After dinner, we attended the evening portion of Midsummer's Fest--the raising of the maypole, the sounding of the birch horn, and lots and lots of crazy dancing!
Here you can see Rich & Addie (Heidi is Rich's right) dancing in the inner circle around the maypole.
More dancing (the red arrow points to Rich).
These are the folk dancers visiting from Sweden (Mora Folkdanslag).

After lots of dancing, we took the girls to the adjoining playground and let them run off their last bit of energy before we headed home to the Inn to shower and sleep. What a day! Happy Birthday eve to Daddy Rich, our favorite Swede!

Addie on her bed at the Inn
Heidi showing off the cute TV cabinet in our room at the Inn
Our breakfast table at the Inn
Look at my bedhead! Here we are enjoying our Swedish Breakfast just before heading out to Nebraska on Sunday morning--Happy Birthday AND Father's Day to Rich!!!

The Road Home, part 2: Poor Nebraska

While the state is lovely enough, the drive through Nebraska on Sunday was torture. They should make a killing in speeding tickets--people probably drive 90 miles per hour just to escape the boredom. It was just as bad as East Colorado/West Kansas--ugh!!

Judging from the roadside attractions, there is A LOT of junk in Nebraska.

miles and miles of farm junk

Carhenge, just north of Alliance, Nebraska--dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of "CAR ART."

The Road Home, part 3: South Dakota

We must thank the Bournazian Family of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota (formerly Emigrant, MT), for welcoming us to crash at their house. It was so nice to see them, even just for a few hours, and we slept so comfortably in the cool country air with the windows open! We were so incredibly sick of being on the road by Monday morning that we regretted having to go to Mt. Rushmore. But the short drive there was so beautiful and the mountain so striking, we were glad we went. I highly recommend it as a destination if you're headed this way--Nearby Keystone is a really fun town, and Rapid City has lots of family attractions. And we are a mere 7 hours west on I-90! We vowed to go back to visit the Black Hills next time we are up for a shorter road trip. Me, Heidi, Addie and the Dead Presidents (Addie kept calling them prophets)...don't ask me what's up with Addie's face here or why my belly is so huge so early this pregnancy!
A striking profile of Washington round the backside of the mountain.
Us again--I tried to take a picture of Rich with the girls right after this, but the camera died and we were in the mood to get outta town.

We saw the Mountain at about 8:30am, then went in to Rapid City to get breakfast and snacks (so we wouldn't have to stop for another meal--lots of yogurt, fruit, trailmix, drinks, and jerky!) and hit the road at about 10am. We wound our way up through Sheridan Wyoming, Billings, Montana, and finally through a beautiful rainstorm to Livingston at 5:00pm. Although the trip was really cool, I have to conclude that I do indeed live in the most beautiful place in the U.S. and the nicest place to spend the summer!

Pardon My French...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198931,00.html

..but it's about damn time. Mom & I were just saying this last night....let them walk out of the court room and have the millstone hung around their necks and throw them in the river! Given the recidivism rate and the research that finds pedophilia "incurable," I think the death penalty should definitely be an option here. And PLEASE put the "rehabilitation" sentences to rest-- experts say it will never happen and I don't think it's worth one more rape/molestation/ murder to try and find out, either.

Pictures at Last

Blogger has been kinda freaky with pictures, but here are some FINALLY!Arriving at Nana's Tuesday night:

Back-Addie, Heidi, Marshall; Sitting-Tyler, Raef, Abby, Cody, & Brady

Heidi and Addie looking a little somber at the butterfly house in ChesterfieldThursday morning outside the Butterfly House
Saying goodbye to Hamlins on Wednesday: Abby, Brady, Cody, Raef, Addie, Marshall, & Tyler

Melting in Missouri

Hello, blogworld! I can't believe its been so long since I posted! Of course, I have a good excuse, since I was in the car for TWENTY- THREE HOURS this week. I drove Cody, Tyler, Addie, & Heidi all the way from Livingston Montana to Wentzville, Missouri all by myself! It was pretty uneventful, except for the parts where I freaked out because we had three potty breaks in one hour and my girls wouldn't take a nap (right around Salinas, Kansas, and then after a rough rush hour traffic jam in Kansas City).

We left at 7am on Monday morning and drove to Denver, CO to stay with Rich's cousin, Cindy. Cindy and her whole family were there and they made us a delicious Italian dinner whiel I took the kids swimming. We ate and cleaned up and got to bed early (9pm), then I was up at 5am and we left at 6am Tuesday for our long drive to Missouri. We got breakfast in Limon, CO, had a long play/potty break at the Kansas welcome center near Goodland, KS, ate lunch and got gas in Hays, KS, ate dinner during the traffic jam in KC, and arrived at my mom's house at 9:20pm her time (8:20pm our time). So that was a delightful 14-hour drive which I will not be repeating alone! The kids were all pretty good and we had fun together, although I don't think anyone is anxious to repeat the trip. I am glad my nephews came along for company and for all the help they gave me keeping the girls entertained.

I got a wicked sunburn Wednesday- my first day here (tip: don't put your sunscreen on while already wet and floating on a raft in the pool; it really doesn't work that great). The kids are loving Nana's pool, and I will enjoy it again (fully sun-blocked) when the flaming red burn heals a little bit. The first day we were here, my sister Sara was here with her two boys, but they had to leave after lunch. We had a fun few hours together--her kids are so cute and sweet. Mostly that day we just swam and ate Mexican food--THAT'S THE LIFE!

Thursday we went to Faust Park in Chesterfield on a recommendation from my chiropractor's wife (they went to school here). We went to the Butterfly House and saw thousands of butterflies, a movie about butterflies, lots of other insect displays, botanical gardens, rode the carousel, and played on the great playground. When we were all hot and sweaty, we loaded up the kids, got some lunch, and came home for quiet time. Mom and I had Cody & Tyler babysit while we went shopping for Father's Day surprises and we bought a great maternity outfit, which I am wearing today and already love. Last night we were all psyched to watch "Life is Beautiful" (after bathing all the girls, painting their nails, and putting them to bed) but my DVD wouldn't play in their player! Shucks!

Today we continue our quest for perfect Father's Day gifts and we might swim if it stops raining. The girls (Abby & Addie) have a slumber party planned, during which they are going to watch Princess Stories 1&2 and eat Princess Gummies and sleep on the basement floor. Fast times at Nana's house, people.

My dear Auntie M was transferred to a rehab hospital on Wednesday. She is awake but uncomfotable with minor complications like and infected pin and esophageal irritation from being intubated. Poor Auntie!!! I love and miss her so much--I am grateful that she's bettter, but pray she'll heal even faster!

I've got a million pix to post, even from last weekend in Livingston when we camped at the ranch and went to a fun graduation party. I'll get on that ASAP! Have a great weekend!

We Made It!

On Wednesday we had our "dress rehearsal" for our long drive out to Missouri. We picked up Cody & Tyler in Pocatello and drove 4-1/2 hours home to Livingston. When Rich got home form work, we went on a photo expedition. I have been letting the boys use our small digital camera and they have taken tons of photos. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Tyler up on a cliff above town
Livingston from a hill up north (taken by Cody)
Livingston Peak, looking southeast.

After taking pictures, we stopped at the I Scream Saloon!

Tyler took these:Cody & Heidi in our front yard
A sign downtown
Cody & Addie
Cody helping Addie skate out front.

This morning we went to library to check out some materials for our trip. The kids had fun in the story room.Cody, Heidi, Addie
Addie & Cody beat the bear!
Cody has a violence problem.