DeSmet, SD - Home of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Camping where Laura once lived. When the wind blew at night, I thought, "The Ingalls experienced this wind."

And we were a mile from this. 

Claim shanty 

Hay roof barn

Lassoing a cow

Riding in the pony cart and on the horse

This foal is 3 weeks old. So precious

Doing laundry

Then off for a covered wagon ride to school

Pierre, SD - Capitol #9

Goodbye grandparents! It's been real fun.

We were so thankful that Scott's parents  drove from Atlanta to hang with us for a few days! But today they had to leave today and now they are missed. ):

Minuteman Missile Museum and a rodeo

This National Historic Site visitor center was tiny but INCREDIBLE!

We learned so much

And it was so well done!

It held the interest of each of the children and Scott and me. 

We all came away with a better understanding of the Cold War and the role of nuclear weapons. 

Highly recommend this museum. Would love to come back and absorb more another day, but alas we are on our way. 

On to Pierre, South Dakota (I'm told it's pronounced like "pier".) We were headed to this little campground and the only thing the website warned was that it would be full if it was rodeo time. Well, guess what? There was a rodeo going on. And we didn't have a backup campground option ready. 

We are getting in the habit of making lemonade (when life gives us lemons), so we decided to stop and check out the rodeo. 

Ky made a beeline for the entrance - wherever that was. I tried to keep up and caught up with her shortly after she entered through an opening in the fence.

Right after we entered the opening was closed. Scott and the boys went around only to find out it was eight dollars per person to come in. He called me and I told him we had just sat down and I would take a couple pictures of Ky and we'd be right out. 

Next thing I knew all the boys were coming to sit with us. The guy at the front said because it was so late he would let them in for whatever Scott had in his wallet, which was two dollars. 

We enjoyed the rodeo for about an hour and a half. We watched the boys cattle riding,

 the girls breakaway (above), goat tying, and barrels,

and boys bucking bronco events. 

Turns out it was the South Dakota state finals for 4-H rodeos. 

After some yummy barbecue (because I had money in my pocket!), we found a campground right across the river from the rodeo and settled in for the evening.