If you’ve been coming around here for awhile, you know that the Black Hills in South Dakota is a special place for my family. I grew up going to the Black Hills to visit my grandparents as a kid. It’s on the very western side of South Dakota, and in 2014, my parents built a cabin in the Hills with the intention of living in South Dakota during the summer months.

We’ve gone to visit every summer since 2015, except for last year with COVID. It’s always a lot of fun, but it was particularly exciting this year to see Harrison really enjoy the Hills. The freedom to be out in nature, explore, play and thrive was a joy.

Our trip began with a verrrry long car ride. We got up and were in the car by 5:30am for our drive to the Hills. Harrison was so excited to go visit Mimi and Papa that he didn’t go back to sleep like we were hoping for the drive. 😳 But he ended up doing so well. Baby J too!

We stopped halfway in Sioux Falls, on the eastern side of South Dakota, for a picnic lunch and to let the kids play and run out their energy. We found an awesome playground, and Harrison and Jonathan had so much fun!

Nathan and I can do this drive in about 11 hours. It took 13 hours up and 12 hours on the way back with the kids. We were so proud of them! We hopped back in the car for afternoon “quiet time” for the boys.

We arrived at the cabin in time for dinner with our family. Then it was off to bed, which was easier said than done, with the kids sleeping in new beds and in a communal family room. They were so excited to see each other, that we didn’t end up going to bed until about midnight our time. 🙄

But we were all up nice and early thanks to these babies internal clocks that were ready to go at 7am central time…

We had a burial service for my Grandpa that had been postponed with COVID in the morning. We got dressed up and headed to the cemetery to celebrate Grandpa Bush.

All the boy cousins

Papa and baby Jonathan

We spend a lot of time on my parents’ covered deck when we’re in the Hills. Playing card games, enjoying a glass of wine, and just watching the kids play.

Baby Jonathan and I spent some time watching the older kids play soccer in the driveway.

Then after dinner, we did a mini birthday celebration for Jonathan and Holden’s first birthdays.

Finished off the evening with a movie on the porch for the big kids…

The next day, the morning was cool, and we took our boys on a quick hike as a family on the Mickelson trail

Then after naps, we headed to the Marina to rent a pontoon boat for a couple of hours. Huge hit with the big kids. Little kids HATED it because of the life jackets. Hated.

The dads and the big kids even jumped into the freezing cold lake. Our little man is absolutely fearless.

These were the faces baby J gave me the whole time…

That pout.

The next morning, we chose the Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary as our activity for the day.

We love this place. It’s a 1.25 mile loop that’s not too hard of a hike (Harrison walked the whole thing himself), and it’s just beautiful.

We ended the evening doing S’mores on the fire pit with the big kids, and they went ‘monkey hunting’ in the woods with their flashlights and treasure maps with Mimi and Papa. This turned out to be their very favorite activity at the cabin. ❤️

The perfect evening at the cabin.

Part 2 of our trip tomorrow!