Where We Went (Corn Palace & Badlands)

Spring Break Part 2

We stayed the night in Sioux Falls, SD then headed West for our next stay in Rapid City.  On the way we made a few fun stops:


First we stopped in Mitchell, SD to go to the Corn Palace (World's Only Corn Palace!!).  Contrary to what google maps said, it was not open so we just took some pictures.  Later we found out they are about to change the scenes for the year.

This is for Neal because he thought this was "cool"

This statue is supposed to represent the unifying of man and wind or bird or something like that.  Garett is doing his manly pose.

The pictures are made out of corn cobs... hence Corn Palace

Some castle across the street- Adam is wearing a knight shirt so it fit.  Must be a happin' place when it's not off season.

A creepy mannequin in a closed shop.  The kids were enthralled and terrified of it at the same time.

And then after endless fields of dead prairie, the Badlands National Park:

Earning their Jr. Ranger badges

Exploring the rocks

Fossil Trail

Ryan really wants to slide down the pathway

It was such a beautiful warm and sunny day!!

We didn't make it back to the visitor's center for the boys to get their Jr. Ranger badges, but since this is on the way back we'll get it then.  It was so unusually warm and nice it was perfect for exploring the rocks and trails.

Now to keep going to Rapid City...

Spring Break- Or Where We Went (Blue Bunny)

We actually had fantastic weather recently so we just had to take advantage of it and go on a family trip before baby comes.  We packed our bags and headed out to amazing, exciting,.... South Dakota!!!

First we stopped off in Le Mars, Iowa where Blue Bunny ice cream is made.  We ate dinner and boy did we think big hair was the style in this city because every lady in the place had HUGE hair!  I felt like I was back in the 90s.  But when we got to Blue Bunny we were relived to see normal size hair.  I guess big haired ladies like Mexican food.

Blue Bunny is my favorite ice cream so this has been on my list for several years.  You can't tour the factory, but at the ice cream parlor they have all the tour stuff for you to do.  And of course we had to get some ice cream too!!

Back in the car and off to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Baby May #4

Monday was the ultrasound to see the baby.  Adam and Ryan came with us to see- they are so excited for the baby!  Garett, well Garett could care less so he went to a sitters'.

Here are some of the pictures:

profile

Giving us a "thumbs up"!

Just sucking on a hand

And of course:

(sorry if you don't like nudity)

So we will yet again be having a boy!  He wasn't real cooperative for the pictures but it is so much fun to watch the ultrasound!  Now we will have to begin the long process of deciding on a name.  We have such a hard time thinking of boy names!

Giving

The kids get so excited about Christmas- the presents and Santa and all the fun things that we do.  Sometimes a little too excited! (like last year when the kids got up at 2am)

One of our traditions is giving a little gift to some of our neighbors and caroling to them.  The boys are starting to actually sing now, so I think we've gotten a little better at it!  This year we did grinch cookies with a little poem about letting our hearts grow with the real meaning of Christmas.  We sang "Jingle Bells" (cop out I know!).  One neighbor lost their cat while we were singing, one asked us who we were (EVERY year she asks that- they live right across the street and we've done this for about 8 years), it was SUPER cold, the Ryan was freaking out about the people owning pets.  Needless to say there was a lot of crying and whining- but we completed our task and came home for some hot chocolate.

The kids like to make gifts for their teachers each year.  This year I completely forgot about teacher gifts until a couple days before school got out so we had to improvise.  I got some fun hot chocolate stuff (including flavoring from the dollar store- hope it tastes good!).  Then the boys colored marshmallows with some food markers to make designer marshmallows or snowmen.  It turned out great!

Then, of course, I had to make some visiting teaching gifts- hot chocolate on a stick.

And we can't forget Ryan's tutor!  This one was fun- I wrapped a diaper box and filled it with food for a family night- soda, pizza toppings, pretzel crust mix I made, cupcake mix and popcorn

Tis the season!

Keeping Busy- Traditions!

One of our traditions is that the kids get to pick out their own ornament each year.  It is tons of fun seeing what they pick out- what their likes are for the year or just what caught their eye.

This year it has been hard for me to do things with the kids- I just don't have a lot of energy, what with being sick and pregnant.  But I still want the kids to have fun and I love doing things with them so when I have a streak of energy we do something fun.

When Adam and Dad went to a Pokemon tournament we just had to have our own fun at home!  We made fruit loop wreaths and candy canes (we probably ate half the box of fruit loops!) and then made some tree ornaments out of twigs from the yard.

Garett was in charge of FHE treat so we made my famous super easy 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies (remember no energy) and turned them into reindeer for something festive.

Then, Ryan was in charge of the activity for FHE so he decided we should make a Lego nativity.  We each made a different part of the nativity and it turned out great!  We have a book that is the story of Christmas and all the scenes are made from Legos- the kids LOVE it and this was right up their alley!

And then of course we had to put up the Christmas lights!

Putting up the Christmas lights means that the little men get to go up on the roof with dad, which means mom has to stay in the house and pretend that it's not happening so I don't have my stomach in my throat the whole time.