Mount Rushmore - Continued again!

After the train ride, we took advantage of the warm weather and used the pool and the jumping pad! The boys exerted so much energy that I was happy to watch them as I read.

They also played in the sand with the trucks and just got plain ol' dirty! That's exactly what I wanted for them. The boys simply crashed at nap time. In the tent, it was so hot, that they both slept naked! Well, Jack is still in a diaper, so he wasn't entirely naked.

At our camp site, we each took turns making or cleaning a meal, so that was a great plan for the large group. You can see we strategically parked our cars adjacent to the one-lane road as to buffer the other noise. Since it didn't quite work, we decided to walk the campus.

We somehow found ourselves at the ice cream stand which Eban and Jack loved. We also came upon the nightly tour of the campground on the historic fire truck. All the kids quickly boarded and left the parents to stand there whittling our fingers. I didn't even get a standard hug or kiss goodbye! I was chopped liver... :)

The sunsets were superb and I wish we had more time to take in the sights and beauty of South Dakota's Black Hills. And the camp fires were great - - although I couldn't quite capture it with my camera. I guess I had it on the wrong exposure.

BUT...my favorite part of the trip is coming up in the next post!!!

Jump Pad at KOA in Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore Camping - Continued

We quickly set up camp and enjoyed ourselves.

KOA is really like camp for kids and grown-ups. That is if you like to be within spitting distance of one another like we were!

Anyway, there was a huge pool and water activity area, craft house, pancake breakfast cabin, bike rental, ATV rental, etc. They even had free movies, of which we attempted to see one, but all the kids opted to go back to the camp for Smores. I loved that choice.

There was also plenty to do in the Black Hills. On the first full day, we rode the scenic 1800s steam train from Leadville to another town and back with Heidi and Travis and their son, who is 2 years older than Eban. While in line to board the train, we happened upon one of Ryan's co-workers from Bing. Talk about a small world.

We got ash on us as we sat too close to the engine, and were downwind. It was memorable. The boys were troopers and our neighbors loved it too! We just passed snacks back and forth and looked out the windows at the passing scenery (can you see the deer below).

1800s train video

Jack's new found talent - - winking!

Father's Day

Finally...bubbles. Need a picture of bubbles in the backyard for 2011, right?

Eban is learning to do chores...taking the garbage in and out is his favorite! hahaha

Ryan got this cute card from Eban on Father's Day which I thought was so crafty!

Lake Alexander

Following the big birthday event of meeting Billy, we hit up Lake Alexander...it's not really called that as it's a little lake in Colorado that one of our friends has access to thanks to his job.

Three softball families spent the day kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, swimming and well...not fishing. The boys played with their worms rather than fish so I know I have some work to do to teach them to the art of relaxing with the fishing rod! Eban loved the jet ski while Jack was not a fan. Jack simply isn't as adventurous as Eban and that's completely okay by me!

Ryan gets up for the first time water skiing in years!