Here and Now: Week 14

Here’s what we did in our everyday lives this week: Roadtrip!!!! 

On our previous cross-country drive from Oregon to Michigan, Brent and I took one of the most northern routes (I-90 to I-94 to US Hwy 2). It was the fastest and it gave us a chance to see more family. This trip we stayed on I-90 almost the whole way until Wisconsin. Then we headed north to visit Brent’s brother and wife just south of Green Bay before we drove across the Upper Peninsula and then south to stay with Brent’s parents. It was a long trip, but not as miserable as I had expected it to be with a 9 month old and a 24 month old. The babies are pretty great little travelers. 

The Badlands National Park in South Dakota was a highlight. This view is from the parking lot outside the visitors center.

The Badlands are an easy detour off of I-90. It’s easy to hop off the freeway at Wall, SD, loop through the park, and then reconnect with I-90 before Rapid City, SD.

This sweet little lady turned 9 months right before we left Oregon. Unfortunately, it took me a few extra weeks to post her monthly update. One morning we were able to snap a few quick shots in our hotel room in Wyoming before we hit the road.  Happy 9+ months, Baby Girl!

Montana mountains

Samuel enjoyed taking care of his baby bear along the route 

More scenes from Badlands National Park

Mount Rushmore!

Looking stoic in Keystone, SD; We actually drove right past Mt. Rushmore and had to turn around and go back to make a visit! We were distracted by the giant parking garage that appears around the bend in the middle of nowhere...and we’re so fascinated that we totally missed the entrance to the park. Hah!

View point in Badlands National Park

We saw lots of deer and antelope along the way 

Rocky peaks in Badlands National Park 

Elsie trying to pass the hours by using a steering wheel for a hat.

Sammy-Joe making filter faces 

[A small part] of the aforementioned parking garage... and the only mountain goat we saw on the whole trip

Leftover snow and chilly winds  

Daddy and Elsie among the columns

Back-seat window shot from the Black Hills 

Elsie and Uncle Shaun; We stayed a night with Brent’s brother, sister-in-law, and two pups. Manitowoc, Wisconsin had the coldest April 7th in history: 11 degrees just for us!

Samuel, Uncle Shaun, Aunt Emily, Elsie 

❤️, Molly

PS We also stopped at DeSmet, SD, childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. We took a short tour to visit locations and scenes from some of the Little House books. I wish I would have taken photos!