South Dakota Trip

The worst part of the whole trip was driving across Wyoming!!!! Miles and miles of absolutely nothing. Here we are at one of our numerous gas stops.

We stopped off At Martin's Cove where the pioneer handcart company got stranded in a snow storm and many of them died. And to think I'm gripping about driving across Wyoming in an air conditioned car at 70 miles and hour.
We stayed in Casper Wyoming the first night and them drove on into "Deadwood" South Dakota the next morning. A cool town that has been totally restored to it original glory. Here Wild Bill Hickock stopped by to say hello.

Another friendly face in "Deadwood"
We drove on down to our cabins and checked into our cute rooms.
Pretty nice huh!
Next morning we got up and went to Fort Hayes where they filmed "Dances with Wolves"

Mom and Fayrine are standing on the very spot where Kevin Costner stood in the movie when he received his orders to go live with the Indian's.
This is the Supply house. Looks like a cozy place to sleep.
Checking out the Post Office!
Checking out the other office........
Next we went to Mount Rushmore. This is the hall of Flags.

Every state flag in the union is flown here.

We hiked up to the mountain as close as they would let us and took some picture. Fun Fact - These 4 presidents were chosen because they each represent an important part of America. George Washington represents the birth of a new nation since he was the first president. Jefferson represents the growth of that nation because he bought the Louisiana Purchase and had a vision of what America could become. Lincoln represents every man free and equal because of the civil war and the slavery issue and Roosevelt represents conservation of our land because he started the first national parks.Yeah America!!!!!
After we left Rushmore we went to Custer State Park which was absolutely beautiful. Here is a tunnel that they carved in the mountain for the road. Notice how it frames Mount Rushmore in the opening.

Here are some wild boro's that weren't so wild any more because the tourist keep feeding them.

This is Sylvan lake. This is where National Treasure was filmed. This is the rock they were on when Nicolos Cage reaches into the hole and opens the back of Rushmore to let them into the cave. However this is about 25 miles away from Rushmore. Movie Magic!!!

This a new sculpture they are working on called "Crazy Horse" You can see it being built in the background.
Afterwards we went back to Fort Hayes for a chuckwagon dinner and show. Next day we got up and went to Bear Country. This is a "drive through" animal park. You can't get out of your car and you are not suppose to roll your windows down but we snuck them down a little ways to get a picture here and there.

Elk
Big Horn Rams
Bears............Oh my.

Then we rode over to the Bad lands.

pretty desolate country
On the way back we stopped at the famous Wall Drug Store!

What a cowboy

Mom would make one hot Pioneer!!
Or even an Indian squaw
Me heap big chief
Next day we drove over to Devil's Tower but on the way we went through this town. Notice the population.

They had a little store that was 110 years old and pretty much looked like it did back then.Here we are at Devil's Tower.We stopped also at a place called "Belle Fourche" This is the geographical center of the United States with Alaska the north point and Florida the south. Do you feel like you are in the "Twilight Zone"Next a stop in Cody Wyoming where we spent the night. Next morning we got up and drove into Yellowstone. Here is the Yellowstone River.

Bubbling Mud Pots
A Buffalo
Old Faithful just getting ready to erupt.

Here it goes
Look out
It's a gusher
Jackson Hole Wyoming

We wrapped up our trip in Jackson Hole Wy and then headed home to good ol Santaquin. So much fun and such good friends to be with.

Imaginary friends

We have a new imaginary friend in our family. Riley used to have two imaginary friends whose names were lorlea and annie-lala. Riley said they were his sisters that lived in cedar city. I think they have been replaced, however, with Fifi the ghost. A new addition over the past few days. Riley asked me on Saturday if Fifi the ghost could be in our family and tonight at dinner when Riley didn't want to eat his food he said that Fifi the ghost was going to eat it instead. He then proceeded to have a conversation with Fifi who was apparently in the next chair.

Random Pictures

I was at the computer today and realized that I have like a bazillion (in technical and completely accurate terms) pictures that I have not posted. I thought I would take a minute and load them up. There will be several posts so make sure you continue down past this one to make sure you get all the belated updates.

First up is a picture of Riley as Spiderman. Now, you may think, Why does that outfit look funny? And small? And is this a Jewish Spiderman? The answer would be no, this is not some specialty religious costume for people with oddly disproportionate limbs. This is Riley after he found his very first Halloween costume and has put it on over the top of his clothes he was wearing that day, hence the strange lumps around his midsection. That's right. His first Halloween costume, as in, what he wore when he was 7 months old. I have no idea how he fit into it, not that this could really be called fitting in to anything. It may help that the fabric is incredibly stretchy and was a little big at the time of his original wearing. Next up is a slightly blurry picture of Riley wearing a funny spiky hat during our trip to San Francisco. I put it in because I love that it is stretched so tightly over his head it is raising his eyebrows for him. Instant face lift idea for anyone out there looking for a few beauty tips. No thanks necessary. Really, I am just here to help.
Here is a funny picture of Annie squishing Riley's face.
And here is a picture of Riley, trying to do it back to Annie. Gee, Andrea. It sure looks like you are enjoying that frozen banana.
Take a close look Riley. This is what you are going to look like when you get older. Adam, don't you just love that little neck pinch that Riley is so fond of doing?

Here are Riley and Grandpa in their matching hats, working in the garden.
And here is a picture of Riley creating a pile of pillows and blankets and just about anything he can find to create a barrier in front of Grandpa's door so no one will bother him while he naps.
It's Grandpa's favorite helper! Again in their matching hats, Riley and Grandpa are emptying the back of the truck that was filled with yard debris.
Isn't he a cutie?

And as the icing on the cake, here is a picture that I will gladly show to all his friends when he gets old enough to know just how embarrassing this look he is sporting is. (This was actually taken inside Sportsman's Warehouse. He refused to leave them in the car. We sure got some looks as we were walking into the store.)