south dakota 2014

it's almost the middle of summer 2015 -- 

so that means it's time for me to finish blogging about the summer of 2014!!!

summer wouldn't be summer if we didn't do a road trip with grama.

so we packed up and headed west ......

first stop was trying to photograph the PEACOCKS that were
out for a walk ......

second stop was our favorite dairy queen in granite falls ......

the gift shop in pipestone allowed for some silly photo ops .....

zoe loved seeing the little squirrel that does 'her thing'

(inside joke) ...... 

ella was brave and fearless ......

we all had fun : )

once in souix falls SOPHIE was the highlight ......

day trip to madison (where my mom grew up) and 

a walking museum called 'praire village' where the church and school

she went to when she was little and the house she lived in are part of

that historical community was interesting and fun (and HOT).

we played the piano and sang in the church .....

ella's sermon got me yawning ....


zoe's sermon made me fall asleep .....   : )

and we visited the winfred jail ....

we ate lunch at a fun place in town, where the girls rescued a baby bird that

flew into the restaurant through and open door, and then couldn't figure out

how to get back out ....

that evening we went to the butterfly garden in souix falls with uncle doug ~

and the aquarium ....

it was hard to leave sophie -- but was another great south dakota adventure!!

the drive home included a few pit stops ....

and a fun lunch in pipestone .....

road trips with grama are always the best!!

cabin fun ~

hello cabin fun!!

perfect way to spend a summer day .....

hello cousin fun .....

hello water fun .....

hello dog and uncle fun ~

 hello first time waterskiing in over 20 years fun!!!

 and hello first time ever for tom, fun!!

first time for ella too, but the adult skis were too big.

so the kids each climbed on uncle luke's back and held
on tight while he did the skiing -- just like when he
was a little boy and dad skied with him on his back.
hello continuing traditions, fun!!

hello first and second place game winners -- and super fun

grama!!  cabin fun is SO much fun!!!