The Black Hills South Dakota

It's been a little hard to get on the computer that all our pictures are on with Jason being so busying studying and all his documents and what not being on the same computer. I'm finally taking a few minutes though to do a post about our camping trip in the Black Hills in South Dakota. My mom and I met up with Scott in Rexburg and we caravaned to South Dakota. It was Sturgis week so there were a lot of motorcycles on the road and at our campsites with us. They were all really nice and it was fun.

We stayed at Lake Pactola near Rapid City, South Dakota. It was a beautiful campsite. It was so green but it was still plenty cool at night and in the morning. It heated up around 2 pm or so each day but the temperature was pretty perfect for the most part. On our last full day there it rained for about a half hour in the evening right before dinner. There were two beautiful rainbows as a result!

One morning Jason woke up in time to see the sun rise over the lake right outside our tent door. Here are a few of the many beautiful pictures he took.

Lizzie was Isaac's little buddy for a lot of the trip. She was a really good helper.

Isaac also tried to be a good helper around the campsite. He was always finding something to "put away" or carry around. Here he is getting into the stash of supplies under the table sheltered from the rain.

Peter really wanted to play chess, so Jason and he made a chess board and pieces with charcoal and rocks they found around the campsite.

Lizzie passed time reading her Magic Tree House books.

We went swimming at the swimming beach by the campsite a few times. Jason caught some great shots, especially of my mom. She loves swimming with her grandkids.

My favorite moments of the trip were really just after dinner. It was so relaxing to sit around the campfire and roast marshmallows or camp pies and talk or sit quietly enjoying the great outdoors.

We took a trip to Mt. Rushmore one afternoon, or as the kids called it. Rount Mushmore, I think I like that name better still.

I love Iowa

Lizzie, Sammie, Katie, and Peter in front of Mt. Rushmore

We took one picture where we had a "Scott Sandwich" then Scott squeezed us right back.

We saw Crazy Horse from a distance.

I wish I would have done this post sooner because now I can't remember which plane this was, but here is mom my in front of the type of plane my grandfather worked on when he was in the Air Force during, the Korean and Vietnam wars.

My favorite day was Friday toward the end of the trip took a boat our on the lake for the whole day. It was so fun. It was a perfect day. The hottest of the week, we jumped of the boat and took turns in the inner tube getting pulled.

This is a cliff that Jason, Katie and I jumped off of. Where the man on the top right is is where Katie and I jumped from. Jason did a few even higher.

It was a really fun week. I forgot how much I love camping. Jason and I are already planning camping trips in the future for our little family. We're thought of everything from a short trip to a lake in Minnesota to camping across Europe... we'll see which comes first ;)

Oregon

Maybe I should have made this into multiple posts also... we did a lot of stuff in one day. First off, we stayed at my Aunt Sonja's house who was nice enough to let us all stay there for two nights when there was a pretty full house the second night. I think all the kids had a lot of fun though getting to meet/see each other. After the trip my mom and I were talking on the car ride and really feel like we wish we would have seen the Calls more growing up; they were so nice and even if it was short, it was great. So, thanks to Aunt Sonja and Uncle Alan!!!

They have a wonderful chair that gives you an awesome massage. It even plays some music for the ultimate relaxation experience. I love Audrey and Allie's "sleeping" pictures in the chair.

We headed to Washington Park in Portland, Oregon and I got to hand out with my cute nieces and nephew that I don't get to see very much. That was really priceless. Jack has the sweetest smile and attitude. He is a really good kid; you can literally see it in his eyes. I love this picture of him at the picnic table.

Ha! This is a great one, let me explain... Jack was being very helpful and trying to show Isaac how to look at the camera when someone is taking a picture of you. So when Jack started to try and turn Isaac's head toward the camera, Isaac decided that this must be some kind of game or something and started pushing back on Jack's head. I love it, it makes me laugh when I look at it.

At the Children's Museum they had an alligator with some big toothbrushes you could clean his teeth with. Isaac loves toothbrushes, so he was really excited to see those suckers!

Audrey and Allie had the chance to paint their dad's face which they loved.

They also had a restaurant and cafe where Allie and Audrey served mom, Annie, and me some great food.

Audrey and Isaac working the lights on the stage.      Jack playing with some fun trains.

Jack in the construction zone with some tools. Isaac hang out there a little but kept escaping with tools and running to the tooth brushing alligator!

There was a beautiful rose garden in Washington Park. I have never seen so many colors and varieties of roses. I think my favorites were the orange and pink and yellow and pink roses.

Audrey took this picture of Isaac asleep on Grandma's shoulder.  

Jack shooting with his leg gun

After the rose garden we went to a fun park where the kids played for a little bit.

Jayden and Emma were trying to help me get some pictures of Isaac, I thought they were super cute and great helpers. Jayden probably knows a thing or two about taking pictures because her mom is an amazing photographer.

Emma giving Isaac some flowers

What a fun day! I hope people made it through all those pictures, I know that was a longer one for me. I decided I'll have to do two parts because I remembered that I have some great videos that I want to share also... stay tuned for more moments from Oregon.