Our Month Vacation in Pictures

Our trip started off in the car to Rapid City, South Dakota. The weather was great and we hit up so many great spots. 

This is us at Bear Country, if you know anything about me, you know that I am basically terrified of animals so getting in a car and driving through a field of bears was a huge step for me. It was fun and we saw a lot of awesome animals but the bears were by far the coolest/scariest. 

The best picture I got of a bear. They were huge.

These are some of the baby bears, they loved to piggy back and bite at each other's ears.

After Bear Country we headed to a place called Jewel Cave. It's the second largest cave in North America and was really cool. On the way to the cave we stopped at this rock shop and Eric and I purchased these magnetic rocks for $.25 each. They kept us entertained for hours.

Eric tossing the football before heading to church.

After church we headed to Mt. Rushmore. I've been there once when I was little, but didn't remember it and it was Eric's first time.

We had a great time sitting, listening to the air force band play their music. It was a great place to be since the next day was the 4th. They did some really cool things and we also witnessed them swearing in  some new recruits.

Eric caught this gem of me.

On the 4th of July, we hit up the indoor water park at our hotel and then headed to the ranch in Bison, South Dakota. 

To say that Eric was in HEAVEN riding this is a huge understatement. The guys loved mowing the lawn on this beast. I took a turn at it and it was pretty fun but I was also really nervous I'd break it and my allergies weren't taking to the pollen and grass to well.

EB written on Eric's eggs.

This was on our trip into Lemmon, South Dakota. It's a town about 30-40 minutes away from the Ranch and they house the world's largest petrified wood forest. 

This is at Shadehill reservoir. We went fishing here and Eric got in the water.

Shadehill reservoir 

Eric swimming with our niece and nephew.

Ben and his catch

Eric and Emma's delicious bass

"I like turtles." This painted turtle was found on the side of the road and it was way pretty.

The ranch from across the pond.

After leaving the ranch, we drove through South Dakota and Iowa and there was flooding everywhere. Here is the McDonald's all sangbagged.

Long car rides=cat faces from  candy.

Winter Quarters visitor center.

Butterfields in Naperville, Eric's favorite breakfast place. They have orange juice that tastes like gold.

Cantigny Park in Illinois. They have all these tanks that you can climb around on. They also had a really cool visitor's center that made you feel like you were in the war zone.

Eric got glasses.

Skating at the Naperville mini skate park.

Sweaty Eric with a dent in his board.

Mowing the lawn in Naperville, not as fun as at the Ranch.

Going swimming in the neighbor's pool.

Michigan Sand Dunes. You can't tell but we are way high up a sand hill.

Eric jumping off the hill. We have a sweet video of everyone running down the hill.

At the bottom of the hill we hiked.

After the Dunes we hit up Notre Dame campus and saw pretty ivy all over. 

And also saw the touchdown Jesus.

Our niece's birthday was on Friday so we went to the Shedd aquarium. This is us in from of some of the larger water animals.

Outside the aquarium.

With Chicago in the background.

We also stepped out on the ledge at the top of the Sears (Willis) Tower. It was creepy but really cool to be up that high looking down with nothing under us (besides the glass.)

Top view of the ledge.

While we've been here Eric's been able to reconnect with his inner child and teach the kids about the good and bad of Star Wars.

Eric's shot of Turkeys as we revisited Cantingy

Back at the Cantingy park for Lt. Dan Band (aka the guy who plays Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump and is also the main guy in CSI:NY) It was a support the troops thing and really fun. Also my first time trying funnel cake which I now LOVE!

In Nauvoo where the pioneers crossed the Mississippi. It was SO hot and HUMID. While in Nauvoo we also saw the pageant which was really good!

We got to do a session in the Nauvoo temple and it was really something else! It was beautiful and so cool to think about the history behind this temple!