De Smet, South Dakota

Not too much to report today.   We left the Badlands and drove across South Dakota to De Smet.  We saw lots and lots and lots of fields.  Fields of corn, fields of cows, fields of hay.  The countryside was really pretty and I think James enjoyed driving without mountains for a bit.

We realized on the way that we crossed a time zone and lost an hour.  It evened out though because what we thought was a five hour drive was actually only a four hour drive.

The girls occupied themselves in the car by making bracelets.  SE sorts the colors while Lily makes the bracelets.  They made all sorts of plans of how to give these out when they get back home.

We arrived in De Smet - a cute and sleepy little town.  We are staying in The Heritage House Bed and Breakfast.  It used to be an old bank that supposedly the Ingalls banked at. It has been beautifully restored.  We had a spacious room downstairs that was perfect.

We hung out in our room for a bit.  I was determined to finish my book but I dozed off with only a few pages left.

James took the girls to the city pool.  Lily jumped several times from the high dive.  Afterwards they stopped by Dairy Queen.  Apparently the girls were amazed that their ice cream could be dipped in chocolate.

Finally, I finished my book.  The same book I started in Florida!  I overestimated how much I thought I would be reading this trip. During the day, there are too many things to see and do and in the evening I usually blog.  That is the only thing that I overpacked for this trip:books.  We have a milk crate full of books for all of us.  James has read one, I have read two, SE has read two, and Lily has read three.  Not quite the summer reading I had in mind, but I am certainly not going to complain.