South Dakota Trip: Martin's Cove and Wind Cave

Starting on Memorial Day, we left on the most wonderful road trip to South Dakota. We packed a ton in to one week and loved every minute of it! 

Day 1: 

We drove through snow at the top of Parley's summit on our way to Martin's Cove. It was NOT the warm start to our summer vacation that we imagined, but we bundled up to enjoy it anyways. 

After touring the visitor's center and helping the kids learn the significance of Martin's Cove, we grabbed a handcart and hiked up to the cove. The views were stunning! We also had the entire trail and cove to ourselves! We didn't see a single other person the whole 5 mile trip. We did see a pronghorn and a badger that warned us not to get too near. 

 

The weather forecast called for rain that night, but the kids still insisted they wanted to camp at the church owned site near the cove. We went ahead and got all settled, cooked dinner over the fire, and enjoyed the incredible calm and quiet. Then the rain started. It rained ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Not just a drizzle - it downpoured! Did we get wet? Yes. Very wet in Hazel and Michael's case. Did we get a ton of sleep? No. Did we end up all crammed into the three most dry sleeping bags by the end of the night? Yes. However, did we gain a much deeper appreciate for all the pioneers sacrificed at Martin's Cove? Absolutely. Did we have a wonderful conversation about what we learned from our experiences? Yes! We had kids sharing how blessed we are with modern conveniences. We also had kids making connections that the hard things we face today are much less physical, but much more spiritual. Would I change one minute of that day? Not for anything! 

Day 2: 

We woke up soaked, but got changed in to dry clothes and warmed up with some hot cocoa. As we packed wet sleeping bags and tents in to the car and loaded up in search of a warm breakfast, we realized the car battery was dead. Thankfully, there was ONE other person in an RV at the camp who kindly came to jump our van. We also got to see a bald eagle nest with momma, dad, and their fledglings! 

When we stopped for lunch, we found a laundromat and threw the wet clothes and sleeping bags in the dryer. A kind woman exchanged my $20 bill for two rolls of quarters when I realized there was no change machine! She saved us a trip to the bank and was a second tender mercy from a stranger in our day. 

By afternoon we made it to Wind Cave National Park for our first South Dakota adventures! We were able to grab a quick hike to a buffalo herd. Michael's biggest hope for the trip was to see buffalo. We were not disappointed! 

We then went on a tour of the Wind Cave. We learned that the site is sacred to the Lakota and other tribes as they believe men and beasts first emerged from the cave. This tiny hole is the only natural entrance. You can hear the cave "breathing" hence the name, Wind Cave. 

We had requested and ASL interpreter for Michael, but instead of an interpreter, they had a ranger that signed. He wasn't highly skilled, but he was very kind. Instead of trying to keep up with the other tour, he took just our family on our own private tour! The kids had lots of fun taking their time and enjoying the cave. 

That night we settled in to our nice, warm, dry cabin near the Black Hills. More adventures to follow...

Family Photos

 

 

I love these people so much. But they need to stop growing up so fast!!

Five for Friday - Spring

- 1 - 

Grandpa Jones! 

Stan Jones, our dear friend from Iowa, was visiting our friends the Wansguards in Idaho. We couldn't pass up an opportunity to see him, so we drove up for the day. Stan and Orson were best of buds in Iowa. When Orson came right up and gave him the biggest hug, Stan cried. It was so special to reunite these two. 

Stan we loved every minute of seeing you again! 

- 2 - 

Last Day of IMA

To my kids extreme disappointment, IMA (our fabulous homeschool commonwealth) ended the last week of April. We had such a wonderful year with these incredible people! 

This year, I taught the Core 7 class which Lenora was in. For an end of year project, we put together a living wax museum. Each of the kids picked a famous person, read about him or her, prepared a poster, and dressed the part. Then other classes came to visit and we shared all we'd learned with them. I was SO proud of the wonderful work these kids did! 

Just before the end of IMA, we were able to attend a really fun science field trip at NuSkin. The scientists there put so much thought and effort in to designing incredible exhibits where the kids learned so much. 

At one booth, they had a machine that uses light waves to measure the concentration of carotenoids in your skin. The higher the number of carotenoids detected, the more fruits and vegetables you eat. They had everyone enter a drawing with their scores, and Lenora won second place! Way to be a healthy eater Lenora! 

