Pit Stop #1 - The Cousin Crew

Be still my heart... when these cousins get together, fun times are inevitable.  Plus Grandma Jane was in SD at the same time, so that was an extra bonus!

Lots of time was spent swimming - first at the neighborhood pool.

This one didn't feel like swimming, so she hung with the adults and played games.

Swimming continued later in the week at Midco Aquatics Center with the cousin crew and Halle. 

They had a blast playing in the pool, but all of them really enjoyed the diving boards best.

After Midco, the crew headed over to Thunder Road Amusement Center.  

They played games...

Rode the bumper cars...

Experienced the 7D movie theater...

And did a little bowling....

There were quiet moments of reading together...

Playing games and just hanging out...

The kids went to Air Madness one day to get out the wiggles and bounce around.

Some real fights took place...

Along with this monkey who LOVES to climb...

A certain someone celebrated her 4th birthday while we were in SD.  

She celebrated with a few Pupcakes. 

Lots of big changes took place at the Kempers this summer.  They moved in to a beautiful new house and added another child, Jalaina, to their family.  We were thrilled to be there when Jalaina joined their family, and were equally thrilled that she warmed up to everyone very quickly.

Saying goodbye to the cousins is never a fun thing.  It's always hard for the party to end.  But as they say, all good things must come to an end.... until Christmas!  We had the very best time with them and are so thankful and blessed to have created so many amazing memories.  

Next Stop - The Badlands and the Black Hills!

Pit Stop #1 - The Pooley Posse...

Lots of great memories were made with Nana and Papa, as well as the other Pooley gang while we were in SD.  We were thrilled to be able to meet this little cutie in person....

Rose is nothing but a ball of sweet and happy.

We hung out and played with the kiddos, and Kristen (with the help of Milo) made the most fabulous meal...

We played corn hole and enjoyed the beautiful evening with each other.  

We ate at a favorite local spot one afternoon - Bagel Boy. Yum!

Nana and Papa cooked some great meals for us.  Quinn was feeling adventurous and tried new a new food to her - watermelon.

The verdict on watermelon?  With salt - NO WAY.  Without salt - meh.  I don't know that she will be adding this to her food repertoire.

We ventured down to Falls Park with Nana and Papa.  

The water was EXTREMELY low.  That made for great climbing for everyone, including my family.  It also made for great anxiety for a certain someone who always pictures the worst thing happening.  

They look like ants out there, but they are there.  Climbing and balancing and scaring the daylights out of me.  

It did make for some beautiful pictures though...

After Falls Park, we ventured over to the Cotton Candy Store for some yummy cotton candy.

We visited the Pooley gang again, where Milo and the girls made some chocolate chip cookies together.  There may have been a little bit of sampling of the goods along the way!

Nana and Papa had been talking for awhile about these wild turkeys that visit their house every night.  We had been there for a few nights and had not witnessed these said turkeys.  We were beginning to wonder if they really existed, and then...

The turkeys arrived.  They trotted down the road and nibbled on some food. 

 It was pretty fun to watch!

Lots of great times and we were sad to say goodbye to the Pooley gang.  Looking forward to great adventures in NC with Nana and Papa soon.