4th of july weekend in deadwood, SD – part 1

jamie’s family has a cabin in deadwood, south dakota, that he and his brothers built back when they were in high school/college.  they actually rent it out, but they also use it as a place for family get-togethers, which works perfectly.  i finally got to go visit over 4th of july weekend with his family, and let me tell you, i feel like it can hardly be considered a cabin because it huge and super nice and just gorgeous.  also, i had no idea how beautiful western south dakota is!  it really took me by surprise.  we had a wonderful time four-wheeling, checking out needles highway and custer state park, boating on pactola lake, and going out in deadwood.  jamie and i ended our trip by stopping at mount rushmore on the way home, which was really cool.  i can’t wait to visit again at new years this year!

{packing for the weekend, a.k.a. throwing every red, white, and blue article of clothing i own on my bed and hoping they will magically end up in my suitcase, neatly folded with room to spare!} ;)

{this is in wyoming, on our road trip to SD!  i checked another state off my list!}

{jamie had been looking for pronghorns but we hadn’t seen any… and then he stopped on the side of the road so we could take a picture of the sunset and there were three pronghorns looking at us right in the field beside us.  they’re hard to see in this picture, but they were cute!}

{sunset over wyoming}

{after a 5-1/2 hour drive on friday evening and multiple deer sightings, pronghorn sightings, and an ELK sighting [!], we made it to the cabin!}

{the cabin is three stories tall and has five bedrooms plus a loft suite.}

{the loft}

{there are huge windows overlooking the black hills.}

{so cozy!}

{the kitchen + loft area}

{the basement}

{the all-seasons room}

{the balcony overlooking the black hills}

{the porch}

{the hot tub!  one evening it had just cooled off after a storm so jamie and i got in and watched the lightning and the sun go down… it was lovely.}

{four-wheeling through the black hills!}

{the boys love the four-wheelers!}

{a store that sold neon signs}

{these views}

{the tiny town of galena had a bunch of signs like this!  you could tell there was a lot of history in this town.}

{jamie’s mom had scheduled a professional photographer to take family pictures while we were there.  this was one i caught while he was taking the real pics!  what a great looking family!}

{sawyer and finn were so cute picking flowers for their mama!}

{the professional photos!  by kevin eilbeck.  i love how they turned out!}

 

{and then there was some post-picture potato cannon shooting, thanks to rob!  the good ol’ spud guns.  here’s ashley and the boys getting ready to watch rob shoot one off!}

{a night on the town in downtown deadwood!  jamie’s parents stayed home with the twins while we got our party on!  we definitely had a lottttttt of fun at saloon #10!} ;)

{at saloon #10.  that tw0-headed calf was crazy!}

{jamie’s dad picked us up… this was on the way home.} ;)

{amazing waffles homemade by jamie’s mom!}

{needles highway}

{sylvan lake}

{this place was stunning.}

{it kinda conjures up a scene with roaming dinosaurs, don’t you think?}

{custer state park}

{needles highway was amazing too!  i was a bit carsick for part of the drive [or maybe hungover from saloon #10??], but i really did enjoy getting to see this part of the country.  it was soooo pretty.}

{at the cabin:  fun times with this man and his fam}

{from the deck… i spy custer peak!}

we had a grand time.  the rest of our little trip will be posted in part 2!