Summer road trip

We had an epic road trip and family reunion in June! 

On Friday, June 17, we started driving west at 6 a.m. The three younger kids watched movies in the van's DVD player, while JB and Max and Ben and I listened to some podcasts and started an audio book called "Pirate Hunters."

We made it to Martins Cove, Wyoming, in the afternoon, and stopped in to see the visitors center. JB and I did three pioneer trek reenactments with our stake there.

Here JB is pointing out the name of Franklin D. Richards, an apostle who helped the Saints, and his 3rd great-grandfather.

Then we went over to Independence Rock, Wyoming, and some of the kids climbed up with JB.

My view of Max with Millie, and the little dot higher up is James, and the dots at the very top are JB, Andrew and Ben.

Here's JB's selfie from the top

We kept driving northwest, and pulled into my Aunt Bonni and Uncle Doug's house (my mom's brother) in Custer, South Dakota, by dinner time. They were such great hosts! We were comfortable and well-fed and learned so many stories about my grandparents and aunts and uncles.

That evening we went over to Mount Rushmore, not very far from their house, to see the impressive monument -- I saw it when I was 10 or 11, but JB had never seen it. It is worth seeing for sure. We also saw the summer time 9 p.m. patriotic flag lowering ceremony. I loved it. My uncle as a veteran was called up to help. 

Our kids didn't get settled into bed til close to 11 p.m. But they were up early the next morning to play with the sweet Dexter.

Saturday Doug and Bonni showed us sights around Custer State Park like some over views and Legion Lake.

Then we drove on Iron Mountain Road, which has tunnels with views of Mount Rushmore, and not just switchbacks -- pig tails. These are curves that go quickly over themselves with a bridge, to rise faster or descend faster. James got carsick and mad.

This was on the porch of a barbecue place off Iron Mountain Road.

We went to Crazy Horse. I saw this monument on that same road trip when I was 10-ish, and I think maybe some more work has been slowly done on it since then. 

It started to rain, so we abandoned plans to go over to Wind Cave, and therefore we didn't see any bison! But it was fine to go back to the house and eat a great dinner and chat more.

Sunday morning at 6 a.m. we started driving west on I-90 across South Dakota. We listened to our sacrament meeting over Zoom, and the "Follow Him" and "The Scriptures are Real" podcasts, and more of the audiobook (We really wanted them to find that shipwreck!) I wished we could have gone north a little to see De Smet, home of the Ingalls family, but it would have been too far out of the way. The views were pretty though of the Black Hills, then the badlands, then the prairie. We got to Sioux Falls and turned south on I-29, getting to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, in the afternoon.

We also stopped at a Casey's gas station in Iowa to get pizza (my brothers love it so we had to have our kids experience it). 

Then we made it to the big house we were all renting from Monday-Saturday in Excelsior Springs, Missouri (just outside Liberty) that evening around 7 p.m. and it was a great time of greetings and hugs for all my siblings I haven't seen in a while! And the cousins became fast friends.

More about the fun week in the next post.

This is the Place

 Tuesday, June 14, was the yearly free day at This is the Place Heritage State Park. I worked more in the morning and evening and took time in the middle of the day and took Andrew, James and Millie. It's not far from our house. 

I tried to explain to the kids the significance of the spot -- there's a small historical marker where it is believed Brigham Young looked up out of his wagon in July 1847 and said, "This is the right place. Drive on." Now there's a big monument there and so many things to do.

We rode on the big train...

And the little train...

There are historical cabins and homes and blacksmith shop and mill and school and on and on, but I think the favorite spot was with the goats and sheep.

Millie was the right height to ride a horse around in a circle, and was quite patient during the wait in line.

We also tried handcarts.

Then we met Suzanne and the cousins. Andrew loves baby Lou as much as he loves baby goats.

They got to pose on a horse.

Riding the train again with cousins.

And exploring the Indian village area.

James is 9

I really cannot believe James is now 9. I remember sitting on our old couch, before heading in to be induced, and getting a blessing from JB. I don't ask for blessings at all, but I felt the need that morning. And I'm grateful (read his birth story here).

He opened presents first thing in the morning of his birthday. He had been waiting downstairs as soon as he woke up, treating it a little like Christmas. He got new shoes and dinosaurs and Pokemon cards and a new Pokemon binder to hold the cards.

The Primary planted this sign in our yard (I used to do that for other kids but now I have a new calling!)

We went to get Tonyburgers for lunch.

I made a baby Charizard from Pokemon for the cake. James drew it on the parchment paper, and I filled it in with buttercream then froze it overnight, put it on the cake, and pulled off the parchment paper.

James has mellowed over the years but still feels many things fiercely. He eats Reese's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal every morning, and if he doesn't care for dinner, makes himself a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich. He'd prefer we get Little Caesar's Pizza more often and keep the freezer stocked with Dino Nuggets from Costco.

I'm paying him for each book he reads, and sometimes he remembers to work toward that goal. He'd rather play with Legos or watch a show. Just about every day this summer he has begged for a playdate with anyone more fun than us, and he lives for any Primary activity and wishes they were every Wednesday night.

He gives great squeezy hugs, and likes a kiss on the cheek before giving you a kiss on the cheek at bedtime or when leaving the house to go somewhere. He is a joy.

School's out

We had a very busy last week or so of school, with concerts and parties and activities. I can't remember that many school days being spent NOT on learning, but I guess when the tests are all done before the end of May, yet school goes through June 3, they have to do something.

On Memorial Day, Max said he and Ben would take Andrew on a walk. And then they took this picture from Chick-Fil-A hahahaha.  I think they were celebrating the last week of school.

Here's James as his class left the stage after their music performance.

Andrew went with the 5th graders to JA Biz Town. He was an executive and gave a speech.

This is what he purchased with his CEO earnings.

The kids also brought home lots of their artwork.

Millie's kindergarten class had a family program of songs and recitals.

Max had a tennis banquet where he was given his letter and all-region awards.

Ben had an orchestra day at Lagoon, and lots of last-minute SBO activities as he finished up his time at middle school. He also came with me to the elementary school arts night.

Here's Millie and her friend Haddie at our stake center where they had Thursday treats celebrating the end of school the next day.

The last day of school was on a Friday but I don't think Max and Ben even went the whole day, if at all. The three littles posed with their backpacks.

Millie with her beloved Mrs Moray, who also taught Andrew and James and is retiring this year.

I met them at their meeting spot on the kindergarten playground. Next year, these three will need a new spot to meet before walking home together, because, as Millie says, she will be a "fuhst gradah."

So long 11th, 8th, 5th, 3rd and kindergarten!