our trip home

on our way home we had an interesting and fun trip. We took the kids to reptile gardens it was fun the alligator show was amazing.


We decided to take the long way home and drive through the badlands. It was beautiful. I've never been before and I was glad we did it.
I also realized something on the way home that people who live WAY OUT in the boonies have like seven cars . Not that they don't get new a car when the need arise just that they don't ever get ride of the old ones I found this very perplexing. I may have to think on it a little more!

badlands






Also on the way home we saw a bar now I know what your thinking so what a bar. But this one was special it was a drive though bar. I was about rolling on the floor. Of course we had to go there cuz I needed Ice.( I forgot it on the last stop Poor honey sometime I'm a BAD wife) LOL So the next two pictures are of the bar with a drive through window.







This is a pheasant they can be found as I discovered ALL over the back roads of S.D.
Pheasant







This is what happens when a pheasant hits the windshield of your car! Yea I know I got shitty luck. What are ya gonna do? I out lined the crack in black!





Last but not least I SWEAR this sign was in one of the towns we drove though. I found it so amusing I had to go back and take a picture!

To the mall

On my last day visiting my mom and Family I told my cousin we'd go to the mall. I'd been there before and was sure I could find it again. After deciding to leave ALL the kids at home with my mom and sister (they didn't want to go) my aunt decided to go as well. So were off for a girls night out!

We went in the direction I thought the mall was (I did have them release all liability for getting lost before we left my moms) and ended up getting lost! ( no I don't think you understand we were REALLY lost) but beings that I'm not a man I have no trouble asking for directions. We're out in the middle of no where and I finally decide to turn around. Across the street there is a parking lot ( I choose the bar parking lot ) to turn around in. Some one is getting in to the car so I drive over, by this time shes driving off. I flag her down and she waves at me I say wait stop. open the car door ( I'm sure by this time shes peeing her pants thinking I'm going to take her out did I mention earlier I'm white trailer trash ) She stops and I ask her how to get to the mall she says you can follow us and then gives a few more instructions for after she takes her turn off the road. She must have figured out we weren't planing on taking her out after all!
so after 25 minutes of driving we FINALLY find the mall. I was way off track. I know!We run in to best buy and get a CD for my cousin then head over to the mall (indoors )we went in though Barnes and Noble (yeah not smart if I want to see the rest of the mall) but we were in a hurry it was almost closing time. So we did our shopping and then went back to the book store. We spent an hour in the book store then headed home. Well to my moms anyhow. I AGAIN got on the wrong highway and we got lost. We ended up on a two way highway and when I decided to turn around there was a really old scary house I half expected the cast from Texas Chainsaw Massacre to come out and hack us up to pieces! We call my mom for directions and head in the RIGHT way. We made it back safe and sound and it only took us an extra 2 hours. Despite all the craziness we had fun!

Cinnamon rolls YUMMY

when I was a girl my grandpa would make cinnamon rolls. I remember going to visit and there would be dough spread out on the table and butter and cinnamon and sugar shortly behind it. I must say these are the best cinnamon rolls EVER I know it could be a biased opinion but I think not! well visiting my family
G&G brought some along. There was about 10 of them I must say I considered hiding them and not sharing but I only took one (well maybe two one for later) and left the rest. All I can say is yum!

My family

I went to see my family over Memoral day weekend. My mom lives about 2 and a half hours from where I do. The kids and I left on Saturday at about 12:00 ( the monsters nap time, hey at least I didn't give him benadrly LOL ) we arrived around 2:30 and visited with my mom for a couple hours before my dad and sister showed up. My G&G (grandma and grandpa) along with my aunt and cousin showed up at about 5:00. I was very nervous cuz my dad and sister like to drink a couple beers( for those of you who know them they have slowed down over the years) my grandmother does not find this a good idea so I was kinda worried about how the weekend was going to turn out.

Sidenote My mom and dad have been divorced for over 20 years. They however get along great now and are WONDERFUL grandparents and we are able to do things as a family now don't get me wrong I'm not one of those kids who wants their parents to get back together. They are great but not together. Besides they have been divorced ever since I can remember. END SIDE NOTE

I must say I'm extremely impressed my dad and sister waited till G&G went back to the hotel to drink and everyone got a long great.

My dad took the kids bike riding all weekend and I must say he is an AMAZING grandpa he cooked dinner and went to the store (taking all the kids except for the monster with him because his name is exactly as he is).He carved roaster for their marshmallows out of sticks when we have hangers down stairs but he wants to do it the "old fashioned way" I love it! He made sure they had super soakers for their out door adventures this summer (some how the monster got the short end of this stick and was drenched with in the hour and by the way he loved it so not to worry) He has to go home tomorrow and I'm sad, till next time I guess but even though I've been gone for the better part of 7 years it doesn't make it any eaider to say goodbye.

G&G are good they are getting older and it make me feel bad about moving away. It's times like this I wish I could move home but the living there is so high and the pay is not that good (besides to do what I do I'd have to live like 50 miles away from where I want to in a town that I don't really like or wouldn't want to raise my kids in.

We had a great time! I'll post more about this later(in detail just to warn you) and I can't wait to see them in July!