Alliance Exploration

While Jason was at work during the days, Jules and I amused ourselves with some sight seeing. I was amazed at how many national attractions were literally just in our backyard.. I mean seriously.. Carhenge people! A-hem.. I mean.. Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, Mount Rushmore, Hot Springs and many more!

We took it easy our first day out and about. After the long car ride the last thing we needed was another hour long jaunt! I picked the Knight Museum and Sandhills Exploration Center as our official first stop at tourism.

It was a smaller museum but the way it was laid out was nice, albeit a 2 year old mine field! There was nothing separating Jules from the exhibits except a step up onto the display for the most part. That temptation added with the desperate need to run and be active may not have been the best combo for our visit.... ;)

I've got a few pictures but I'll be honest.. they were mostly point and shoot while running after Jules whispering oh so softly, note extreme sarcasm here, 'No Jules, No!' followed with 'Don't climb up/on there Baby!' and then the repetitive 'That's not a toy Honey, PUT IT DOWN!'..

Classic chants of every parent right?

Our first official Vacation picture.. (I'm not counting the wacky ones in the car during the trip down.. I was just geekin' out over the sandhills so.. we got a lot of pictures of, well, sandhills!). Jules is standing next to a Petrified Cycad. I'm glad I took a picture of the name plate after this one because I would have just called it a geode or worse.. a big rock.

Again.. not the best shot but I love that it looks like the Bison is nibbling her hair!

You may recognize him but I'm ashamed to say I didn't note his name. When we stumbled upon his image I just stood and stared.

He stands just over six feet tall and the way the portrait is displayed, is just beautiful.

I felt a quiet in me looking at his image. It's amazing how some things may affect you.

**Update: Jack called me this morning to let me know his name is Sitting Bull. He fought the great battle against Custer and was a source of great strength for his Tribe.

After the museum we headed out to the park located just outside the museum. Hindsight tells me maybe we should have started there first with all the pent up energy Jules had. She got on the swings, played on the monkey bars and ran up and down the structure to her hearts content!

When she was done with that we went on a short walk. There was a little garden just off the playground we strolled through. Some of the plants were in bloom so I took a few pictures of them also:

and this one too..

It was a pretty easy going day. Maybe not a knock down bowl you over kinda day but we enjoyed it. Even better? We were home when Jason got home from work. That was priceless.

Love,
Ang