Rapid City trip- Summer 2025.

The girls and I, and my mom, headed to Rapid City, SD to visit my grandma (and other family there too!). We had a fun few days and glad we could go! Kley had to stay back to work. On the way there, we stopped at Badlands National Park. The girls and I had never been to a national park before, and Norah had been asking to go because she had her free pass from 4th grade (4th graders do a big national parks unit and can get in free for their 4th grade year to any national park!), so we drove through on the way and our van got in for free from her pass. It was such a fun experience! It was so very hot that day so we didn't do any of the trails, but we drove through and stopped at a few of the looking points. God's creation is amazing!

Wild how it looked striped!

What a special outing!

Touching it- they said it felt hard but crumbly.

Fun for the girls to see Gigi again (what the great grands call my grandma). She's so special to us!

Dinosaur Park. Another fun place to stop, and so special because I remember visiting it when I was young and we would visit my grandparents.

I will always love this view and so glad to share it with my girls!

Pottery painting fun.

Out for ice cream with my grandma, cousin Rachel, and her daughter Taylor.

Swimming morning with Taylor. 

Bowling afternoon.

Their Pizza Ranch has a super fun arcade! One of the greatest childhood feelings in the world has to be standing at the ticket counter deciding what prize you want to get for your tickets. The best!

Thankful for a fun, mostly smooth trip and the girls did really well! Glad we could see family (my aunt/uncle and my three cousins and their families live there too) and my grandma!

Summer Des Moines staycation 2025.

We were able to spend almost a week in Des Moines for Schut side staycation and we had a great time! We enjoyed lots of family time and it was fun to watch all the cousins together. My Uncle Jeff and Aunt Darla got to join as well from Chicago and that was special too!

We took family photos one day and I snapped a few on my camera too. (Ellory looks pained in this photo because it was so buggy and this was at the very end and she was sick of the bugs. I don't really blame her!)

My mom and dad- so thankful for wonderful grandparents, on both sides!

My sister Kayla and my parents.

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Darla- they are such fun with our girls!

My favorite four!

Fun at the science center on a rainy morning.

I think Kley had just as much fun, if not more, than all the kids! He should work there. We were all glad that Kley could make it for the last couple days, because he unfortunately missed the first few days due to work and storm clean up from the big derecho that sadly hit our town. 

Mini golf outing. (Ellory missed this because she had a fever one day, but thankfully it was quick!)

Swimming at our family friend's pool, so nice!

Zoo morning!

Carousel fun with cousins.

Giraffes- my favorite!

The whole crew! 

Feeding the koi fish is always so funny to watch them flop around for it!

Cousin crew! (Minus Margo.)

Tie-dye fun!

On the way to Des Moines, we were able to meet one of my college roommate's and her kids. They are living in TX but were visiting family in MN, so it was special to meet her halfway for a few hours because we hadn't seen each other in a couple years. 

Glad we could see you, Jackie, and glad we can stay in contact through the years!