Vacation time! This year we are headed west...first stop South Dakota! Great Places Great Faces!
Aren't these two faces the greatest ones ever! I guess it was pretty sunny, that would explain the squinting.
Then a quick stop at The Falls, that would be Sioux Falls.
At a gas station we saw loads of wildlife! Bears, mountain lions!This bear smiled for the camera.
This mountain lion was having a Peter bacon sandwich.
Heading into Custer State Park we had a close animal encounter...had to break pretty hard to avoid these guys! I was super excited...during my time in the Big Horns I only saw bighorn sheep from a far distance...never this close!
Meet Excessive Edwardo...aka Pat's cot. It took up a third of the tent...but he was comfortable so that is all that mattered.
Once camp was set up we headed to Mount Rushmore!
Had a little history lesson...When did Wisconsin become a state? (the sun was in their eyes again in this picture too!)
And then off to Crazy Horse! Cant believe they are almost done with it....
wait, no they aren't. It is going to take many more years! But once it is done it will be cool! The boys really enjoyed the campsite, lots of rocks and a big hill.
We also picked up a bison...meet Horny, the Bison!
Horny likes to play bison-ball.
We headed to Jewel Cave and learned that their elevator was broken and the only tour was the candlelight tour. "A strenuous tour with lots of stairs" Sounds good to us! The boys really like the crawling around. I think I have to cavers on my hands.
We took the scenic 'needles highway' in which the boys complained about, until they saw all the rocks! They love to climb on the rocks. So maybe I will have some rock climbers on my hands.....wait....cavers or rock climbers? It is going to be a tough decision.
I wonder why this highway gets its name?
Leave it up to strangers to take a nice family photo...except they did not get the nice scenery in the back. bummer.
A little R&R at Stockard Lake. The boys could spend all day here!
Next day we went to Wind cave...their elevator was working.
The ranger was explaining that most people can fit in a place that is the width of their two hands touching at the thumbs. Ya, not me! Wind cave got its name from the wind coming in and out of this hole...I would like to meet the person who said...i wonder what it looks like if I go down in that hole?.
This cave is pretty cool but less adventurous than the tour we did a Jewel Cave, so this was not the boys favorite but it was really cool to see!
And then off to the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, the sink hole where there are about 50 mammoths! I thought it was cool, and they were actively digging on the site. Boys...not all that impressed. Guess they have more fun climbing hundreds of feet below the ground.
As promised but the ranger...Bison. He was really close to the road.
And Ass, I mean donkeys. These guys were even closer but when the car ahead of you is hanging out of their car feeding them crackers I would see why they are in the road. They have hooves....and teeth that can eat your fingers...not my favorite.
Hey look, here is the ass of an ass!. The boys thought it was fun that they could say the "A" word and not get into trouble, as long as they were referring to the donkey.
Then we went on a hunt for gold!
And hit it rich!
The boys treated us to dinner and an early retirement! Or not...but some cool gold and pyrite for their collections!
I can not believe they are 7! 
We enjoyed ice cream cake and presents on their bday. 
Peter requested a Beyblade stadium cake for his, with beyblades included of course. It was very clear that each boy get one of the beyblades from the cake....very clear. 
Jamison wanted a beaver on a log with a branch coming up. Ask and then you will receive! The beaver was a little challenging but Jamison was pleased...it was his idea for the carrots for the teeth!. 
You'all know the challenge of having a summer birthday...all your friends are either on vacation or have something going on. So I thought maybe a week-night party some kids would be able to make it. The plan worked too well and most everyone was able to make it! The boys were happy to see all of their buddies...but it was a little crazy!. 
The heat was predicted to be 99°...so we had a backyard water-fun party. Fun was had by all! and the water kept the kids cool. Unfortunately we had one mouth to head collision that required a call to a dad for an early pick up and a couple stitches. I felt terrible but we visited him the next day and he was feeling good and back to normal with no complaints. Happy Birthday Boys!
After a successful camp strike at Custer...we all earned ice cream! So we stopped in Buffalo. Buffalo is not just a one horse town!. 
There are four here! 
We made our way up the southern pass of the Big Horns. 
And to our surprise they still have SNOW! the boys were excited to see snow in July...not excited enough to make snow angels but we had to get our feet in there! 
Awe..me and my boys. 
I had to get some photos of one of my favorite flowers...forget-me-nots. 
A round-about way...we made it to Shells Canyon and Falls. One of the major roads through the mountains was washed out...but was repaired by our trip.
We made our way to Lovell, WY where we stayed at a FANTASTIC vacation rental. The family had a 7yo that the boys had a great time with. The place was super cool so if you find yourself in western WY i would highly recommend Fort Causeway.
You would think Jamison was enjoying Big Horn Basin...but no, he was pouting or complaining about something. I will tell myself it was the former.
Peter released some energy at this stop...Jamison LOVES this picture because if you look close Peter's hair is standing up...looking like a harpy eagle. 
First stop, Medicine Wheel, except when we got there the ranger HIGHLY recommend that we do not do the mile and a half hike to see it. Something about 40 feet snow drifts. Bummer. This is the second time Pat has been to the BigHorns and have not made it there. Maybe the next time. Usually this route is cleared out by the 4th of July. Not this year! 
We camped at Bald Mountain. The boys and I were going to hike to the top...but we did not have enough time. 
Camp was nice...not many people there. (a reoccurring theme)..Because of the high snow/run off the water here was not cleared for drinking...so we had to go a ways to get clean water. 
The boys were pretty excited to play by the "stream" next to our campsite...until I busted them floating their crocks down it. Who knows where they would end up. 
Again...another road closure dues to snow or washout...but we found another trail to hike on! 
The one to Porcupine Falls!. 
The boys were troopers on this pretty steep hike! 
and the end result was pretty cool! 
The boys are the little dots on the left. 
We even found pasque flowers...the earliest of "spring" flowers. 
There was a fire here a couple years ago...and we found this log. It was really cool and we attempted to break off a chunk but we had no luck...so the picture will have to do. 
Jamison called out "DEER, um wait, i mean MOOSE!"
Mornings at elevation were a little chilly, i caught the boys sunning themselves on rocks to warm up. 
Now a little reminiscing from my youth....Black Mountain. I spent a lot of time up there on that mountain. 
My main camp site was just beyond those forest service trucks. Spent a lot of time looking at those buttes...or as the boys giggled and wiggled...butts. 
