Mt. Rushmore

We got to Mt. Rushmore pretty early considering we wanted to wait for the lighting ceremony, but it was a good thing. It gave us time to walk around all the new gift shops and museums. It's changed a lot since we've been here last. Which was about 15 years ago. I was 11 years old and was asked to talk about our experience with a buffalo at Yellowstone during the lighting ceremony. Ah, the age of no fear! The thought of standing in font of that many people now makes me sick to my stomach! They have this great flag display of all the states leading up to the mountain. It had rained prior to our arrival so the faces were water stained. It was so interesting. It made them look like they were crying. It was neat to see how they changed as they dried out.

Payton's response to Mt. Rushmore ;0)

Now, he's awake.

Dad, Jase and Nate hiked around the trail in front of the mountain while we were waiting for it to get dark.

It was beautiful! The moon was red across from the mountain and there was orange lightning cutting through the thick clouds as we left. What a breathtaking view!