Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse Monument

For me, the best part of the trip was hearing Brigitta get so excited to see "Mount Mishmore!". She never truly got the name right. It's been several years since I've been to the Black Hills so I'd forgotten how incredible it is to see those faces on the mountain. 

As we walked up from the parking garage, Brent let Sydney hold the hand railing which had her giggling up a storm.

We stopped briefly by the pillar with Illinois on it to represent our home state.

In photos it looks so far away but being there it looked so close!

The motley crew known as the SNCP- Solid Nucleus of Cool People. They are so very cool! We are lucky to have these friends, especially Janeal who spearheads our reunions.

Due to the angle of the sun, it was a challenge to get a good picture of the girls. Sometimes a bad picture is a good picture in a way. This kind of speaks to everyone's personality. Liesel is trying to mother Sydney and she wants none of it. Brigitta is happily off in her own world and Ireland seems to be suffering from some injustice and looks like she needs a hug. Those are my girls!

Apparently because I'm a middle child, individuality and fairness are especially important to me. As such, I wanted each of the girls to have an individual photo with Mount Rushmore in the background.

Just behind this stone wall is a drop off for an amphitheater and even though there's ample space on top, Ireland was nervous. Brent is just off camera holding her hand.

Seeing her sister, Brigitta felt the same way. She was shaking when I put her on the wall but was all smiles with just a couple of Dad's fingers to hold.

Sydney didn't care, she wanted to sit right on the edge by herself. She was kind of on an independent streak all day-- she didn't want to be held or carried. Sydney actually walked much of the trail herself.

Pushing Dad away and trying to grow up too fast, that one.

Down a short and level trail, we were able to see this beautiful vantage point.

The girls were enchanted with how "sparkly" the dirt on the Black Hills is. Each of the older girls had picked out one special rock as a memento when a ranger spotted them and ordered them to drop it. Hearts were broken as they were told, "If everyone took a rock, then there would be no rocks left". I'm pretty sure it's harder than that when you're talking about a mountain, but whatevs. 

Some time in the gift shop and cooling off with ice cream were divine after being in the sun with my vampire-pale children. At this point, everyone was swapping kids for the drive back and it was particularly fun to see the little ones become such good friends with the kids of our good friends. Lots of us SNCP members have ancestors who lived in the Logan area of Utah around the same time and I've often wondered if they were friends and are heartily entertained when we hang out. This friendship is definitely a generational thing.

The group broke up from there but Dave and Janeal expressed interest in the Crazy Horse Monument not too far away and we decided to tag along. Oy vey was that a bad decision! While admission to Mount Rushmore was a mere $11 per car for parking (the park itself is actually free), to get into Crazy Horse with a car full of kids it was a whopping $28. As we queued to get in, Janeal rolled down her window and yelled this fact to us, encouraging us to turn around. Janeal is not subtle and I think she was on the verge of discouraging more than just our 2 cars for business and one of the cashiers overheard. Turns out, there was a rodeo so admission for the day was reduced to $11-- a fact the cashier practically screamed for all the cars in queue to hear. We decided to take a spin.

They must call it Crazy Horse because you have to be crazy off your horse to waste your time there. As soon as you walk in, you are encouraged to ignore the severe lack of progress and just focus on the intent behind it all. Mount Rushmore took 14 years and was largely completed during the Great Depression. This is all they have to show for progress on Crazy Horse during the same amount of time: 

They give lip service to the fact this is not a federally funded project, but one has to wonder with the normally steep price of $28 who is auditing this whole thing. Where are those funds going? From what I've read, even the Lakota Indians aren't happy with the monument because Indians don't point (a fact not made known to the sculptor) so it's not even an accurate portrayal of Crazy Horse.

The kids who had been in the heat and sun already, pretty much had HAD it and were melting down left and right. Even with our discounted price, it just wasn't worth it. Should we ever return to the area, we are definitely skipping this one.

Bear Country & Storybook Island

Although it was already on everyone's radar, a member of our ward found out we were headed to South Dakota and recommended Bear Country USA. We were charmed by the bear bums and busts carved into the posts around the park:

You may be able to spot "Jonathan the Bear Man" carved below that last one, which piqued my curiousity. Turns out he's rather famous-- The Michelangelo of Wood-- and has carvings all over the US including Yellowstone. He's even done one that is recorded in Ripley's Believe It Or Not as the largest carving in the world. I didn't know all that when I snapped this picture of Ireland with one of the bears, but I'm glad I know now!

Although there were other animals inside the park, the bears were really the highlight. Seeing those massive animals lumbering around right outside our window was incredible. The only problem is that Sydney kept trying to get out of the car for a closer look.

Yeah, that wasn't going to happen.

The baby bears were so adorable, I just wanted to cuddle them. Apparently that's an option if you go at the right time of year. I was thrilled to find a Christmas ornament of a bear on a motorcycle in the gift shop. We missed the big bike rally but still it's a good representation of Sturgis- bears and bikes! 

