A neat free thing to do in Rapid City is to visit the fish hatchery. Unfortunately it's been under construction for the last year and a half. Newly opened we spent some time checking it out before we left. a-Here they are.
b-Goofball #1
c-Goofball #2
d-Goofball #3
On the list of great memories made those last few weeks in Rapid one of Nate's highlights was flying with his good friend Kim. The two of them have been in the air together many times in the last year loving every minute including this last flight. For the last one they flew from Clyde Ice field in Spearfish (where Kim's plane is hangered) to Pierre Municipal Airport and on to the Lake Preston grass strip. Flying cross country with a good friend who shares a passion for aviation is a great memory by itself but that wasn't all the day entailed. From Lake Preston they went to visit Kim's helicopter instructor, Bill. Kim wanted to brush up on his helicopter skills and he thought Nate might like to check it out too. After watching Kim buzz around with Bill for a bit Nate had the chance to go up with him. Bill demonstrated a few basic helicopter skills, did some low passes like a crop duster might do, and then Nate had the chance to try hovering. Although not as easy as it looks Nate had a blast. He's still in the process of getting his fixed wing license but is already planning the day he can get his rotor-craft license too. 1: The view out of Kim's plane just west of Pierre, SD.
2: Hello helicopter, it's so nice to finally meet you.
3: Hmm, I think it looks a little like a mosquito from this angle.
4: He bring it in for a landing. End of flight.
Over the past few years the kids and I became regular attendees at the library storytime. We started in the "Baby Bookworms" (0-3 years) and moved our way up to "Book Buddies(3-6 years)". The library had a great children's area, visiting interactive displays, summer craft projects, and a staff that made storytime memorable. a)Miss Leanna on our last day at storytime with the kids showing off their frog tongue projects.
b) A bookworm carving now sits where a tree once was. We had to say hi to it every week.
2.Beware of the large birds! They are known to eat small critters like you!
3.It was a close call but the lightening fast turtle nearly nibbled a finger. Good think preschool age children have slightly quicker reflexes.
4.A notorious band was seen fleeing the Black Hills early this month. If you see this group please notify authorities.
(Or maybe the Smith family's final trip to Reptile Garden.)
One of the kids favorite places in Rapid is the Story Book Island. There are hundreds of story themed play things, a train, children's theater plays, picnic areas, a creek, and endless fun. The pictures are from the last day we went as a family.a) At the entrance to the park.
b) Lydia riding Toto down the yellow brick road.
c) Hans chug-chug-chugging along.
d) Evan stuck in the end of the octopus' tentacle.
The last two weeks in Rapid we were invited over to friends' houses for dinner more often than we ate at home. Repeatedly we were spoiled with meals like baked ham with scalloped potatoes, BBQ ribs with corn on the cob, and grilled chicken followed by ice cream dessert. The only thing better was the company. We have been blessed to make some very dear friends in the past seven years. The pictures are of us at the Heitsch home. It was one of the many highlights of the last week for all of us especially Evan. (Evan loves the Heitsches: he wants to be a cowboy like Mr.Heitsch, thinks Mrs.Heitsch is beautiful, and nearly every picture of a horse he draws is for Shae or Whitley.) Here we got to ride Rocky. Rocky is a 15 year old horse that is wonderful with children. Evan was the first one on Rocky and would probably still be there if we hadn't made him come home with us. Hans took some convincing but once he was on and moving decided he'd like a horse of his own. Lydia was scared but eagerly came up once I was on Rocky. We took turns riding around the yard and the boys often rode double with one of the Heitsch girls. In the background of the pictures you can see the Hills in the distance. The highest point is Harney Peak and once it was dark we could even see Mount Rushmore being lite up for the evening. Memories.
Our last big St.Paul's event was the church picnic which served as an official farewell for us. It was a beautiful day filled with hugs, laughter, and many wishes for God's blessing to be with us. Saying goodbye was very bittersweet for us because as much as we know it's the right decision it was hard to leave such wonderful people. Nate always says that St. Paul's is the best place in the WELS to serve and that couldn't be more true for us. It was exactly where we needed to be for the seven years we were there. We hope we were as much of a blessing as we were blessed. The pictures are of the generous farewell gifts we received from the faculty and from the congregation. We have pictures of some of our favorite places, a socket set that will soon be well used, and a clock that chimes every hour to remind us of our SD family. Thank you.
Hans upgraded from trike to bike with training wheels this spring. In late June the training wheels were bent enough that the only support they offered was mental so, after a little convincing, we took them off. This is Hans about a minute later. He was thrilled! .JPG)
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Since Evan is a bit of a people person he loved the reception. He danced with everyone he could, made new friends, and after loosing him for awhile I did once find him under a table with a bridesmaid (he was showing her his glow bracelets). Fun, fun, fun.a) Here Evan is being his helpful self and assisting Grandpa in winning tick-tack-toss so that Michael and Tammy had to kiss. Eww!
b) A great party pal was discovered in cousin Adam. Whoot-whoot!
c) Aunt Tammy was very impressed by his bracelet collection so I guess it does make sense that a bridesmaid would be impressed too.
d) Here is a link to Evan and Michael doing the twist. Michael was imitating Evan and I'm sure that is how he won over Tammy in the first place. Killer moves dudes.
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Weddings are a chance for a lot of people to be a little goofy and Hans was no exception. He usually is a goofball and we've got the pictures to prove it. Kid, you make us laugh.a&b) The DJ was giving glow bracelets to the kids and since ours were just about the only kids under 18 they had well over a dozen by the night's end. Here Hans displays a few ways to use them as fashion accessories.
c) Hmm, what's that you're snitching, dear boy? The end of a brandy old fashioned sweet perhaps?
d) This one is actually at gift opening. Hans appointed himself chief unwrapper and placed himself on Michael's lap. I think he opened more gifts than the bride and groom. What a nice aunt and uncle they are.
a) Lydia took advantage of having so many people willing to hold her and give her attention. In this picture Aunt Kristi was happy to provide a lap during dinner. b) These squirt guns were originally used by the wedding party during their rowdy grand march and later the kids absconded with them. Trouble.
c) It took her a little to warm up to the lights and noise of the dance but once she got going she was a regular dancing queen. Here she is with cousin Ryan's fiancee Marcella.
d)We had purposely gotten a room at the hotel the reception was in so we could put the kids to bed but there was no convincing them that they should leave the party. Lydia finally lost the fight in the arms of a willing Aunt Kristi. So sweet.
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Picture 1: Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Tammy Smith
Picture 2: Sharp Dressed Smith Men.
ps:What do you think of the black/white soft focus look?
