Mr. Camden is TEN months!

Our little man hit ten months on our South Dakota trip. Camden just keeps getting cuter. We adore this sweet baby boy. 

Here are some facts about Cam at 10 months:

• Has become so playful. 
• Figured out how to crawl up the stairs, now we just need to master going down.
• Started playing peekaboo at the picnic table with the table cloth. It's his new favorite game. 
• On our trip, he also started pointing to everything with his cute little finger. 
• LOVES dogs- he can be crying and see a dog and instantly start laughing. 
• Loves being outside and getting dirty. 
• Was a trooper while camping- it's not easy to crawl on dirt and rocks. 
• Gives big slobbery kisses.
• Laughs when we play "This Little Piggy" with his toes.
• Got to see Mount Rushmore.
• Prefers to each "big" food, not baby food.
• Is blonde and tan.
• Still doesn't have any teeth.
• Makes bubble blowing noises.
• Constantly says "mama" and "dada", but not necessarily to us.
• LOVES playing in the wet sand 

Watching Daddy leave in the morning

First trek up the stairs

Camping

Signing "more"

Pointing

He's a big fan of the Kelty pack

First Fourth of July

Devil's Tower

Our last stop of the trip was Devil's Tower in Wyoming. We thought it would be cool, but we had no idea it was that awe-inspiring. This tower just climbs straight up from the ground. There's a Native American legend about God saving two Indian girls from a giant grizzly bear by raising a rock into the sky and the bear's scratch marks can still be seen today. The girls loved the story. But the real story is that magma cooled in a magma chamber underground and after millions of years of erosion, the tower now raises high above everything else. The columns really showed how it cooled. It really is unique. We did a hike around the base that was really pretty.

Mickelson Trail

We took a little bike ride on the 109-mile Mickelson Trail that used to be a railroad track. This was Makenna's first "big" ride. It was a whopping 6 miles. And man, was she grouchy about it in the beginning. Makenna is such a joy to us, but she can be a pill when she wants to. Let's just say she pushed every parenting button we had. Luckily, Travis got her to laugh a mile into it and she loved the rest of the ride, as did the rest of us. Whew.

This ride was gorgeous. Seriously amazing. The trail winded through the ponderosa pines, along a creek. We just kept saying, "Wow". We rode to an old railroad tunnel and Makenna was so proud when we got there. She definitely got a little taste for that rewarding feeling of working hard to reach a goal. The tunnel was cool. We stopped at the tunnel and had some snacks and just took in the beautiful setting. Then, back we went all downhill. Ah yeah.

Makenna says that I'm a mean mom for not erasing this grouchy picture. But a mom has got do what she's got to do so that her children can later see what she had to deal with, right?

One dirty little camper...

This is what it is like camping with a busy, crawling 10-month-old. Camden was always dirty and he loved it. At night, we would strip him down to his diaper and hose him down. Cutest filthy little boy ever.

Deadwood & Sturgis

One day on our trip, we hit the famous towns of Deadwood and Sturgis, South Dakota. 

First up was Deadwood, which is known for its Old West history. It is the place of Wild Bill Hickok's and Calamity Jane's deaths. The history fascinated me but sadly the town hasn't preserved it very well. The highlight of our stop was Wild Bill Hickok's shooting reenactment. It was held in the famous Saloon #10, which is a museum/ operating bar. Ha ha, I guess some things never change. Travis was picked to play a part in it- he was the bartender, Frank Young. It was entertaining to watch him fill that roll. Ha ha. I was shocked first of all that he volunteered to do it and secondly how great he did. This character was present during the historic murder and apparently stole his winnings next to the dead body. What more can you expect from a bartender during that time period? :) The girls were so worried about Travis when the gunshot went off. But no need to worry, Mr. Frank Young walked away unscathed. We also watched a shoot-out on the street.

Next, we drove to Sturgis. It was very uneventful. The town was dead on a Saturday. Apparently Sturgis is only populated or exciting during the big rally in August. But we left with a few sweet t-shirts, our stomachs full, and we can say we've been there.

On our way home, we drove the Spearfish Scenic Byway which was so beautiful. We stopped at a few waterfalls and just enjoyed the views.

Travis' Starring Role:

Spearfish Scenic Byway

I heart this picture!

Roubaix Lake

The last 5 days of our trip, we headed up north a bit. We stayed at Roubaix Lake. We really liked it here. The campground was big, but the campsites were large and spread out. We had a big, shaded spot that was a short jaunt to the lake. It was so much quieter than Custer State Park. 

Here are some things we enjoyed doing while we were here:

• Had fun swimming at the quaint little lake and playing in the sand
• Went on bike rides and walks around the 4 loops
• Ate out for my birthday at a local hotspot, The Sugar Shack, for some stellar burgers
• Played games
• Went on a scavenger hunt
• Enjoyed a good thunder and rainstorm while we slept
• Saw lots of deer, bats, and a scaredy turtle
• Were relieved to have some cooler weather