I interrupt vacation updates with an important announcement...

I am anxious to update on the rest of our vacation travels and Kevin's leave time but first I had to share about our exciting day. Kevin was promoted to 1LT today! His mom, me and our girls were able to go to the hospital for his promotion and I was able to "pin" his new rank. No more butter bar!!!

Col Lomax, the head of nursing for the 86 CSH (Kevin's unit) came to do his promotion and said some really awesome things about Kevin. He bragged that Kevin functioned above his rank and had been very valuable for his military and nursing knowledge. He also shared that Kevin was one of a few nurses chosen to attend a special course last month and that they will be relying on him to teach and train the other nurses and medics while deployed.

We are so proud to be a military family and look forward to many more promotions in the years to come. Love you Kevin!!!!

After the promotion was over we were able to get a family picture. Poor Emma cried through most of it because she was afraid she was there to get a shot :)

Ripping off that butter bar and placing his 1LT rank

Vacation #1

Whew! We have been buys and going non-stop and I have been a blog slacker.

Kevin took almost an entire month of leave time and we made the most of it by taking 2 (much needed) vacations.

At the end of May, I dropped the girls off with my parents and Kevin and I headed to South Dakota for a week to see his brother Dave and wife Cortney (did I mention we went WITHOUT kids????) We had an absolutely amazing time. South Dakota is so beautiful and "un-touched". We spent a few days at Dave and Cort's and the rest of our time "Out West" seeing the sights. We stayed several days in Hot Springs in a fully furnished apartment.

I took so many photos but here are just a few highlights from the trip:

On our way out West we stopped and fed some prarie dogs. They would come right up to you and take peanuts from your hand :)

We visited the Black Hills and spent several hours exploring the different formations and climbing around. It was incredible!

It was so beautiful and breathtaking. I have never been so moved by beauty in nature before

There were lots of places like this showing different colors

Kev and I in front of Mt Rushmore. It is so amazing to see in person and walk through the park

Cort and I at Rushmore

One of the coolest things about visiting SD were all the animals. They were everywhere. Like, 3ft from your car, everywhere. We saw tons of buffalo, antelope, prarie dogs, deer, and longhorns. The buffalo were our favorite, especially the babies. They roam wild and cover the grasslands

My sweetie enjoying some wine with dinner#1 at Blue Vervain

Me and Cort having some coffee on our balcony before heading out for some retail/spa therapy complete with manicures, pedicures, massages and great shopping!

The guys hike Harney Peak. It's elevation is about 7200 ft and is the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps

Dinner #2 at the Blue Vervain (MOST.AMAZING.FOOD.EVER.)

Beautiful lake where we fished

Having lunch at a pub and sporting my new fantastic headband :)

Posing with one of the many statues at Wall Drug

It was hard to leave but we were missing the girls like crazy! I think they had a pretty good time and were easily distracted, though, being spoiled by Nana and Papa!

More to come on the rest of our vacation travels...