South Dakota Part 4

After much reminding from the kids we finally got to bring out the BB guns.  It took a lot longer than we originally planned but the kids had fun just the same.  

 Helping Papa set up the targets.

 Carson hasn't figured out how to aim yet but he had a great time pulling the trigger!

 Dillon adapted pretty quickly!

 Kayda is an old pro!  She picked that thing up and immediately started hitting what she wa aiming for.

 Of course, just shooting BB's wasn't sufficient so out came the bow!  Grandma is our archer so she helped them all!

 Carson wasn't quite strong enough to pull and hold it.

 Now, bows and arrows aren't enough either so out came the A-22.  The kids are really luck in the fact that Grandma and Papa decided to outfit themselves with things for their grandkids.  It has been wonderful for teaching the kids.  They are learning gun safety WAY more thoroughly than many kids EVER do.

 Papa talks with them how to hold an empty gun, a loaded gun, how to tell if a gun it loaded, what the bullet looks like...

 Then he shows them how to load it.

 How to aim, and how to shoot it.  The entire time we're out there we are practicing open/closed range, a range "line" and constantly reminding kids to keep guns up and away. Fortunately our kids are quick learners and listen very well so we feel okay doing these activities with them.

 We also let them try the A 22 pistol.  None of them were too fond of it but they all wanted to try it out. 

 Dillon and I just hung out.  I would grab the brass and hand him another bullet.  He loaded and everything else on his own.  When they were done Daddy and I got to play.  I discovered that I like to shoot things that will bounce around and move.  Targets have zero appeal to me. Thanks to Papa I now know what guns I would like to own.  Now I guess I better start saving.

 On another trip we headed to wind cave.

 Kayda was not a fan.  She spent the whole time huddled against my legs.  Carson went up and down, one second he liked it, the next he was scared and wanted to be held.  Which is not an easy task when you're having to duck fairly frequently.

 Dillon was enamored!  He LOVED it.  He was constantly looking in every nook, cranny and hole wanting to see more.  He wanted to explore!

 This is boxwork.  Essentially it's calcite that fills the cracks in limestone, then the limestone dissolved away.  So it's a negative impression of the limestone.

 Popcorn.  The only other type of formation in the entire cave.

 This was the first cave the kiddos have ever been in.  It was not the right cave to take them too.  This is one of the most complex caves in the world and they are still mapping new areas.  I don't know why, it is not an interesting cave by any means.

 Baby Clara and I hanging out.  She introduced herself to me by spitting up in copious amounts all down my shirt.  Then she pooped out of her diaper for me.  Then she decided I was pretty cool and loved me the rest of the trip.

 Of course, when grandkids are nearby cookies have to be made.  It's one of Grandma's rules!

 I know you're not supposed to eat raw cookie dough.  I refuse to listen.  Grandma grew up eating it, I ate it and now my kids will eat it.  It is so much more delicious than baked cookies.  Why would I deprive my children of such an experience?


We picked up Junior ranger books for the kids.  There were activity pages for them to complete and tasks to do and programs to go to.  We were just going to have them earn the patch but they wanted to do more.  They ended up getting their certificate, seal, patch and the four extra seals you could earn.

 We drove the wildlife loop three times, then had to go back out for the junior ranger program.  We went the opposite way and found this beautiful view.  This is what most of the area looks like.  The amount of trees vary and it isn't always so green but I love the way the land moves.

 On our way back from completing a junior ranger requirement we stopped at the look out tower.  I can't remember the name right now.  Carson hated it.  We had to drive up a road with a drop off next to it and he was terrified the entire time.  You can just see his eyes poking over the edge.  He wouldn't let us pick him up when we were up there.

 The views were fantastic though some were obstructed by the lines for the vell phone towers that have taken over the space.

 One of the activities we decided to do was "hook 'em and cook 'em" they provided the gear and the bait, you got to fish.  What a great way for parents that don't fish to take their kids fishing!

 The man that put the worm on Carson's hook told us about how the first timers were always the first to catch a fish.  Carson was the only one he said this to in the large group and sure enough, Carson was the first to catch a fish.  He caught a small blue gill (sunfish).  It was too small to eat so it was put back but he was thrilled!

 Dillon caught one a little bigger.  The hook got in there deeper so while deciding if we should eat it we stressed it out a little too much.  It was put in a bucket of water but didn't live much longer.

 Kayda was so persistent and patient!  She had so many fish go by and nibble on her hook but none grabbed it.  Then finally she got one!  It was another small sunfish that was released back into the lake but she was thrilled!

 Dillon's fish was cooked and he got to try it.  He says he likes it.  I want to learn how to cook fish and hopefully figure out how to eat it too!  I have a weird list of things that I want to learn how to do.  For whatever reason I feel the drive to learn how to slaughter and dress an animal, cook fish etc.  Just in case I ever need to.  The idea actually repulses me and I'm so grateful that we have grocery stores.  It doesn't change the fact that part of me feels the need to know.

 Another program we went to was canoeing.  I thought Carson was too little so we went to play at the swim area.

 See that forest?  How you can see through it and there is all this light in there?  It's all like that there!

 Carson decided he wanted to go canoeing so despite my efforts to distract him he eventually just walked away from me to go to the canoes. We were able to get a life jacket on tight enough to satisfy the rangers and out we went.  We surprised Kayda, Daddy and Dillon.

 Afterwards they got to play at the lake for a little while.  They had a great time chasing around the tiny fish that liked to hang out by the shore.

 Kayda and Dillon earned 5 seals, their certificate and their patch.  Due to his age Carson had a different program and could only earn one patch called the pups patch but he was quite pleased to have earned that.  The ranger called everyone to attention and told them about the kids' hard work and then presented their patches to them.