Noah is done with training wheels!!!

We were at the Pettibone Resort in Lacrosse, Wisconsin last night camping. I was doing some laundry. Noah and Jason came to visit me on their bikes. Noah was riding his monkey bike and the chain broke, so Jason went back to the trailer and got his other bike with no training wheels. If he wanted to ride, this was his only option! It took him two quick rides with me holding onto the neck of his shirt before he was yelling, "Mommy! Let go of me!! LET GOOOOO!!!" Ha ha! I didn't want to let go, but he made me! He's been riding on his own since then and he's already blazing down steep hills and steps this morning! I'm in trouble! :o)

The Roo Ranch, Deadwood, South Dakota

They had a bunch of other animals inside too.

A zonkey (also known as zebrass, zebronkey, zeasses, zeedonk (Z-Donk), zebadonk, zenkey, donbra, zebrinny, or deebra) is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.

Noah was the Wallaby whisperer!

This little buddy followed Noah around the place!

Six Grandfathers Mountain (Mt. Rushmore), South Dakota

We went, we saw. When we were there, I started feeling really, really guilty for giving them our $8 to get in! The way the land was acquired (if you would call it that) is terrible! I'm surprised that they tell the truth on the tour of how this land was taken from the Lakota Sioux indians! It's a disgusting part of the history of Six Grandfathers Mountain (Mt. Rushmore) that I did not learn about in school! The US Gov't later admitted that they unlawfully took the land from the Lakota Sioux indians, but instead of giving it back, they offered the them money, which they did not accept. The money was put aside in an account which grows larger and larger each year. Each year, the Lakota Sioux tribe votes on whether to take the money, and each year the majority says "no". Ugh! It's too bad that such an amazing monument has to be clouded with such a terrible history!

Hill City to Keystone, South Dakota

1880 train from Hill City to Keyston, South Dakota. It was a great ride!


Jason and Noah.

Noah doing the signals.

The sun was so warm that it made me take a snooze!

Happy 5th Birthday, Noah!

He's not a baby or a toddler anymore...he's a BOY! (sniffle) Jason was working today, so we opened some presents at home and then spent a couple of hours with Betsy.

Noah with our buddy, Betsy.

StickWords @ Fiddler's Green

The kids could actually climb into the tops of these little houses! Then, we all took some sticks and tried to build our own structures. It was fun to see what worked and what didn't.

3rd of July fireworks!

Jason was working, so Noah and I took off to see some fireworks. We hadn't been there before and really had no idea where the fireworks would be set off, so after thirty minutes of sitting in a parking lot, we decided to start walking at the last minute to make sure we got close enough. We came to a place where the sidewalk was closed, so we decided to stay there with all the other people. Turned out that we were next to the parking lot with the flat bed with all the fireworks. I took these pictures laying down! The fireworks were right over our heads! It was the best fireworks show I have ever seen! WOW!

The Tale of Desperaux

We went to Aspen Grove with Aunt Kayla to see The Tale of Desperaux on their outdoor screen tonight. They had a bouncy house, a hula hoop contest and a limbo contest for the kids. I was helping Noah with most of it, so I only got one little pic of him doing the limbo. He needs a limbo lesson! :o)

Scripture according to Noah

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice to try it!