Day 18 : South Dakota Sights

{ Sabbath, 01 August 2009 }

Happy Sabbath, y'all! We're here in yet another Koa Kampground, this time inside the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. We're sharing space with the thousands of Sturgis motorcyclists who are banning together this week for their annual Sturgis Fest. Seriously, we've passed over a million Harley-Davidsons within the last two days. Seriously.

After jet setting back from the east coast for what seems like an endless time of highways, rest areas and McDonalds, it is really nice to actually spend a Sabbath staying still and just enjoying God's nature. No driving, no agenda, no drama. Just beautiful blue skies, blue waters and beautiful family. There's nothing better than that!

This morning the keikis awoke and discovered their favorite playground since beginning this road trip. They spent over three hours there, climbing and playing and laughing.

THEIR FAVORITE PLAYGROUND IS RAINBOW FUN

SLIDING DOWN

TRYING TO STOP GRAVITY

JUST ENJOY THE RIDE

MAILE'S TURN

KALE'A AND HIS DAD RACED INSTEAD

GET READY

GET SET

GO!

TETHER BALL SOLO STYLE

WHEEE!

OOH, OUCH!

The next three photos show just how happy our keikis are when they are free to play:

Maile then saw her mama sitting on the swings and - being the mama's girl she is - toddled over to her and said, "swing, mama." She then proceeded to push Christine.

I cooked a spaghetti lunch and we enjoyed our picnic right outside our RV. Dear reader(s), you must - if you have yet to embark on one - rent an RV and drive somewhere, stopping at a Koa Kampground or other RV parks and camp. It's so much fun!

GIAN GREW A GOATEE IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES

THIS IS HOW EVERY SABBATH SHOULD BE!

After lunch we took the kids to the swimming pool and spent the afternoon relaxing in the kiddie and deeper pools. The sun was hot so it was nice cooling off.

"I NEED IT JUST RIGHT," SAYS MAILE

"AHH, NOW I CAN RELAX!"

"DO YOU WANT TO PLAY MAILE?"

GRANDMA HAS THE RIGHT TOUCH WITH THE PRINCESS

GIAN, YOU BETTER NOT BE DRINKING THE WATER

WHERE YAH SWIMMING TO, MAILE?

OH COURSE! TO YOUR MAMA.

JUMP, G!

After the refreshing dip into the pools we packed up camp and drove to the Badlands. Kale'a is in his climbing phase and climbed the nearest "mountain." We all joined in on the fun.

THE BEAUTIFUL BADLANDS {the native americans called this place the badlands due to its climate }

MAILE, ALL PRETTIED UP FOR THE MOUNTAINS

WALKING TO MEET KALE'A AND GIAN

COME JOIN US UP HERE!

GIAN, YOU DID IT!

GIAN, YOU JUST TOOK A SHOWER!

MOUNTAINEERS KALE'A AND AUNTIE LEI

YAY FOR US!

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN

SEE? THE BOYS FIGURED OUT A BETTER WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

NOW TURN AROUND, G

FOLLOWING HER BROTHERS

THE GIRLS

HAPAI CHRISTINE

MAMA SANDWICH

After the Badlands we headed to Mt. Rushmore. En route Kale'a discovered his grandma's camera and took these next photos. He's a budding photographer, I tell you!

KALE'A REALLY CAPTURED GRANDPA PERFECTLY!

IMITATING PRINCESS MAILE

SELF-PORTRAIT

We got to Mt. Rushmore just before sunset and everyone { save Gian and me } scurried out of the motorhome to see this iconic mountain. While I deliberated whether or not to awaken Gian from his deep sleep mom came by and insisted I wake him up so we can both see the mountain. I'm so glad she did.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE STURGIS PEOPLE MEET

IF KALE'A HAD HIS WAY, HE'D BIKE EVERYWHERE

LOOK HOW HAPPY OUR PARENTS ARE!

DAD AND HIS ELDEST CHILD AND GRANDCHILD

SO KALE'A

HOLA MR. PRESIDENTS

ANOTHER VIEW WITH THE SETTING SUN

REALLY, IT'S QUITE ODD YET BEAUTIFUL

WAITING FOR THE LIGHTING SERVICE TO BEGIN

After the lighting service we boarded the motorhome, fed the keikis, put them to bed and searched for the nearest Starbucks for yet another caffeine fix. After that, it's on to our next stop: Yellowstone National Park!