Critters

Okay, I lied. Here is a small sampling of what you can see at Reptile Garden. Featured are a cobra, a giant tortiuos, an iguana (with the kids peeking in), and a lizard. Want to join us on our next trip? :)

Reptile Garden

The kids have wanted to visit Reptile Garden again ever since my parents took them almost two years ago. This past Wednesday I finally gave in to the begging. It was an unseasonably warm day and perfect for being out and about. We invited Denise along and spent about three hours exploring. I have about thirty more pictures but figured you don't want to see them all. :) Some of the things are kind of gross.

Some highlights were the snake show, the prairie dog town, squacking parrots, lizards we had previously only read about, a huge crocodile (over 18 feet long!), a snake eating a rat at feeding time, giant tortoises that scared Evan even though he knows they are slow, tons of spiders, small smakes, and turtles, and even touching a "ginormous snake."

The passes last until November 15 so we'll have to wander back again in the next few weeks. Want to come along?? :)

Simple Pleasures

We only have two trees that actually produce enough leaves to make a difference in our yard and one dropped all it's leaves last week. That meant that this week I spent some quality time raking them and then the kids spent some quality time in them. Here are a few of my favorite shots. :)

NIne Pumpkins

We planted pumpkins in our garden this year but they were a little slow in growing. As a result we had to pick them a bit green this past week to keep them from freezing. The fact that they aren't quite ripe hasn't made it any less exciting for the kids. They're holding out for pumpkin pie after Halloween. I'm sure we'll have pie but it won't be from these pumpkins. Happy harvesting to the rest of you gardeners. :)

Considering Adoption

Following the busy few days of Teacher's Conference our house hasn't yet slowed down. I substitute taught for part or all of eight out of twelve school days. Needless to say, our schedule is completely shot. A lady from church with a home daycare had the kids for part of the time but three Fridays Jon has watched the kids. As a result the boys, who already adore Jon, now think he's pretty much family. (Even funnier, he has been mistaken for their uncle before.) He's had dinner at our house the last three Friday's but we owe him much, much more. Thanks Jon!

The Happy Hikers

These is the proof we made it to the top of Harney Peak. On the top there is an old fire tower that offers a final destination, great view in every direction, and place to picnic for supper. :) Happy hiking to you all.

Next, Harney Peak

While Kristi and Sarah were here we decided to make a trip up to the top of Harney Peak. Harney is the highest point in SD and the highest point east of the Rockies. It is usually a 5+ hour hike and, although the trail is well hiked and marked, not to be taken lightly. We were crazy enough to attempt it with fifteen people with seven being children seven and under. Did we mention we also did it in four and a half hours and ended in complete darkness. (Notice a theme??) Like I said, crazy.

If you're wondering why we'd even consider this, check out the pictures.

The first is a view of the Hills from along the trail. It doesn't even come close to doing justice to the amazing feeling you have when looking over the magesty of God's creation.

The second is similar to the first. The giant rectangle rock formation in the center of the picture is the back of Mount Rushmore.

The third is the crew who was crazy enought to complete such a hike. Our family, Kristi, Sarah, Denise, and the preschool teacher, the principal, and his family from Sarah's school. Who wouldn't want to hike with us. It was an exhillerating afternoon of complete enjoyment.

Aunt Kristi & Aunt Sarah

For five busy but fun-filled days my sister-in-law Kristi and her sister Sarah visited us early in October. The real reason was that our congregation was hosting the Dakota-Montana-Nebraska District Teacher's Conference. Really we know they just like us a lot, will take any excuse to visit us, and the Hills are out our back door which are kind of like mountains. :)

One of the first orders of business was to hit the trail. We had to wait until late Sunday afternoon for both the weather and activities to clear before hitting the quickly darkening trail. Many of my crazy adventures here involve my good friend Denise, so we invited her to join us on a trek into the dark. It was light when we started but a star filled sky rapidly appeared.

In the pictures you'll note Kristi who (according to Evan) "looks like a big white squirrel hiking there" and Sarah, who became Aunt Sarah over the course of the visit, making fast hiking buddies with Evan.

