Having A Ball In Sioux Falls!

We spent our Labor Day weekend making a quick trip to visit our favorite South Dakota people.

Kailyn was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. Isn't she a beautiful, grown-up girl?

Caden, age 4

Ava, age 5 months. Shelly and Ken claim Ava is a cranky night owl. I find that hard to believe-she's such a sweetheart during the day.

Jordan, age 6

Chase, age 2.

Here we are with Kailyn, right before her baptism.

Kailyn and her grandparents. It was fun to all be together.

Megan was wildly popular with the Bassett kids. She even watched Word Girl with them. Megan can now read all kinds of new words.

We spent Saturday afternoon exploring the falls of Sioux Falls.

There was a gorgeous, large park you could wander around,

play in the slime,

and (oops!) fall in.

Jordan and Kailyn had fun climbing down the cliffs.

We eventually ended up at the cafe/ice cream shop, where Ava found us this steal of a deal: if you buy one meal for the price of two meals, you get a second meal totally free! Wow! These South Dakotans know how to reel you in!

The kids, surprisingly enough,  chose a rainbow ice cream

which will hopefully fade before Jordan's first prom.

Next we went to a science park. Can I just say that South Dakota knows how to make communities attractive for families? Here Megan shows her entourage how to make a human sundial. 

 There were swings and

things to climb on.

Ava may look like she's having fun with Dad, but ignore that happy face.

I know she was terrified to be flying so high, despite her joyous giggle.

We also drove by Ken's hospital. Okay, technically it's not Ken's hospital, he just works here.

This is the children's wing of Ken's hospital. Okay, once again, I know it's not exactly Ken's hospital, but if Ken were going to own a hospital, I vote for this one.

After church on Sunday and lunch together, we headed homeward.  Along the way we stopped at the Dakota Badlands.

We also made a quick stop at the famous Wall Drug Store.

We spent the night in Rapid City, and got up this morning to visit the Presidents.

Megan is suppose to look like she's holding up the mountain, but once again my technical skills were AWOL and I just made Megan look like a Price is Right model.

I found this warning in the Rushmore bathroom. Darn. Now I have to take my rocks home dirty.

 We also stopped to visit this monument to Crazy Horse, which has been in the works for 63 years. It was a big disappointment.  Not only was it expensive to get in, but only about 10 percent is done (eventually he will be riding a horse) and the viewing spot was about a mile away unless you wanted to pay even more money to take a bus and get a little closer.

Of course, no visit to Rapid City is complete without a stop at the eerie and weird "Cosmos House".
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Megan demonstrated the mysterious force.

We stopped by Reptile Gardens so that Megan could pet the turtle she rode on 17 years ago.  She thought it had shrunk a bit. We also saw the bird show, snake show, and alligator wrestling.

We knew it was time to go home when we found Megan inappropriately flirting with the locals...

We will spend tomorrow packing up, then on to Idaho. *Sniff*

How Many Pictures Can I Take During One Event?

Before the Party

Today was Megan's graduation Open House.  We had a two hour party and 17,983 people showed up.

Ava got ready using the same hairdresser Makayla uses.

The two year olds--Krew and Chase--came ready for fun.

We sliced, diced, rolled, stabbed, cut, mixed, scooped, folded, cooked, cooled, arranged, and then we really got to work.

The cousins worked hard to burn off some energy.

Caden and Krew guarding the cooler.

Kailyn thought the table looked a bit plain. She suggested curling little bits of ribbon and sprinkling them on the table with Jordan.  It looked really cute.

Did I mention how we sliced, diced, rolled, stabbed, cut, mixed, scooped, folded, cooked, cooled, arranged, and then we really got to work?

The twins-- Ashley and Ava.

The party food (and lunch, dinner, snacks, and, um, breakfast).

Ashley and Ashleyette

During the Party

Let me just say, none of us had any idea Megan knew so many people.

They just kept coming

and eating

and coming

I believe everyone in Megan's graduation class showed up.

Suddenly I understand why Megan is always too busy to do homework.

I found someone scary to do crowd control.

Some people thought the party got a little boring.

Conner telling Megan a story about rabbits?

The honoree.

After the Party
Hailey gives free belly rubs.

This sign has been around for awhile.  It officially retires today.

More bored party guests.

Cousins carefully coloring cards for Megan.

Cousin bonding time.

McKay was, hands down, the most popular Uncle here today. Never mind that he was the only Uncle here, he was still the most popular.

More two year old cousins.

Poor Krew could not stop bumping and falling and bruising. Note the bruise on his right forehead, the scratch on his left forehead, and the bruise over his left eye.  That represents three separate traumatic events.