Mt. St. Helens

On Monday Jason and I hiked Mt. St. Helens.  We planned to go with a couple friends in May, and we decided we didn't have enough equipment to make the trip successful in all the snow and on the winter route.  Our church was organizing a trip in July, so we decided to try the hike with them instead. We started left the church at 3:30 in the morning, and started hiking at 6:00.

 After we hiked for about an hour in the woods(my favorite part), you reach the timberline. It then quickly goes to the huge rocks/boulders.

Then we hiked for about 2 hours up these boulders.  I was doing well, until it started to get windy.  Like 50 mile an hour wind.  So as you can see, we kept adding layers as the hike went on.

  Now we are 3 plus hours into it, getting knocked over by the wind, and we have reached the ash at the top.  People kept calling it the  "vertical beach". You are literally walking two steps forward one step back, getting pelted in the face by flying rocks/ash.  This is the point, where I wanted to turn back.  Jason kept going, so so did I.  I really could not have done this without him.

 We made it to the summit! YEAH It was an awesome feeling. I really wish it was a nicer day, so we could have seen more.

Then it took us quite some time to hike down.  It was even harder climbing down the boulders, because now my legs were tired. Once we reached the boulders, this huge cloud came in and we couldn't see the top anymore.  One of the people in our group was actually stuck up at the summit in this cloud.

It was a truly amazing experience, one that I am not ready to do tomorrow, but very glad that I did it.

Spokane and Yakima

After Wyoming we headed to my dear friend Rashell's cabin.  We had an amazing time and their cabin is wonderful.  We went down to the lake and had lots of fun.

We saw this rope swing and their dad couldn't help encouraging them to try it.

 After a short while and a trip back to get swimsuits, we couldn't get the girls out.  They were freezing but loving it.

 Then we stopped at Aunt Julie and Tyler's new house, soon to be uncle Tyler. It is an amazing house and we were so happy to see it.  So excited for the wedding we can hardly wait.

Devils Tower

We took a quick little detour to stop at the First National Monument, Devils Tower.

 We hiked all the way around, we saw a deer, and only had one girl fall down and cry.

 After the hike we filled out a little search and find form and the girls became official junior park rangers.

Rushmore Cave and Deadwood

After Mt. Rushmore we headed to Rushmore caves.  The girls had fun, about halfway through Maddie was ready for her nap and didn't want anything to do with the cave.

 Bailey and I went on this zip line. She giggled the whole way, I loved it.

 For the evening we headed to Deadwood for dinner.  We had fun in the town, there were a few too many people smoking on the sidewalk for my liking, otherwise a cute town.  Maddie didn't like the reenactments with all the shooting.  Scared her a little too much.

 Waiting in the Saloon for a reenactment of Wild Bill Hickocks' assassination.

 Standing in front of the Wild Bill Hickock wall for my dad.  Since we are related and all! :)

 This is the Saloon where it all went down, no more Wild Bill. :(

Mount Rushmore

You can't drive through South Dakota without stopping at Mt. Rushmore.  I guess this was my first time ever at Mt. Rushmore. I had assumed that I had been there at some point, and just forgot about it.  However, after a little research, this was my official first time to Mt. Rushmore.

 We made the small loop around, on a rather hot day, the girls were troopers.  We did however, reward them with ice cream.

Posing in front of the replica inside.  It was a little bit cooler in there.

 After Mt. Rushmore, we went to the Rushmore Caves and went on a tour.  The girls did very well and then right ni the middle of the walk, it hit nap time for Maddie.

Bailey and I went on the zip line.  She is my new roller coaster buddy and this is as close as we could get to a roller coaster.



Badlands

We spent one night in the Badlands.  This was the place that Jason was the most excited to visit. 

 We kept saying, "Man, that is some really BAD land!"

 The highlight for the girls was the camping cabin.  The KOA was a really great campground to stay at.

South Dakota Drive

There are lots of random things to see along the driving between Omaha and the badlands.  Our first stop along the was at the Corn Palace.

 While inside we bought the girls these very cool hats and they were a hit.

 They decorate the outside of the corn palace different every year and different artists get to show off their skills.  Inside is big basketball court and a stage.

 Next stop along I-90 that was a must is Wall Drug.  I think we could have been in there for way longer.  The girls had a blast, as did we.

Cousin Fun

Once we reached Omaha, we didn't wee the girls again.  They spent all of their time with Lauren (12) and Westby (8).  Here we are on the bridge to nowhere.

 Lauren spent multiple hours on different days curling Bailey's hair like this.

 Having a little fun with dress up.

 Riding the carousel at Scheels.

 Roasting marshmallows in the back yard.

 Getting ready for the championship game with our tattoos.

 We had an amazing trip to the Omaha Zoo!

Overall a success for these girls and their cousins.  They had so much fun and now they want to mover there to see them more often.