My Family: Vacation Photos

Day ONE. Saturday, June 21st.

Basically the drive out to Rapid City with a bunch of little stops.

Austin and Mason at Chamberlain SD rest area.

Mason and I at the Chamberlain SD rest area.

The whole way we would see fields full of round bails.

Mason when we got to the badlands had puked all over himself and the whole car smelled really bad.

Austin and Mason at the Badlands.

Mason and I at the badlands.

Austin, Mason and I at Badlands National Park.

One of my favorite photos of the whole trip. We got out to walk around and this was right in front of the car. It is one of the photos on my list to get blown up.

This photo does not do this overlook justice.

Our caravan minus one. Marianne and Jesse's truck and camper were down aways in the parking lot.

Mason and Austin are sitting in the black car.

Closing of the eyes during photos runs in this little family. My cousin Donald with his wife Sunshine and son Jamison. They also have a 6 month old named Jaxson that stayed with family. I can't blame them there.

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Day TWO. Sunday, June 22nd.

Reptile Gardens and Mt. Rushmore.

I think Austin and I agreed that the Bird Show was our favorite.

Another photo slated to be blown up. I think Austin was surprised by my photography skills though I have no clue why.

Mason during the Bird Show. He is such a little ham. Just ignore the crusty nose, please.

This was a truly ugly bird.

The bald eagle.

This was a naughty snake. We were all laughing very hard because of where the snake kept wanting to put its tail. I am pretty sure the kids didn't understand. Or the rest of the audience for that matter. (You'll notice he is looking directly at me)

Cobra.

Mason watching Hunter play with his gum.

Again he is just soaking in the naughty vibe from Hunter.

Alligator Show.

Austin and Mason during the Alligator show.

You'll notice that the snake is NOT in a cage. Therefore we didn't go to the bottom level of the dome. I did get a good photo from above and that was good enough for me.

Mason watching the snakes in the cages.

The walk up to the overlook for Mt. Rushmore.

It has all been changed since the last time I was out there.

A mountain goat on top of Mt. Rushmore. I was in the ladies room so Austin took this photo. One of these days I will have to teach him how to use my camera.

Mt. Rushmore.

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Day THREE. Old McDonald Farm and the 1880's Train.

Pig races at Old McDonald Farm.

Major in the yellow car and Hunter in the back of the green car.

Amazing how just 5 years can change the deffinition of fun. Major doesn't look too happy to be there but Hunter is thrilled.

Goats eating on a bridge.

Mason eating a cookie. We got a lot of comments about Mason. He was covered in chocolate. I was just glad I only paid a dime for his outfit at a garage sale. It did come clean though.

Austin looks just thrilled.

Austin and I were at the back of the family. We filled up to the front of the car on this side.

We all looked very good after being hailed on before boarding.

Mason and his 'sissy' sippy. I didn't know it would turn pink when warm. I thought it would turn blue like his other one.

Steam from the Train.

The storm that hailed on us.

An open car like the one we were in.

The engine taking on water after we got off.

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Day FOUR. Tuesday, June 24th. Our 8 year anniversary.

Storybook Island and swimming at Hot Springs.

What kind of 'hell' is this.

My question is did this boy choose to work here for the summer or was it some kind of cruel punishment.

Hunter being Hunter.

Hunter kissing Tigger.

Mason and Piglet.

Mason and Piglet again.

Jessica just wasn't fast enought to keep Mason from tasting him.

Surprised that Jessica told him no.

Resigned to just sit there and look cute.

Hunter being Hunter again.

I am sure he will be behind bars again sometime in the future.

We had the stroller with us but Jessica wanted to carry him around.

All the boy plus Sarah and Cammie.

Sarah, Jamison, Daniel, Jake, Isaac, Major, Hunter, Mason and Cammie.

Mason was trying to push Hunter off the bone.

Dad imparting important pieces of wisdom to Mason. Hopefully Mason wasn't listening.

I don't know what they are trying to accomplish with this sign but we got a good laugh out of it.

Buffalo and babies.

More buffalo.

This would have been a better photo if it had been from the front.

(Notice the window in the bottom left corner.)

Crazy Horse. You can see the chalk outline of the horses head on the bottom right corner of the rock.
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Day FIVE. Wednesday, June 25th.

Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern and Cosmos Mystery.