Today is Sarah's and my 10-year wedding anniversary; what did we spend it doing? Laundry and driving! Our anniversary dinner; pizza, salad & bottled water from room service. Well, such is the life of a military family. But enough him, haw and "oh, woe is us!", how about the fun parts. "Where the heck is Wall Drug?" I'll tell you; it's somewhere between there & here (actually, it's an hour east of Rapid City). Everyone who travels I-90 through South Dakota has to stop at Wall Drug, so we did. Got some great pictures of the store front; I pretty much played up the "tourist" role and had the camera out the whole time taking random pictures of everything. We had a light snack and some free ice water. On our way past the rest rooms, Isaak was drawn to a mining exhibit. I assumed it was simply a "play in the dirt show". I couldn't have been more wrong! We had 3 choices; purchasing a bag of dirt and, using a sliuce box, sift out gems & stones. We could pan for gold; or as a family, we could explore a mine shaft mock up and keep whatever stones we found our our "easter egg hunt". 
We chose the family deal and came out with 3 small bags of really cool polished rocks. Then we picked up a post card and a bumper sticker; some home made ice cream, a souvenir cup and were on our way. We stopped about half way at a rest area and I have to say I have never seen so many grasshoppers in my whole life. They were literally EVERYWHERE! Just outside Sioux Falls, we got to watch the largest storm I think I have ever seen pass right in front of us. As we headed into Sioux Falls, the Weather Service posted a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the area. I wasn't concerned but we'll get to that in a sec. So, after a quick stop at Wal-Mart to grab water wings for Isabel and some dive sticks for Isaak, we were checked in, fed and in the pool by 7:30ish (Central Time). Now by "in the pool", I don't mean in swim suits and swimming around. Anyone reading this, pause for a second and Google "Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, SD". To be a spoiler, "in the pool" means either speeding down a 3-story corkscrew waterslide or running around under and umbrella- shaped water fountain. Or even trying to navigate a rope strung across the pool while walking across a floating "log" loosely anchored to the bottom while someone is shooting a water cannon at you. I told the kids about the water slide earlier in the week (it's amazing what you can use for punishment leverage as a parent) and they both had mini heart attacks when I told them the water park was open till 11PM!! (most of the pools we have swam in closed at 9). Isabel also informed me "I was the best daddy ever" and Isaak gave my hotel choice 2 thumbs up. 
I discovered that when I tell my kids "swim as long as you want" it works much better and there is less fighting than "5 more minutes". We swam until about 10 and they were pretty much swam out; here comes the "Storm Warning" I talked about. The kids decided to be done because of the strom outside. I didn't realized the entire sky would be filled with both sheet and bolt lightning. Not to mention it rained long enough and hard enough to drown a small dog. And apparently the staff was going through their Severe Storm protocol because when we returned to our room, there was an evacuation plan under our door. Okay, maybe it was a big deal but I still got a good picture of the lightning. Again, as I close my blog, Sarah and the kids (and dogs) are sleeping soundly, which they deserve after beeing cooped up most of the day. Tomorrow, we are off on another long leg, Siuox Falls to Madison, Wisconsin. Most likely some stops in between, but it will be a good 7 hours of driving. The prayers must be working because this adventure seems to be getting easier, at least for me. Besides, only 3 , maybe 4, more nights and we'll be in our new home. As before, as long as family and friends look forward to "The Journey" posts, I truly look forward to posting them.
We chose the family deal and came out with 3 small bags of really cool polished rocks. Then we picked up a post card and a bumper sticker; some home made ice cream, a souvenir cup and were on our way. We stopped about half way at a rest area and I have to say I have never seen so many grasshoppers in my whole life. They were literally EVERYWHERE! Just outside Sioux Falls, we got to watch the largest storm I think I have ever seen pass right in front of us. As we headed into Sioux Falls, the Weather Service posted a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the area. I wasn't concerned but we'll get to that in a sec. So, after a quick stop at Wal-Mart to grab water wings for Isabel and some dive sticks for Isaak, we were checked in, fed and in the pool by 7:30ish (Central Time). Now by "in the pool", I don't mean in swim suits and swimming around. Anyone reading this, pause for a second and Google "Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, SD". To be a spoiler, "in the pool" means either speeding down a 3-story corkscrew waterslide or running around under and umbrella- shaped water fountain. Or even trying to navigate a rope strung across the pool while walking across a floating "log" loosely anchored to the bottom while someone is shooting a water cannon at you. I told the kids about the water slide earlier in the week (it's amazing what you can use for punishment leverage as a parent) and they both had mini heart attacks when I told them the water park was open till 11PM!! (most of the pools we have swam in closed at 9). Isabel also informed me "I was the best daddy ever" and Isaak gave my hotel choice 2 thumbs up. 
I discovered that when I tell my kids "swim as long as you want" it works much better and there is less fighting than "5 more minutes". We swam until about 10 and they were pretty much swam out; here comes the "Storm Warning" I talked about. The kids decided to be done because of the strom outside. I didn't realized the entire sky would be filled with both sheet and bolt lightning. Not to mention it rained long enough and hard enough to drown a small dog. And apparently the staff was going through their Severe Storm protocol because when we returned to our room, there was an evacuation plan under our door. Okay, maybe it was a big deal but I still got a good picture of the lightning. Again, as I close my blog, Sarah and the kids (and dogs) are sleeping soundly, which they deserve after beeing cooped up most of the day. Tomorrow, we are off on another long leg, Siuox Falls to Madison, Wisconsin. Most likely some stops in between, but it will be a good 7 hours of driving. The prayers must be working because this adventure seems to be getting easier, at least for me. Besides, only 3 , maybe 4, more nights and we'll be in our new home. As before, as long as family and friends look forward to "The Journey" posts, I truly look forward to posting them.Love,
JS&K
(sheet lightning in the parking lot)
Wow ! did you see the dinosaur at wall drug he was in the same building as the mining stuff when we were there. the T-rex scared the pee out of Nate !
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