Home

Well I just finished the laundry and put away the stuff that had to come out of the camper.  I am on the way to cleaning the camper from head to toe by the end of the week.  I looked at new campers on the way home but have decided that I will stick with this one for a few more years until the kids are older and then Mike and I will get the camper that we need.  Joe decided on the way back here that Connecticut was a little too crowded for him and that he liked the feel of the North West.  Maybe I have inspired one to choose a better state?  We will see.   I have reconnected with and Iowan part of my family and we will keep in touch from now on.   Tom liked the adventure and Lee likes the fact that Nick Jr., yes the TV channel,  still exists.

 I danced

 We all climbed

 Really a wild ass? Donkey!

 Beautiful

 Fun

Wow

 One of the tunnels up to Mt.Rushmore

 OMG I see it!

 I was truly happy, so much fun!

  out the car window...

August 2

We went to the Lincoln Museum and Library today. We had planned on spending a couple of hours and then going to see Lincoln's Illinois home. We entered the museum at 10am to the museum having a scavenger hunt. We left at 4pm having never seen anything else but we had a great time and begging to stay. I was hungry and tired and needed to eat dinner!
The museum is totally interactive at different levels so you could be reading something really interesting while your non reading child could be pushing buttons and getting something to happen in another space. They had 2 short movies that were so well done that you wondered how they did that. We walked out of one movie and right into the scene of Boothe shooting Lincoln and you felt like you were there.
They had a log cabin (original to the time period) that you could go through and a period dressed person told you what his life was like and answered questions. Then they had a mini white house to symbolize that time period. We then went and spent lots of time in the part of the museum that had reproduction toys the kids could play with, I built a beautiful Lincoln Log home with attached garage!

Love from the road,
Sue and the Boys

Saturday with Mike in the Badlands

We went to the Visitors Center and the kids became Junior Rangers at this park as well.  We then attended the Native American Heritage Festival that was going on and I danced and learned how to Hoop Dance with some wonderful Lakota People who will look the Braun's up when they come to the Pow Wow in 2 years in Connecticut.  I will post Pictures at another time.

We then went hiking and climbing and just enjoyed this landscape.  At one point during the day Mike said " too much Glacial activity causes a playground."  I agree.

Lastnight we sat outside and just looked up.  Out here you can see the Milky Way and every star ever put in the sky.  Today we are thinking of moving on but not really all that anxious to go...

Love from the Badlands,
The Brauns

Omaha and Pipestone

In one day we picked up Mike and then drove to Pipstone.  I love Pipestone and the peaceful spiritual feel of the place.  The boys got some of it but had more fun playing in the beautiful small river that runs through the park and creates the beatiful rapids and falls of the park!  It is not run by Native Americans as much as a used to be but they still control it, thank goodness.

I was able to spend almost 24 hours with one of my college buddies and her 4 kids, they live in Minnesota, don't ya know.  We had a blast and the kids were great together.

Yesterday we drove to the badlands and I forgot how much I love this place.  We got here around 5 and ate and then hiked until 8:30pm.  We all came back to camp and crashed.

Iowa

We have spent tons of time in this state and I kinda like it.  When you step outside it is like taking a bath.  The temperature is 100 or so and the humidity is in the 90's.  Really?  The locals keep telling me that the heat came early and that usually it isn't like this until August.  I'm thinking of relocating it is so wonderful!   On the other hand we drove through the Missouri River flooding today, or we drove around it and saw some of the homes and silos and farms that were eaten by the water.  Joe has pictures of the water above the highway level with very large sandbags seperating us from the water.  It was shocking to drive through right before you do there is this little sign that says "Water May be over Road"  I almost came to a complete stop to read that again.  Really you can't be sure what that means...It's kind of like telling me that skunk may stink, you have to think about it.

Any how great state, great food, great people.

Omaha Nebraska:   We stopped in today to visit the Zoo  Henry Doorley Zoo.  What a great place with tons of stuff and lots of airconditioned buildings and misters/sprinklers outside.  The animasl were very happy and the place was a blast.  The midwesterners are friendly and talk to everyone,  so I fit right in and Joe is constantly embarrassed.  Oh and Lee fits right in also!

Off to bed picking up Mike tomorrow and then headed for Minnesota!

Love,

Sue

OMG Internet finaly!!!!

The Ohio campground was awful.  They had none of the services that were promised and we even had our swim in their lake tainted by the fact that a couple was doing the snapping turtle in the middle. 

We checked out early and ran for Indiana.  Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore is a little piece of heaven.  It is perfectly located and really a great place to visit.  I would recommend a couple of nights if not days to this gem.  Lee and Tom got their Junior Ranger Badges for the first time during this overnight and they were excited to take the oath and get the patch for the first time on this trip.  Lee now is introducing himself to everyone as he did last year “Hi, I’m a Park Junior Ranger.”   Lee also purchased a Ranger Hat so be careful around him!

Iowa what a wonderful heartland state!  The people are friendly the corn is high and so are the temperatures!  Yes that is 107 degrees on the dashboard.  Sitting in the shade I lost 10 pounds of water weight!  The campground is lovely.  We rode a boat on the Mighty Mississippi today and really enjoyed the campgrounds air conditioned bathrooms!!!  You haven’t camped until everyone agrees that the best part of the day was finding out the bathrooms are air conditioned!  If we stay today we are setting up a tab le and playing cards in the bathrooms, they say it will be 110 degrees on Tuesday! (today)

From the road,

Sue, Joe, Tom and Lee

Indiana Dunes National park

Wonderful Place post pictures tonight.