- 3 - 

Car Accident

A less fun part of this spring was the minor car accident Hazel and I were in. I was picking her up from her math class just a few blocks from home. We were stopped at a red light the proceeded to drive once it turned green. However, another car ran his red light and cut right in front of us. We weren't able to stop completely and hit the side of his truck. Luckily we weren't going very fast, so we weren't hurt at all. My van was damaged though...

Initially we didn't think there was too much damage, but the mechanic found slight frame damage and a broken wire to the air bag. After a month of waiting for a decision, the insurance decided to total it. 

Thankfully, we were able to find a new van.  It's a few years older than the totaled van but with fewer miles. I'm excited because it also has an 8th seat which will be nice for transporting friends and such. It's also a Honda, so it should have a lot of life left in it. Welcome new white van. 

- 4 - 

Easter

We had a beautiful Easter! The Thursday before Easter we had fun dying eggs with natural dyes at Forest School. It took a bit more patience, but they turned out wonderfully! 

(As a side note, look at Orson with the boy's stick club) 

The Saturday before Easter, Alicia took Hazel and I to see the Lamb of God. I had never heard of it before, but it was AMAZING! It was the type of music that is so stunningly beautiful that it brings you to tears. Add that to the powerful spirit the words invited and I was just blown away! Needless to say, we've pretty much been listening to it on repeat ever since.  

Hosanna, hosanna, thy Saviour hath come.

O Israel and blessed He'll ever be called.

Hosanna, hosanna, sing praises to God.

For our hope, our deliv'rer, our all.

On Sunday I was blessed with the chance to teach the Easter lesson for my Sunday School class. I shared with them some of the beautiful truths I was reminded of as listening to Lamb of God.  Overall, it was a wonderful day full of the Spirit and celebration of our Savior! 

- 5 - 

State and County Delegate

By far the most unusual thing that happened this spring was serving as both a state and county delegate for the Republican primary elections. The kids and I have been studying the US Constitution this semester and it's been so inspiring. When caucus time rolled around, I felt like I should attend the meeting. After all, we can't complain about the candidates that show up on the ballot if we're not involved in the earlier stages of the campaigns. Well, shockingly there were only a total of 5 people at my caucus! So I was "elected" a delegate by default. 

In Utah, delegates are elected at neighborhood caucuses. They then meet at both a county and state level to vote on which candidates will be awarded the party nomination. A candidate must receive over 60% of the vote to be nominated as the party choice. If not, the top two candidates proceed to a primary election in June. So I spent time getting to know the various candidates and issues. I even attended a cottage meeting for the first time in my life.

On the appointed days, I gathered with TONS of other delegates and voted. Overall, it was cool to see the process in action. Will I do it again? I'm not sure. I liked aspects of the process, but I really don't like some of the drama and hate that occurs in politics. I wish we could all just put aside differences and work together to solve the problems we face. However, I did learn a ton, and am so much more informed than I've ever been before a primary election. It was a unique experience for sure, but I'm grateful I had the opportunity.

Hit the Slopes!

Fun fact, my parents met while skiing at Loveland in Colorado. My dad jokes that my mom tooks his poles on purpose when they loaded up the cars in a blizzard just so they would have to meet up again haha. With a beginning like that, skiing was a big part of our lives growing up. 

This year, I finally got to get some of my own kids up skiing, and it was a blast! Of course Grandpa came in his crazy hat to teach these three cuties how to ski. He was a ski instructor in college and my one and only teacher. 

We had so much fun! Eliza, Lenora, and Orson picked it up so quickly! By the first day they were skiing down greens without falling. By day two, we skied blue runs half the day.

I even got to ski one day with just my dad and Harrison. They had to wait for me all day of course, but I can still keep up with them. My Dad is seriously such an amazing skier skill (and he'll be the first to make sure you know it!) 

 

I only had a 3-day pass, but the kids got up to five days through their school pass. They were skiing well enough after day two that my dad agreed to take all of them by himself for one last day. He said they did so well! He can't wait to have a new generation of ski buddies to chase around the mountain. 

Hazel had skied twice when she was little and didn't love it, so I wasn't able to convince her to join us. But I'm hoping she'll at least try it one more time with us next year. Conrad is already looking forward to the day we'll take him too. Though he thinks it wants to be a snowboarder....

Dad for teaching us to ski when we were young, for finding the schoolkids  pass program so it was affordable to go, and for teaching them to ski too. I see many more days of skiing in their futures.