Picture 2: This is what I ususally get when trying to take pictures of the three kids together. :)
Picture 3: Attempt #9 or so of 
trying to take a nice picture of the three kids. It's not perfect but not bad either.
Picture 4: Those I love most.
Last Saturday we took our annual treck to the Hills in search of the "perfect" Christmas tree. We were near Silver City which isn't really a city anymore but an old logging town that probably qualifies as "in the middle of nowhere." After taking several forest service roads we found ourselves in a peaceful canyon where the gently falling snow was accumulating. The kids eagerly started the search with laughter and snowflake tasting. We found a tree to take home and one to decorate for the animals. Last year we began this family tradition. (It's inspired by Night Tree written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ted Rand.) We had cranberry strings, popcorn strings, pinecones covered with peanut butter and birdseed, and old bread to create nature's feast. The top picture is of us gathered around the decorated tree.
The next three pictures are
of the kids enjoying the snow in their own way. Hans was running all over trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue "like on Charlie Brown Christmas." Lydia had a hard time trudging along in her winter gear but she certainly tried to keep up with the boys. Evan is our biggest outdoor/nature lover and he found a stick for writing in the snow "like in Snowy Day" and wrote his name.
This is the second year our Ladies Aid has hosted Advent by Candlelight for the ladies of the congregation.
It consists of a simple service with Bible readings, explainations of the Advent wreath, a small choir, singing Christmas carols, beautiful decorations in the fellowship hall and on tables, and delicious desserts. I co-hosted a table with my good friend Denise and we were surrounded by so many sisters-in-Christ. In the hustle and bustle that the world forces onto the Christmas season this was a night that focused on bringing our best to Jesus and reminded us of the reason for the season.
1:
Our table of lovely ladies.
2: Some ladies enjoying each other's company before the service began.
3: My friend Cindy with her good friend Kris. :)
. When we look at pictures of family, when we talk about upcoming visits, when Smith family memories come up, Hans is quick to remember Aunt Tammy. We had seen the movie Surf's Up in the theater a few weeks before going home for Thanksgiving and that same day talked about seeing family soon. Hans was quick to suggest that we could watch Surf's Up with Aunt Tammy. So (ever the indulgent godfather:) Michael and Tammy rented it and we had a movie night. Lydia cuddled with Jo while the boys shared their blankets along with the couch with Michael and Tammy.
You can't beat cudding up with the one(s) you love and sharing a good time. Thanks for being so great to my kids. :)
there as well. They visited pigs in the barns, 'helped' cut down a tree, explored the field, and took full advantage of the recently refurbished swingset/playground. I'm not sure how long this has been at the Smith house but with grandkids around Kevin and Mary chose to move it and repair some of the well-used parts. This trip was the first time it has had a slide. Evan says it's a "really, really fast slide" which is "totally awesome." That's how we'd describe the entire visit. :) See you soon Smiths!
We have been going to St. Croix Valley Trees north of Somerset, WI for nearly 20 years. They have beautiful trees and have expanded so much it would be easy to make a day out of your visit. 1: Getting the grandkiddos in my parents suburban for the quick trip.
2: ATTACK UNCLE JAMES!!!
3: "We wanna help! Can we help cut the tree?? Can we? Can we? Huh?"
4: Hauling the tree out of there.
It was cold while we visited but that didn't stop the kids from enjoying all the great outside things to do at my parents house. 1: Saying "hi" to the chickens.
2: Lydia's at the wheel. Yee-haw.
3: Enjoying the sand volleyball court turned giant sand box. 
watch a movie, cuddle with aunts and uncles, go to church just Nathan and I (we heard an entire sermon!!), play with chickens, check out the pig barn, slide on a new slide, explore a fort made of haybales, ride a tractor, visit a farm, have a cousins slumber party, and have an entirely wonderful time. We're just glad that from the day we left till the day we go back is only a month's time. Yeah for family! This picture is of our kids with their cousins, Joey and Jesse, my sisiter's boys. Cousins are much cool. :)
was followed immediately by a trip to the bathtub. I'm relatively certain only crazy parents attempt these things. It was an adventure to say the least. :)
Right through the middle of Rapid City there is a huge hill
that splits the city. It has been developed in some places along the sides but the top of it is Skyline Wilderness Area. It's amazing. Living in the Black Hills we're spoiled with hiking everywhere and this is one of the major spoilers. Two weekends back we had a Saturday in the low 70s and sun-filled skies. We headed up to the Skyline Wilderness Area for some hiking and geocaching. To get there you don't even have to leave Rapid but are actually right in the middle of town. We did meet some other hikers with boys who played with our kids. There are also often mountain bikers in the area as we saw lots of tracks. It might not be as remote as most of the Black Hills but for being in the middle of a town of 62,000, it's pretty great. :)pic #1: Nate and the kids hiking down with Rapid City's east side in the distance.
pic #2: Evan and Hans climbing on what some local kids call "Castle Rock." (Notice shorts in November! Yeah!)
there. The kids and I tagged along to visit the Maertzes. It was a busy, fast, and fun weekend. Like most visits with friends, it passed too quickly. We look forward to making another trip over sometime in the spring. On the way back home we came through Pierre and took the opportunity to stop at the WWII Memorial. It is a relativly recent addition and one of interest to both Nathan and I. The kids were just happy to get out of the van and have the chance to throw rocks in the water. It's a neat memorial to some real heros. If you're ever in the neighborhood take a few minutes to stop.
1: The kids overlooking the fountain It is supposed to flame because some flamable liquid is mixed with the water but it wasn't "on" that day.
2: A man or woman dressed in their battle uniforms represents each branch of the military. They are slightly larger than life because, in the words of our governor, "those men and women were larger than life."
3: The flags and wall which bears the names of those from SD who fought in WWII. 
As long as we've been a family we have had a family theme for 
our Harvest Fest costumes. This years theme was inspired by our favorite August activity, the rodeo. Photo 1: Steer Wrestler Hans (aka: A Cowboy who has a lasso who rides a horse.)
Photo 2: Buckin' Horse Rider Evan (showing off his balloon mouse.)
Photo 3: Barrel Racer/Rodeo Princess Lydia (collecting her winnings after dropping a bean bag in the clown nose.)
Photo 4: The Coyboys and Cowgirl posing with the rodeo clowns who followed them around all night (aka: the prize winners!)
We're more than a little crazy but we have a lot of fun!
Lydia just was happy to play with any "punky." I stole an idea from Martha and created a jack-o-man for mine. We'll see what grows in the garden next year. :)
This past Sunday when I was starting to pull together our costumes for Halloween I dug out the face paint. Evan asked to have his face "all painted like a clown." This is what we came up with for the afternoon. He sported the look for a few hours much to the confusion of his little sister. I've always thought he was a clown. :)