Four Presidents and a Chief

We snuck in a visit to Mount Rushmore on our way home from Minnesota....

On our many drives to Minnesota we've always taken I-94 through North Dakota, after splitting with I-90 in Montana, so this was new scenery for us. The west part of South Dakota is really beautiful. However, with three little ones in the car on our long first day driving across South Dakota, we didn't take the scenic detour through the Badlands, but did see them from a distance.

We did stop in at Wall Drug. What with seeing Wall Drug billboards about every mile across the entire state, we thought maybe it was mandatory and didn't want to risk answering to the locals if we told them we hadn't stopped. So we ate dinner there on our way to Rapid City.

The next morning we got up and headed to Mount Rushmore for a peak at the Presidents before heading west.

We also drove past the new Chief Crazy Horse monument being built. This is a drive-by picture since they were charging something like $20 per person just to park. It was impressive, and it will be interesting to see once it's finished.

All in all, a successful road-trip detour. We even got into Billings that night with enough time to play in the hotel water park for a while.

And here ends our Minnesota Road Trip documentation. Since getting home a few weeks ago we have enjoyed beautiful summer weather and relaxation. The backyard is being well utilized by the girls, Andy is getting a few projects done, Ailey is taking swim and soccer lessons, and my new SNOMOMS year is about to begin with myself as the reluctant President. I hope you all are enjoying summer too!

Patriotic Chanhassen

We took a detour on our way home from our Minnesota trip, driving east to the cities before heading back west. Cousins Ted and Angie and their girls let us crash their weekend and their guest room for a hot 4th of July weekend.

Here are Karin Elizabeth and Marin Elizabeth lounging in the backyard.
There was a kiddie parade on Saturday. Brenda, Tayler and Ashlyn joined us that day. Angie had all the deco ready, so after donning some accessories and draping the bikes, scooters and wagons in red, white and blue we all headed into Chanhassen.

Here is the crew of cousins ready for the parade: Ashlyn, Marin, Ailey, Silje, Elin, Haley, Karin and Tayler.Andy pulled Marin and SiljeAnd Ailey started out on a scooter.

By the time we saw them bringing up the end of the parade, Marin was pulling the wagon, Ailey was riding Haley's bike, and Silje was walking (in the background). Marin and Silje have never been very good at just sitting!

It was a hot day, so it was nice to get some juice at the end of the parade.

There was a chalk drawing contest too, which Haley entered. Luckily there was enough room that everyone could draw a little bit.

And there were suckers of course.

Thank you to Ted, Angie, Elin, Karin and Haley for hosting us. And especially to the Ellefson girls for entertaining the Higgins girls so well! You can come to Washington and babysit any time. :)

A Day at the Farm

I say it was a day, but really it was just an afternoon and evening out at Aunt Sharon and Uncle Arnie's farm. After seeing how much fun the girls had playing with Jonny and Nick, after a few good four-wheeler rides and the hands-down-best pork chops I've ever had, I wish we could have spent the whole day out there.

"Hey! Where is there room for me?"

... With Nick

... With Johnny

I told Kari I thought Nick was trying to look like Harry Potter. She told me Nick was definitely trying to be Clark Kent. Ah yes, those boys are into Superman big time!

So much room to run!!

With Grandma Hazel, who came for the evening too.

Thank you Aunt Sharon and Uncle Arnie - for the great food, for letting the girls feed the chickens, and for all that space to play and the good weather to go with it!

A 90th Birthday Party

My Grandma Hazel turns 90 in August. And just for her, her 40 descendents descended upon the cabin at Eagle Lake to celebrate.

We had a photographer come out to take a picture of our crew. I'll post some of those when I get ahold of them. But here is Grandma with her 18 great-grandkids.
Grandma had a lot to watch.

I think Luke was practicing floating on the water.

Marin and Silje took a moment to get a snack. The table was just the right height!

Ailey getting warmed up, sitting on the dock with 2nd cousin Lauren.

Fun in the sandbox.

Ailey took a boat ride with Aunt Sarah.

Ahhh, surf-boarding....

It took a few minutes to light all of Grandma's 90 candles, spread out on 40 cupcakes and a cake!

Grandma got a tub-full of cash to spend on some pampering.

Irene and Lauren.

Enjoying the cupcakes.

Cousin Kevin got out a practice fishing pole for Ailey to try.

She moved on to a real one ... and proceeded to catch 6 fish!

Sarah and Brenda.

Ailey and 2nd cousin Haley.