SD ROAD TRIP

The kids and I left KC at 5:45am this morning, destined for the Black Hills of South Dakota. The trip actually went really well and all three of them were little angels. The Mcdonalds lunch was probably the highlight of the trip so they are pretty easy!  I had to stop once to take a little rest and they were very content to watch a movie in the back. I entertained myself the rest of the time by listening to what they were saying...here are some of my favorites:

8:00 (Ben)- "Are we there yet?" (Um, no. This is an 11 hour drive and we've only been in the car for two hours and 15 minutes, dear....)
8:01 (Nick) "I am staaaaaarving!"
10:00 (Nick)- "Can we have lunch now?"
10:30 (Ben)- "Mom, you should unbuckle me. I going to barf."
11:45 (Olivia, just as we crossed into South Dakota)- Mom, it's already feeling like home, Mom. Can we drive by our old house while we are there? Maybe the morons that live there actually cut the grass this year....."

Other trip statistics:

Number of cheeseburgers consumed during lunch: 9.5
Number of times I thought "I hate these Wall Drug Signs" while crossing the SD plains: 17
Number of Looney Tunes episodes watched by the kids: 11
Number of times Ben unbuckled himself and said "Look Mom!": 31
Number of times Ben asked "Is this Grandma's house?": 14
Time we arrived on Ireland Place: 5:53pm
Anticipated date of Departure: Never

We loved every minute of our time in Rapid City. On our way into town, Olivia told me that the "second" she graduates from highschool, she is moving back to Rapid City. And she is not going to marry anyone who doesn't like the idea of living in South Dakota. I think she may be more in love than Chris and I.....!

We had a great time with my parents, just hanging out and doing some toursity stuff with them. The highlights were the Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park and Old McDonald's Farm.....

Nick could have touched these big boys, had he wanted to...

Smiley boys in the jeep

The breeze kept us cool and a little wind blown...

Part of the park's buffalo herd

"Oh, mom, it's baby Charlie! Can we keep him???"

This kid loves goats...

Any anything with wings...

Liv feeding a baby calf
The kids loved being back in Grandma and Grandpa's yard, chasing wildlife, playing basketball and swimming in the hot tub! They also spent time with some of our old neighborhood kids while I visited friends, shopped with my mom and  went on a couple of lunch dates! It was great! By the time we were ready to head home, we were all exhausted. This is pretty much all the kids did on the way home:

Thanks for the fun trip, South Dakota loved ones! See you again soon! XOXO