We have to apologize for the lapse in fun-filled documentation of our time in Chadron. Last weekend I forgot to take our camera with us to Scottsbluff and we had to buy a disposable camera that is still getting developed. We will have to come back to Pioneer Day weekend.

This weekend we went back out to Ft. Robinson State Park, but this time we camped. As I lay in my sleeping bag listening to Helen singing at 10:30 at night, I wondered if it’s possible for children to actually fall asleep in tents in less than 3 hours. Is there some trick I don’t know about? I remind her that we have to be quite while we’re in the tent. Ryan’s technique is a little different. He just lies down beside her and sets a good example. Ryan and Jane are by far our best sleepers when camping.

Here is our campsite right next to the graveyard. Luckily there was a fence to keep all those solders in.

We went for a nice hike, which is one of Helen’s favorite outdoor activities. I am not sure how we’ll keep Helen moving along on our next hike, as we have run out of “bait” - chocolate animal crackers. But I know that she doesn’t trudge up and down the hills for the animal crackers alone, she’s soaking in the nature, appreciating the waves of grain, the buttes, forest glades and wildlife of all kinds.
There was a nice little nature center at the Fort. Here is Helen with these fine longhorns. I didn’t realize that longhorn cattle were indigenous to the area, but these horns look pretty old and we saw some on our hike as well. They’ve probably been here since the ice age.


Here is a cute picture of Jane, she just keeps getting more and more fun. She even helped us measure this big tree we found: 5.75 Hacketts in circumference.


Last but not least, we would like to dedicate this video to Craig. We arrived at the Crawford Fiddle Competition 2010 just in time to see the banjo event. I am pretty sure that you are all jealous. Both of the girls were asleep though, so we only stayed only long enough to snap a picture and get this video. What else do you need really?