Next was Storybook Island. After the hefty price tag at Bear Country USA (and no AAA discount!), it was lovely to go somewhere that was fun and absolutely free. Here is their mission statement: Storybook Island’s mission is to provide a free, safe, educational environment for those young in years, or young at heart, to experience the power of imagination. 

That's a philosophy I can fully support. The park was surprisingly big with lots of things to do. I love this sign near the entrance; such a lovely thought:

By far this merry-go-round was a favorite for Sydney:

Actually, for all the kids:

Maybe some of the adults too...:

This was one place everyone went back to because it was so perfect for the kids to play and mingle.

Sioux Falls

Our SNCP reunion began with a 3 AM departure. Brent insisted he wanted to get on the road early and I figured he'd sleep through his desired wake-up time. Nope, there he was, nudging me in the middle of the night. When I asked for 5 more minutes, he would have none of it and started making the bed with me in it. A little snooze was not going to happen. We planned to carry the girls in pajamas to their car seats and then make as much time on the road as possible while they slept. Well, they didn't sleep. They watched movies right through sunrise and by mid-day were still alert. 

Steve and Sara were coming up from Kansas City and noted our paths would coincide around Sioux Falls, SD. The suggested meeting up to caravan the rest of the way to Sturgis. Brilliant. Since we arrived a tad earlier than they did, we let the girls out to stretch their legs and explore. 

The falls were unexpectedly beautiful and the cool mist coming off of them was refreshing after being in the car for hours on end.

I was nervous about the girls scrambling around on the rocks but they each were sure-footed enough to navigate safely. Sydney needed help now and again but after a while even she refused help.

Egads Liesel is a little poser! The way she tips her chin down just a tad and looks up, the way she looks over her shoulder, the way she holds herself in general. I love taking pictures of her.

As our two well-balanced, yet neglected middle children, Brigitta and Ireland squabble more than any of the other sisters. Brent and I thought having them share a room would help which hasn't worked yet. This picture of them smiling and genuinely having fun together means the world to me right now.

I couldn't get enough of the red rock and exposed roots! The girls didn't keep their shoes on for long as they ran around, getting the kinks out of the long car trip.

This picture is SO Brigitta! This bridge made me nervous and she ran across it with no thought of danger. I asked her to slow down so I could take a picture and this is the one I got. So very mischievous that one!

Brent and his mini-me, right? He doesn't see it. HELLO!!! They are squinting exactly the same way!

Random bison statue. Random picture.

Running barefoot in the lush, cool grass was a highlight for the girls:

I love how getting a kiss from Dad is enough to make one almost cringe. I also love how my dear friend Sara is in the background looking perfectly calm and collected. She keeps me sane.

Family photo courtesy of the Thompsons. After this we were eager to get to the cabin and see the rest of the crew.

As we headed to the car, I had to snap a picture of this sign. Something about the slippery rock guy and turbulent water guy just make me laugh. Shadenfreude?

Mission accomplished! The little ones were finally tuckered out enough to sleep for a while.

Wuehler Invasion

The Wuehlers generously adjusted their planned visit to coincide with my time at Disney World so Brent wouldn't have to use up vacation time. Although I don't know much about what went down, judging by the photos there were movie nights, rounds of Mexican Train, running through sprinklers, playing in the castle and at the playground, and lots of cuddles. Here are some of the gems they captured:

Liesel in Grandpa's hat.

Sydney with an adorable bow in her hair! I'm getting excited that it's long enough to style a bit.

Movie night.

 I have no idea where these Groucho Marx glasses came from but they're hilarious!

This may be the last picture anyone is able to capture of Liesel like this: in her Frozen t-shirt, flower whimsically placed in her hair, and ruffled socks on a swing. She's getting to be all legs and I'm afraid she's just not a little girl anymore.

Apparently Brent and Brigitta's tiles aren't all that good...

Sooo very Brigitta!

With the water off, Sydney seems to make it her job to figure out the sprinkler.

Outside, wet and dirty- this girl is in paradise. The light falls on her in such a beautiful way.

I'm not sure what Liesel is looking at, but it must be fascinating.

I love this shot of Ireland!

Both Brigitta and her Anna doll seem annoyed at being put to bed.

The quintessential grandpa picture. He just needs a bag of Werther's Originals.

I don't leave my children very often-- childhood is so fleeting that even though I get frustrated with the day to day of motherhood, I want to be there while they are still little. However, this trip was a much-needed break and I'm so grateful to the Wuehlers for helping us out so it could happen. I'm so grateful for how much they love the girls and relish spending time with them.

The Way to Sydney's Heart...

... is apparently through electronics. I left for Disney World from O'Hare the same day the Wuehler's arrived from California at Midway. Upon seeing another aiport, Sydney apparently thought they were just picking me up from an errand and when she saw the Wuehlers-- and Jeanne in particular-- she burst into tears. Feeling like her mother was being replaced really bothered her. For days Sydney would have nothing to do with Jeanne, showing obvious preference for BJ. A few days into their visit, Jeanne cleverly found a way to break that barrier when she gave Sydney control of the camera:

Well played Jeanne, well played!