The Growing Caldwell Family

We made a few adjustments and everyone slept better! We were up early and got a good start to the day with breakfast at Powder House Lodge. Breakfast pizza was on the menu and it was tasty! The table next to ours had a friendly couple who struck up a conversation. They were eager to tell us all about Boston and Providence where they are from. Apparently, they have really good gnocchi there! We made it to Mt. Rushmore early when it was cool and not crowded.  We walked along the path seeing the carvings at different angles. The kids had fun using parkour skills on the rocks! We learned about why those four presidents were chosen, mostly for their focus on expanding the country and serving when called upon. We also saw about the process to carve the mountain by creating a model where the scale was one inch to one foot. George Washington’s nose is twenty-one feet! My kids love to climb! They looked for all places they could scramble up for a view.  They found a hidden rock! We hid...

We woke up early since the motel was not very comfortable. To add to it, there was rain. You always know there is a chance of rain, but then it happens and feels a little unexpected. The rain and lack of sleep could not take away from the natural beauty of the Badlands. We were all captivated as we drove through this national park.  Wittle Wucy was in the back taking photos! Nothing could make me happier than watching my kids run free across beautiful lands in our great country.  We so enjoyed watching these prairie dogs pop up and run around! Sis captured this buffalo walking across the road toward us. It didn't get that close before turning back to the larger area, but we definitely felt its presence! I was quite taken with this area and couldn't help but exclaiming at the view at every turn! Just down the road we stopped at the Prairie Homestead Museum. It was in rough shape, but we could see a sod house and imagine how tough life was with the thin walls that let the wind, ...