It was great to have them here for five days and I really wish I could cut some of the boring parts out of the eight hours between us all so we could do it more often. Love you ladies! :)

asleep on her feet

I have an entire month of catching up to do on here so this picture is already almost a month old. Lydia was moved out of her crib and into a toddler bed back in early September. It took quite awhile for her to realize that she still needed to stay in bed even though she could get out. One night when I went in to tuck her in before I went to bed this is what I found. I'm not sure exactly how she ended up like this but she was completely asleep. Apparently elephants aren't the only thing that can sleep standing up. :)

Buffalo Round-Up at Custer State Park

Monday morning the kids and I joined our friend Denise and about 12,000 other people to watch the 42nd annual Buffalo Round-Up at Custer State Park in the Black Hills. Custer maintains one of the largest buffalo herds in the country. Each fall they round them up to immunize them, brand them, and sell some of them off to buffalo ranches. The park staff has learned how to time it right so that spectators can come watch the final few miles as the buffalo come over a rise (#1), through a few small valleys (#2), into a gate (see bottom of #2), down one last valley and into a corral area (#3). The spectators are on top of two hills with the final valley between the hills. The people are all safely behind a fence of course. We left home before 7 and were there by 8 but still had a pile of people in front of us. Lydia was in the kid backpack and the boys took turns on Denise's shoulders or being held up by me. After the buffalo are in the corral area we could walk down and see them up close as they took a well deserved drink at a stock tank (#4).

It was awesome! There is nothing quite like watching 1,000 buffalo come charging over a hill at you. They are magnificent animals and it was amazing to see something like that. The boys are currently enamored with buffalo. We might wander back down to Custer in a few weeks when they have the public auction and sell off some of the herd just so we can visit the buffalo again. If you're ever around the last weekend in September there is an entire weekend of festivities including arts and crafts, pancake breakfast, chili cook-offs and the actual round-up on the Monday morning that we'd recommend seeing at least once. Giddy-Up! :)

(Note: Clicking on the pictures will make them larger than full screen and you want to you can see the massive number of buffalo better.)

Glorious

It's so beautiful I just can't stop taking pictures.

A Saturday with the Smiths

This past weekend Nathan's parents and brother, Jordan, came for a visit. They were planning a visit around now and when Jordan got a job which meant moving to CO the two trips became one. Saturday we did what we usually do with company, take them to the Hills. Custer State Park, Little Devil's Tower, the Needles Highway, and Iron Mountain Road were on the list. One by one we checked them off.

If you're starting to see a theme with the last several posts, don't be surprised. Since moving here we have often said fall is the time to come to the Hills. It can get cold and snowy but it usually doesn't so we just endure cloudless days in the 70+ range with breezes blowing the golden leaves and smell of pine all around. We don't understand how some people around here can just sit at home on weekends like these.

So, we traveled to Custer SP and hiked Little Devil's Tower which allows for amazing views of the Hills including the Needles where we headed next. We stopped in the middle of the Needles to check out the "Eye of the Needle" and find a geocache (you knew we'd sneak it in!). On we traveled through the Needles Highway to the Iron Mountain road with is full of tunnels and pigtail bridges (you must see to understand) and allows several views of Mt. Rushmore. Not bad for the last Saturday in September.

Picture 1: Our kids at the lookout on top of Iron Mountain Road.

Picture 2: Kevin, Mary, and Hans in the giant crevice on the LDT hike.

Picture 3: Lydia didn't make it through the hike and fell asleep in the backpack. At the bottom of the hike Grandma cuddled her until she was ready to wake up again.

Picture 4: One tired Hans. One kind-hearted Uncle Jordan.

Pixie

While camping our friends the Prebles had brought their dog, Pixie. The kids have struggled to get over their fear of strange dogs; it was not a concern with Pixie. It may have had something to do with the fact that she is about as big a a squirrel. The boys along with their friend Camden all took turns walking Pixie everywhere. While the boys were out on the boat Lydia decided to have her turn. She walked Pixie up and down the beach and took her in and out of the water all while Pixie walked all like a toy puppy on a string.

Note: NO we are not going to need a dog so don't get any ideas about Christmas presents.

Angostura Camping Trip

Over the weekend of September 21-23 our church had it's second annual St. Paul's camp out. It was wonderful. Angostura is a reservoir about an hour south of Rapid City very near Hot Springs. Friday evening families trickled in a set up camp on their own. After dark we gathered around a central campfire for devotion, some singing, and s'mores. Saturday was as perfect a day as we could have wanted. Temps soared to 90+ and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Many people wandered off to fish or play on the beach. We headed to the disc golf course with our kids and their friend Camden. During the afternoon a generous member from our sister congregation, Abiding Word, came down and gave rides on the "tube" behind the boat. The afternoon was spent with most people on the beach in and around the water. Everyone who wanted rides on the boat or tube had an opportunity. The pictures show our family taking advantage. Evan and Hans spent a lot of time in the boat. I took Lydia on my lap for one trip around and Nathan and Evan took a trip their too. Hans was very content to feel the wind off the open water from in the boat. The canoe will never look quite the same to the kids now that they have acquired a "need for speed." :)