Summer Wonderland

A gallon of gasoline: $3.87

A speeding ticket: $63.00

The look on your children's faces when it snows in June: Priceless

We began the day at the Crazy Horse memorial, which is enormous in its scope and ambition, but far from finished. Since the sculptor and his family refuse government aid, the project relies on private donations. Needless to say, we'll be lucky if our children's children get to see the completed monument. Still, the museum and the grounds were fascinating to visit.

Next, we started our drive to Cody, Wyoming. We drove through lots of pretty green hills, spotted with yet more deer and horses and cows galore. When we began to make our way through Bighorn National Forest, we had no idea what awaited us. By the time we left the park, we were bowing (literally bowing) to Bighorn. We have determined that Bighorn needs a new PR agent, because Yellowstone gets all the press. As we drove deeper and deeper into the park, and higher and higher into the mountains, Dana gleefully reported the dropping temperature (55, 53, 50, 38, 30) and I read the signs that reported the age of the various rock formations we were passing (2.5 billion years old being the winner). When we found a good stopping place, we climbed around the mountain and the kids engaged in an impromptu snowball fight. As we got back into the car and the kids warmed their frozen little hands (layering is not working, Ron!), I swore to Dana that it looked as though it were snowing in the distance. Well, we proceeded to drive right through that snow shower (it was too mild to be considered a storm, but it was seriously snowing). Daniel proclaimed this the best place ever. "It's awesome; it's fantastic; it's every great word there is," were his exact sentiments. "It's pulchitrudinous," Maddie replied, happy to show off her expanding vocabulary. The rest of the drive through Bighorn was equally spectacular (and about 20 degrees warmer). Hard to imagine what Yellowstone could offer that could top that completely unexpected and utterly awe-inspiring experience. But I say, "bring it."

Yes, the speeding ticket put a slight damper on an otherwise perfect drive, but even the police officer was a lovely human being. And Dana was so relieved that even the tickets are cheaper in this part of the country that he didn't beat himself up too much for the last 45 minutes of our drive to Cody. We topped off the evening with dinner and a movie (family of four to see Kung Fu Panda -- at night -- $25.00). All in all, another amazing day on the "America the Beautiful tour" (you're right, Aunt Diana; that's exactly what this is).