Cheyenne Frontier Days

For Shawn's birthday, he took half the day off, and we went to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. It was sure fun to be at a rodeo again, but was somewhat strange that is was during the day. 

For reasons of being really busy with 4 kids, we didn't get any pictures taken at the rodeo, but after it was over, we headed over to the amusement park to ride some rides.

Emma talked Shawn and Paige to got on this ride together, but only 2 to a seat, so Emma rode alone.

Mason started out easy and a train ride, and he wanted to be in the first car. I was sure this was the kind of ride he's do till his tickets were gone.

Carter and I rode this cute ride (cause there wasn't a height restriction) and he was ok with it at first, but by the end was done. He really enjoyed the merry go round. 

Emma and Paige wanted to go on this kiddie roller coaster (about all I can handle also) and we let them. They had so much fun!

 After they were done and had headed off to another ride with Shawn, Mason decided he wanted to go on it also. I was really hesitant to let him, so we tried to find something else to do. After the last roller coaster Mason went on, I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with another melt down, crying fit because he could just get off with it got scary. (He takes after me) But he was persistent. We left Carter with Shawn, and I got on the ride with Mason. I had to make him think I loved it, and I knew that going on this ride (I HATE roller coasters) so I smiled and put my hands in the air and tried to get him to do the same. He loved it the first time around, but when the coaster passed the exit and we didn't stop, he tried to get off, then covered his eyes and started to wine. I got in his face and told him that he liked it the last time it went around and this wouldn't be any different. He took his hands off his eyes and gave me his reassuring smile. It made me laugh.

We rode the tractor trailer to the farthest spot we could then walked the rest of the way to the car. Everyone agreed it was a fun day. It was a Happy Birthday for Shawn.

Part 2: Cook Lake, Wyoming 2013

On one of our ATV rides we found this cute creek to stop and play in. All the kids had so much fun walking around and enjoyed getting wet. 

 We threw Luckie's frisbee for him trying to help him get wet, and he tried his hardest to stay dry. The water was cold mountain water.

 The kids picked lots of beautiful wild flowers that I wish grew in my yard.  I love mountain flowers.

Our last night in camp we decided we would hike around the lake, but Mother Nature had other plans. As we headed out there was thunder in the distance and it started sprinkling, and that should have told us to wait it out, but we left. We hiked past the rest of the camp spots around the lake, past the cattle fence and over the creek... then we headed up a hill and down a staircase. The rain started to pick up and the thunder became closer.

 About a quarter away around the clouds opened and it down poured. We huddled in a very small patch of trees to keep some shelter, but it wasn't very covered and we still got wet.

 We said a prayer and asked that the rain either stop so we could continue on, or it would lighten up so we could head back to camp with out getting drenched completely. It eased up and we decided to head back to camp. Mason led out and was our leader for half the way back. He took being the leader seriously. He was making sure he was keeping a good pace so his sisters couldn't take over the lead and didn't get distracted like he had been when he wasn't the leader.

 The kids thought the staircase in the forest was pretty awesome. I thought it was much better than trekking up a muddy hill.

We crossed the creek again, and the weather got much better... it wasn't even raining anymore, but the skies didn't look too promising so we continued back to camp. 

 The sun came out about 15 minutes after we got to our campsite. I was glad we were building a fire to warm up, and happy that it didn't start raining again once we got back. We talked about how Heavenly Father answered our pray even though it wasn't the way the kids all wanted it to happen.  Now we started to pray everything would dry out before we packed up to head home the next day.

On the 16th we packed up and spent our 10 anniversary driving home. We took a small detour to go see Devils Tower. It is huge and has such intriguing rock formations. After our experience with Mt. Rushmore, we decided that not going into the park to get a little closer was a better decision. We still got some good pictures, and the kids still loved it. . 

 

Part 1: Cook Lake, Wyoming 2013

On our way up North we stopped in Lost Springs, Wyoming for some lunch. It is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and it's a bit old fashioned, but it was all you need for a picnic and a place to get the wiggles out.

 The grass was so lush, and soft. The slides were a little hot, but the kids loved the merry go round and we loved the adult sized swing that you can barely see in the trees on the left. This is a must stop place if we are in the middle of nowhere again.

We arrived at our destination around 4 pm and found the best place to set up camp.

Our spot was so beautiful. Who wouldn't want to wake up to see this every morning. 

The tent was covered by shade most of the day, we just had full sun in the morning, which helped warm it up as everyone was waking up.

  

Friday morning, July 12, we had breakfast and then hit the dock to do some fishing. It's been a little while since the kids have been fishing, and they had ants in their pants and could hardly wait. Everyone eventually caught one. Mason's only fish was really small and I wasn't at the dock to take a picture, so Mason doesn't have a picture of his only fish. We caught a lot of small catfish and decided that we would cook up some of the bigger ones and see what they tasted like. Emma decided that she likes catfish better than trout.

 Before we could clean the fish and gut them, the girls played with them as if they were best of friends.

That afternoon, we jumped into the lake to cool off and play. Oh did we play. 

 The kids had so much fun squirting each other and really enjoyed just relaxing in the water. Our kids have always loved the water and if we would let them, they would probably become fish and never get out.

That evening a storm moved in and it rained on us a bit. We usually have one really good storm while camping and this one didn't compare. It rained but there was no thunder and the rain didn't last long. It was long enough that we needed to cover up the dutch ovens, but then things started drying out. That night we realized that our tent wasn't as waterproof as it had been for the last several years. We had puddles in our tents and some of he sleeping bags were damp. Our zipper decided it was time to not stay zipped anymore either, and we decided it was time for a new tent. The next morning we awoke to a bright sun and everything was drying out.  We decided to go to Rapid City, SD to get some new supplies, and to head over to Keystone and visit Mt. Rushmore. We talked the kids into a day trip and set out.

Mt. Rushmore was a lot smaller than I had thought it to be. We had taken Luckie with us, but when we got to the park there were no dogs allowed in the park. We parked the car, walked in, got some pictures, which weren't all that good cause the sun was in our eyes, and then we left. It was short, hot and fun. 

Going back into Rapid City on Highway 16 we stopped at Bear Country to have a drive thru wildlife tour. The kids all got out of their seats and were glued to the windows of the car. It was so fun to see so many bears and other wildlife so up close but still being very safe.

 We got back to camp and set up our new tent, which is one Shawn has been eyeing for about 2 years. There is so much space for stuff and a bit more room to grow if we want. We could even put a few guest campers in with us if we wanted to.

 Shawn caught a frog for the kids. Emma and Paige were the ones who were holding it the hold time, but Carter and Mason were interested and found it exciting. They were so heartbroken when we broke the news that they had to put it back in nature.

 Sunday we went out in nature and enjoyed the beauty and creation of the forest. We got misted on for a while, but then the weather cleared up and it was nice for the rest of the day. Carter loves our new Polaris Ranger and was always asking to go bye bye. He usually fell asleep about 5 minutes out of camp. We had a lot of fun trail riding and being in the back country as a family.

In the middle of the day we stopped where a few trail road met and had some instructional shooting lessons from the Dad. He was so excited to finally get me with a gun in my hands. I have to stay it was pretty fun and I was a pretty good shot for my first time.

That evening back at camp, Shawn and the girls were trying out a different fishing spot when Mason decided to jump into the lake clothes and all. By the time I got there with the camera he had taken off his shoes, socks and pants. Oh, he was a muddy mess.

 Paige had gotten her bum dirty, and her shorts were wet, but not like Mason. 

 We turned one of the totes into a tub, warmed up some water and the big kids got a bath.