Medora, ND and more national park

Ky got to ride again. 

Yesterday when we arrived, we found out our campground was also a horse camp. People being their horses and fifth wheels with a horse trailer at the back and they camp here and ride horses along the Little Missouri River and other trails. Each campsite has horse corrals and they provide hay! Who knew there was such a thing?! We met J.R. and Val because they arrived same time as us and camped next to us. They told us about horse hotels all over. Apparently, this accommodation is not just a one time idea. ?!?

Well they came by after their trail ride this morning and asked if the kids would like to ride around a bit. Boy, would they! So Ky again got to ride without us planning it. I'm so thankful because she lights up when she gets on a horse and that warms my mommy heart. 

Scott bought a BB gun (our last day in Montana with no tax - that was the excuse) and the older boys got to shoot at some cans today. 

The kids all played in the river near our campsite. 

A dust devil grabbed a piece of paper and blew it over the barbed wire into the prairie grass beyond our campsite. Jo went to retrieve it and found this skull. Then we noticed it contained a wasp  nest, so we decided to throw it back. Our kids are all a little fearful of insects that sting after Kik's encounter. (From which he is fully recovered.)

We explored the town today. Much is old west style with board walks and such. 

The kids finished their junior ranger books. Sy was super disappointed he didn't finish in Glacier because the ranger was leaving for lunch and we weren't willing to wait an hour for her to return. ): So we made it a priority to finish this one today. 

While we were at the visitor center we met the Johnson family. They, like many families from around this area, come here every year. Mrs Johnson is a one-room-schoolhouse teacher and I was fascinated to hear all about how school works with her 14 k-8 students. I was surprised that students have to "work at grade level" for math, for example, instead of working at their own pace. I really enjoyed chatting with her and learning about life in rural North Dakota (which is most of the state).  

Ky shopping for boots. She decided she didn't want to spend $100 on boots she could grow out of in a month. (:

Kik found a hat, but also declined purchase. 

Yummy ice cream on a hot day. 

While we were enjoying our treat, the kids played at the park and a "real cowboy" came and sat with us and told us all about cattle ranching in Montana. We talked a little politics - he called himself a conservative democrat, and we talked ranching, economy, presidential candidates, and global warming. It was a fun dialogue. He had grown up as a kid here in Medora, and was just stopping by his old town on his way through. He told us some history and was on his way. 

We saw a taffy store with a bajillion varieties. 

And back "home" for dinner before the evening show, The Medora Musical.