Trying to Finish Well!

Today was Kelli's 4th Birthday Checkup and Dakota's 6th Month Checkup. The Stats are... Kelli 36lbs and 42 inches long; Dakota 15lbs and she grew an 1 1/2 inches. They are both healthy and Kelli passed her hearing and vision test. So other than picking up school supplies she is ready to start Pre-school. Oh My Gosh! Dakota wearing Uncle Wade's Hat Daniel is doing good, tormenting the sisters. We are trying to figure out when we are leaving for Idaho once again but for a long week instead of less than 48 hours. Kelli and Krysten All the nieces but Dakota swinging with Aunt Misty's help

We drove to South Dakota Friday the 29th of June. The last of those driving to arrive. We met up with Shane folks and sibilings Saturday afternoon. I got the pleasure of meeting Shane great Uncle Art Boe. We hung out at Fred and Maries trailer visiting the remaining family members that were there.Then on Sundaywe all tried to go out to breakfast together, and then we had a fun time visiting Grandma Ingalls sibilings and various cousins. The kids played well together and we all tried to stay cool. Great Uncle Bryce did the traditional coin toss for the younger kids with Viking horns on his head! Grandpa Hugh made pitchfork fondue with the help of Blaine. Lots of visiting went on. (I might be off on the days, it all blurs together) Uncle Bryce tossing coins too the kids. On the 4th of July, Shanes Family headed out to Grandpa & Grandma's house to spend the day with family. Shanes Aunt Laila and family were staying out there also. The two K's ( Kelli & Krysten) rode horses...

Monday thru Thursday as a family we would try and do things together. Some of the activities are Monday, Wade & Anna + Shane & Kristi with kids went to Flinestone SD, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore Caves. We had a blast swapping spouses and kids throughout the trip down and back. Yabadabadoo! Barney, Fred, Krysten, & Kelli Shane, and Dakota, with Daniel off my elbow, Kelli, Krysten, and Kristi Kristi, Dakota, Shane, Daniel, Kelli, Anna, Krysten, Wade, Ashton at Mt.Rushmore Another adventure was Tuesday between the naps we went on a mile or so hike to see some waterfalls and have a picnic. What a caravan we had with strollers, backpack, coolers, kids, dog. It was truly enjoyable!! Something funny was on the walk up we kept seeing cars drive on the other side of the stream. Got to the falls and there was a parking lot with picnic tables, outhouses, paved walkways too the falls. Oh well it was good exercise! Needless to say some of us hiked back t...

Grandpa, Grandma, Dakota, and Kristi waiting for next round of pictures. Kelli & Daniel with Aunt Beth & Uncle Terry after the rain storm Dakota Smiling for Grandpa Hugh Kelli showing off her new boots and her hat the Aunt Anna gave to her Early morning moving cows

Friday the 7th? through the 9th was the Lawarence Ingalls Family Reunion. So Grandpa Hugh's siblings and Family. With 3 girls and 2 boys, the house it was held at looked like a small town. It started Friday night with "pitchfork fondue" which is a family favorite. Next time I talk to Grandpa I'll ask for the story on how it got started or if any of the relative reading this know I'm curious. It was good seeing the relatives I did know of Shanes and too meet those I didn't know. That night to pay for dinner the family had an auction, each relative was to bring something to sell. According to Grandma & Grandpa it was good thing Shane was sitting by them so they could control his bidding hand. I had taken the kids home, since it was bedtime and they were exhausted. We came home with some lovely things! Saturday was very hot temps. up to 103+, so the kids and I mainly hung out in the Air conditioned Motel room while Shane joined the Cribbage Tournement with hi...

We arrived at Grandpa & Grandma Ingalls ranch Sunday mid afternoon after wrapping things up at the Ingalls Family Reunion in Spearfish and saying "Goodbye" to Shane's Family. The kids were exhausted from the busy previous days, so they slept giving Shane & I a chance to debrief from the first part of the vacation and talk about what we wanted to do at the Ranch. We had wonderful time visiting with Shane cousin Wesley and his wife Toddie, Sunday night at their house. It was great to see how married life was treating them and how much Wesley grown up since our wedding almost 7 years ago. We spent Monday at the Ranch with Shane helping his Grandpa work cows in the morning at a friends house. I got a chance to chat with Grandma and the kids played. Then later that day we went to Shane Aunt Beth & Uncle Terry's house for visit and dinner. While there it a hard rain came and thunderbumpers. Shane and I enjoyed hearing that hard rain! I know it's bad for cro...

Before we left the ranch Wednesday afternoon that morning Shane went for a plane ride with his Grandpa and worked cows for his uncle Terry. Daniel and Kelli got to ride the horses again and "Blackie" horse sat Daniel while I was cleaning the car out and reorganizing. View from Grandpa Ingalls plane of the Machinery Shed. Better pictures later! Grandpa tickling Daniel and Dakota enjoying Grandma !! We got a luggage carrier rack for the top of the car in Belle Fouche, but couldn't find a carrier til Sheridan Wy. Needless to say we were a little packed. We spent the night in Billings since it was the Sheridan Rodeo that week. Repacked the car that next morning and continued through Montana. We had a nice drive through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho Wednesday night, and Thursday heading to my folks. Shane & I found out the Montana is the 4th largest state in size. On I-90 it is 562 miles through Montana. Sitting in road construction just inside of Idaho before Ashton, ID, f...

Since my pictures of the beginning of the vacation is still not retreivable I'll use pictures from my brother in-laws camera, and some from the one I bought temperally. Last day at my parents my sister Dawna suprised my sister Neva, mom and I with t-shirts from Dennis, Mass. Some might not know but that is my sisters and I maiden name. My dad got a hat from Neva with Grumpy from Snow White on it. So we got a picture. Kelli's 4th birthday was Friday the 13th and we had Dawna friend Gail and son Cole over with my cousin Tad, his daughter Daley, Aunt Wilda, Grandma Dennis, and Moth and Jule. Family Friends for 30+ years. The kids went swimming for probably 4 hrs. had pizza and cheese cake for dinner and had a great time visiting with everyone. Daley and Kelli later that afternoon Dakota and Great Grandma Dennis Gail and Dawna playing "ring around the rosey with the kids" It was a fun day by all and I appreciate my parents letting us have the get together at there house...

We made it! 3550 miles later, good times, great visit. Adventures and pictures coming. Too start out Lambing family picture 17 people, kids about outnumbered us