!  We loved Spearfish canyon!!

From there we headed to Belle Fourche, SD.  The geographical center of the nation (including Alaska, and Hawaii).  This monument isn't the exact spot.  It is actually located outside of town on private land, but they took advantage of their proximity, and it is a fun little stop if you are ever in the area.

The boys at the monument.  It is nice and very well kept.  There is also a good little museum that is free there.  

After we left Belle Fourche, we headed into North Dakota!  This time the whole family got to add a state to their list!!

That night we stayed in Dickinson, North Dakota.  The hotel was nice.  It also had a large suite that would accommodate our whole family, and it had a fun little waterpark that all the boys loved.

It had a full sized waterslide that was FAST!!  Tad wouldn't go on it at first, but finally agreed to go if Jeremy held him.  After he did that a time or two, we couldn't get him off of it.  He was a watersliding fanatic!!

Here is Drake coming down the slide.

The boys also had fun in the bigger pool on these ropes and floating discs.

Day 3 was a great one!!