Mount Rushmore and More!!!

July 6th. I had to check. The days are running outside of the Gregorian calendar-any calendar for that matter. A sign of vacation for sure. We are slowing down, more patient with the children. It is fascinating to me that we strive to be in the moment when children are naturally in the moment. This drives us crazy as we can't see the need to take so much time to buckle or unbuckle, put shoes on, or transition from vehicle to outside. Definitely an awareness and respect issue that the adults can work on.

One night at the KOA was just enough. Showers, a pool, sleeping with doors open. The location was perfect for a morning hike around Devil's Tower, learning about the history and spying multiple climbing groups making their way to the top. Last night we witnessed a few making their way down the Tower in the dark. Headlamps appearing to fall in the dark.

South Dakota has mountains! They call it the Black Hills, but it feels like mountains and has ski areas! The first highlight for Reese was a tour of an old gold mine. Ruby slept and later played Spot It! with me while Rich and Reese toured the mine. Reese is ready to be a gold miner now. July 7. Yesterday was jammed packed. Mount Rushmore, and even leaving more of an impression, Crazy Horse Memorial. Unfinished, enormous, and privately funded. The master plan is a testament to the promotion of Native American culture. Very impressive, and more emotional than Mount Rushmore. The kids were better, with ice cream as a carrot throughout the day. We rolled into Custer State Park at dark with enough time for the kids and Rich to catch part of a ranger talk. Reese answered a question correctly, which no one seems to remember, and received a life saver. It is quite the topic of conversation despite being unable to remember the question.

We woke in the middle of the night by a tremendous thunderstorm, nothing like we experience out west. Continual lightening, driving rain loud enough to drive Ruby to the bottom bunk. We typically sleep an adult with child unless I can somehow get out of it. Most ferocious storm either of us have experienced. It raised the question of tornado in my head. Into Wind Cave National Park this morning. It is cool after the rain. It is heavenly.