Fantasy Land

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA--Well, the reunion is over, and we've gone back to town. Today I'm visiting Storybook Island, which is a big park filled with nursery rhyme characters, little houses to explore, and lots of slides. My favorite slide looks like a big ice cream cone. I must have gone down it a thousand times. I also climbed up to the top of the treehouse and ran over the swinging bridge at Winnie the Pooh's house over and over and over again. I'm starting to slow down now, so I thought I'd take a break here at Snow White's. I wonder what I should do next.? Gotta decide fast, 'cause we're going home tomorrow.

Ride and ride and ride and ride and ride.....

SOMEWHERE IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA--Let's get this thing going! I've lost track of how many times I've circled the little zoo at Bear Country in this thing, but I'm ready to do it again. The waiting is the hardest part. They stop it now and then and wait for more kids to get on, and make the parents pay for it. Keep those dollar bills handy, Daddy, I'm not leaving anytime soon!

I love you, Cousin Abby!

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--I'm so lucky to have a sweet cousin like you, Abby! We are both dressed up for the big reunion dinner at the lodge: You look pretty and I look like a cowboy! Gram got me this great outfit, and my buddy Augie sent me these rockin' red boots all the way from New Mexico!

Deer Sighting

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--Whoa, cool! It's a deer! I practically hiked over it as I was running back to my cabin. I like deer. Even though it's bigger than me, it recognizes that I'm in charge and gets out of my way fast! Deer are everywhere out here. I'll have to tell Gram and Pop. They are always driving around in their golf cart looking for them, but the deer at their house are always hiding.

Skinny Dippin'

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--Our hike ended at a little beach and I decided to go in the lake to cool off. Bad mommy didn't plan for this, so I have NO swimsuit. Luckily I also have no sense of modesty, so I don't mind stripping down to a diap and just plunging in. The water is pretty cold though, so I don't think I'll go out too far.

Kirby Caught Me!

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--Hey, Kirby came out of nowhere and caught me as I was hiking around Sylvan Lake! "You scare me, Kirby!" At first I thought it might the be Gruffalo getting me. You know, the monster with "knobbly knees and turned out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. His eyes are orange, his tongue is black. He has purple prickles all over his back." Thankfully my cousin looks nothing like this and I'm positive he won't eat me because he would get in a lot of trouble.

Hiking in the Black Hills

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--There is so much to do at this reunion! Come follow me on a "Day in My Life in the Woods." First, I'm going hiking. I prefer to run as fast as I can down the trails. We all get there quicker when I do this. Otherwise Mommy and Daddy will just putter along and this walk will take all day.

Put me down, Cousin Andy!

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--Eeeeeeh, this scary! Put me down, put me down, I'm going to fall! I'm not used to riding up really high like this. I know you are trying to help me, but I can hike back down the hill by myself. I know it's really steep, but you can hold my hand if you like. "I big mountain climber!"

Carry me, Cousin Andy!

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA--Well, the family reunion is underway, and I'm the center of attention! I'm trying to run around and explore the woods, but everyone keeps picking me up and loving on me. Oh, the hazards of being small and cute! Cousin Andy here is teaching me how to play baseball and "mountain climb" up the big hill behind our cabins. He is a really, really big kid and very cool. I'm lucky he wants to hang out with me.

Showdown at the Olive Garden

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA--Ha ha ha ha! You don't scare me with your tough-guy face, Cousin Kirby! You may be seven years older than me, but I'm not afraid of you! This is fun eating pizza together. I have no idea where we are, but we rode a bunch of airplanes and different cars to get here, so it must be really far from home. I saw some big "mountains" as we drove up to the restaurant, but no tall buildings. Daddy says we're here for his family reunion. I just want to do whatever you do, Kirby!

ARRRGH, Maties!

Ye be asking me permission to board, I see? This here's my ship, laddie, and Anderson here's me first mate. She's a fast ship, she is, but on the wee side, and there's little room aboard for landlubbers. I suggest ye find another ship o yer own, perhaps on the far side of this fair pool. We be leavin' soon for raidin' our mamas' diaper bags fer snacks and such.

Splashing!

Today Jack Ruckert and I are hitting one of the splash parks in Arlington. Boy, those Virginians really know how to build a park! Get a clue, District park service! We played in the big sandbox, on the swings, and now we're running through the splash area seeing who can get the wettest.

In Gram's Garden

I'm really going to miss this place! My plane for home leaves in a couple of hours, but there is just enough time for one more good rock digging in Gram's garden. She likes to dig too, so we are having alot of fun together. I like to mix the white rocks with the brown, and she likes to separate them. We're a good team. I'll miss you, Gram! I'll miss you, Pop! I'll miss you, Uncle Cody!!

Size Doesn't Matter

"I have SAME! I have ATV too, I have SAME! Look, SAME!" Yours may be bigger than mine, and go a little faster, but that's only because you are a big kid, Cousin Trent. Someday I will ride through the fields and follow the tractors and hay balers too. Just you wait and see!

Wash-tub Sandbox

There's so much to do around here I'm having trouble focusing on any one thing. Should I ride my new ATV, watch the tractors from the golf cart, or play in my new sandbox? The days are just too short here in the country. Pop bought me this great Beep (moderator translation: Bobcat mini-digger) at Tractor Supply this morning, and he's perfect for knocking over sandcastles. Thanks, Pop!

King of the Hay Bale

Well, the farmers fixed their baler. Just look what it made! "Baler spit out BIG bale hay! I sit on it!"

Broken-down Hay Baler

Oh no, we finally found a baler, and it's broken! This little tire must have fallen off. I bet I can fix it. I've watched thousands of episodes of "Bob the Builder." Can we fix it, farmers? Yes we can!

Riding with Pop

Today there are tractors EVERYWHERE bringing in the hay. Pop and I are riding out in his golf cart to watch the big balers at work. I love riding in the golf cart. We take it out every night to hunt for deer, but usually they are "hiding."