Decided to buy a Harley. All you see on the road out here in the Black Hills and Wyoming is Harley after Harley, all day long. Hard not to catch the fever. It's hard candy red two tone, the dark paint is actually metallic and looks good in the sunlight. Kendra is tentatively planning a road trip for next summer, would be a blast.

Badlands

My dad testing his new harley in gillette.This is what my dad is going to ride to sturgis next year. :)

This is Caitlyn walking up the path in the badlands!

This in the badlands!! This one is drew sitting down letting me take a picture

This post was written and these pictures were taken by EMALEE

I love my job and I am DEFINITELY an adrenaline junkie. Although many people know a nurse, not many people realize what it is we do. Yes, I hand out medication and wipe butts, but what I really do is I make a difference, I make a difference in the the quality of your or you loved one's hospital stay, I ease your burdens by showing a confidence I may not feel so you can rest easy, confident in my ability and knowledge. I implement interventions on your behalf to prevent crisis. And when crisis does befall you I, along with my coworkers, began the efforts to save your life. In this environment friendships are formed, bonds of trust are forged under stress.  Yes, I love my job, I am addicted to it. I have learned so much this past year and realize how much I don't know that I am excited to continue this journey and "live the dream", that's our PCU motto "Livin The Dream."

FAHER AND SON'S CAMP

 We had father and son's camp in the Big Horn Mts. in Wyoming. We camped on this creek, which was utilized for both fishing and swimming. The weather was perfect for tenting and cooking outdoors. The little boys spent most of the 3 days shooting their BB guns and trying to float logs down stream.

 Drew and I went for a hike on this trail and encountered a pack train of mules and a cowboy.

Sunday walk in the Park

This is a park in Rapid City. Great for biking or walking. The kids love to wade in the creek and sail bark boats downstream.

An excellent way to be together as a family. One of the greatest blessings we have is being here together as a family with no babysitter available. This forces us to do everything together, which is creating awesome memories for all.

Kids climbing a tree.

I wonder if there are trout lurking in here?

Bear Country

These little guys are beyond adorable.

We bought a season pass to Bear Country. The animals are close up and plentiful. The kids are especially enchanted by the bear cubs.

Air and Space Museum

Ellsworth Air Force base in Rapid City has a air and space museum. Very interesting and family friendly museum.

Scenic, SD

Welcome to Scenic, SD, a rustic town with an old west feel.
Kendra and I found our new dream home.  A little TLC and elbow grease would make this place shine.

A hostel.

Saloon, previous owner had a fetish for skulls.
As you can see by the sign, even Indians are allowed, if not necessarily welcome here.

Happy Easter

Easter egg hunt

Morgan has found the mother lode.

Caitlyn lost one front tooth to the dentists pliers, now she fell while riding her bike and knocked the other front tooth loose.

The spring weather here has been beautiful, a little unpredictable as it has fluctuated from 40 degrees to 88 degrees, but that is to be expected.

Drew's Birthday

We had a hail storm the other day, hail did not last long however, as it was 50 degrees outside.

Went to the park on Sat. for Drew's birthday party. Picked up pizza and made cupcakes.

After the park Drew, Emalee, and I walked home over this hill. Usually see prairie chickens up here.

Five months we have been here in Rapid City. I am in love with this area, that said, I am starting to feel the itch. That oh, so familiar itch to see what lies over the next hill. My job is exciting to say the least. We have 5 traveling nurses for the summer months, I have worked with 2 of them so far and both told me the same thing " After one day here I was ready to leave this hospital, never have I seen such an acuity of pts. on a 4 to 1 ratio." Welcome to Rapid, we call it the Regional Way. Actually I don't know any different, neither do most of the other staff as this was there first job and they just take in stride. We just got a knew director and she stopped me from working straight nights even though I signed a paper with Regional Health that that is all I would work. She says I will get better experience working both shifts. Probably, but days are way busier with Drs. and family and tests, not to mention discharges. We also do most of our own admits from the ED. This director is making me upset, so I will soon began a job search out of this state, just would like to spend one summer in the Black Hills.

Prairie Dog Shooting

My brother Dan and his wife Mauri were over this week, and Thursday Dan, Drew, and I went out looking for prairie dogs. We talked to my neighbor as he knew of some towns to try, on the way there we stopped at a ranger station and he was able to confirm a couple of locations.We shot a few dogs from 100 to 450-500 yards, of course its always breezy on the prairie so when you nail one at 400 or further its a great feeling. We also toured Custer state park with the family, the kids always love going there and having the burros stick there heads in the car window. Of course as always its great fun to have company, Jake and Erica stopped over today to as they were in Rapid doing a little shopping.

FEB/MARCH

Drew and I went to a sportsman's expo. We looked and dreamed of owning one of the fabulous machines available today. They also had a silent auction in which we won a 2 night stay for 2 at the Historic Franklin Hotel in Deadwood SD, the deal comes with 2 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners.

Drew had a couple of balloon animals made.

Our fishing hole. The SD state record brown trout was caught out of here.

This is Rapid Creek in Canyon lake Park, a very beautiful park with lots of fishing and play potential.

Luke loves outings with the family.

SHOTGUN CAMO

Figured it was time to get the old 870 Express ready for turkey hunting. It was generally beat up looking brown wood and blued steel. Painted it with Rustoleum camo paint, using cedar boughs and sticks to create patterns.