Vacation, part 2

Our first destination in South Dakota was Mount Rushmore.  

When we started discussing our destination for family vacation this year Lucas' request was "to see the mountain with faces on it.  Not in a picture, in person."  He has a map in his bedroom that he is always studying.  It has a picture of something representative about the state and guess what South Dakota has? 

This is really an incredible monument.  To think this was created out of rock and the details are precise.  

Reading presidential facts. 

Selfie with Abe.  

DNR display of Native American life.  

More ice cream at the Old Fashion Fudge store in Keystone.  

We left Keystone and took Iron Mountain Road into Custer State Park.  

Check out the details on Iron Mountain Road - miles, curves, switchbacks, tunnels!  

Antelope smack in the middle of the road.  

Did you wonder where this guy was in our ice cream pictures?  He's just strolling along, enjoying the spoonfuls of ice cream he gets.  Happy boy.  

Stockade Lake in Custer State Park. 

After supper we took the kids mini golfing.  New obsession.  The kids loved it!  

Hannah's hole in one!  

This is how we pass the hotel time… that and lots of swimming pool time!  

Hannah's famous saying on this trip was referring to the hotel as "vacation."  For example, "when are we going back to vacation?"  It even took Brent and I some time to figure out what she was saying/asking.  But now we just say "we're staying at a vacation" and her eyes light up.  

We spent a lot of time enjoying Custer State Park.  It is a beautiful park!  

The Wildlife Loop. 

Me and my boys.  

We drove the Needles Highway and the tunnels were crazy!  I'm glad Brent was driving.

Sylvan Lake 

Vacation, part 1

We hit the road for our annual family vacation and Lucas says, "Finally!  I've been waiting for this ALL summer!"  Love it that family vacation is such highlight of his little life.  I hope he still loves it ten years from now. :-)

We started in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Bob Kearney Pedestrian Bridge.  

The bridge spans across the Missouri River and connects the two states.  

We straddled the state line to stand in two states at once.  

You'll notice a theme for our family -- vacation equals treats!  We stopped at a local favorite - Ted and Wally's Ice Cream Shop in the Old Market.  We waited in line for 20 minutes for this fresh churned ice cream and it was yummy! 

We spent the next day at the Henry Doorly Zoo.  

Cockroaches.  

Blech!!!!

As we were standing in front of the viewing window, this adult male lion starting ROARING.  Not a little growl, ROARING.  Many times!  It was neat to hear it, but Hannah was scared so we moved along quickly.  

We watched a movie in the IMAX theatre.  

Ryan had different priorities.  

Tonight's sweet treats were yummy cupcakes from Jones Bros. Cupcakes in Aksarben Village.  

The next day was l-o-n-g.  Ten plus hours in the car kind of l-o-n-g.  Brent and I like to take the path not most traveled on our vacations.  We drove across northern Nebraska and saw some beautiful farm countryside.  We stopped for a break in Valentine, Nebraska and found a school playground to burn some energy.  

On our way out of town there was a western store {Young's Western Wearhouse} that we thought we'd browse through.  Brent remembered stopping at this exact same western store 25+ years ago with on family vacation.   It was a good stop for Lucas and Hannah - they both got new boots!   

We finally arrived at our hotel in Custer, South Dakota, in time for pizza from a local joint and a swim.  

pedal pull

County fair pedal pull fun! 

Hannah, Ava, Adeline, Laney, Lucas and Cash.