Alpaca Farm....

We went to an Alpaca farm just south of Sioux Falls yesterday. It was really neat, they are so cute you instantly like them. The woman that showed us around told the kids if they stood still the younger ones would come over to sniff them. Brendan very patiently waited for them to come and inspect him. Several did, and we were even able to pet one while the owner held him.



Katie's favorite animal there was this small pug dog. She followed it everywhere and called to him and yelled to him. The alpacas didn't interest her in the slightest bit. Oh well, we all loved them and enjoyed our visit. We will go back in a couple weeks to see the new babies that are due any day now.

Soccer Heads....

Brendan and Katie put their soccer balls in the hoods of the jackets and stumbled around the field. They were so cute and weird looking at the same time. Soccer is now over but will start back up in the spring. Now, what sport shall we learn through the winter?

Boyhood...

Justin is always so curious and happy. He explores with great gusto and joy. We found him poking at this algae near the water's edge.

The Joy of Being a Kid...

Rebecca, Brendan, Justin and Katie with their friends.

Sitting on the rooftop of the pigpen.

Walking along the path through the homestead.

Adams Homestead....

Yesterday a friend took us to a neat homestead.


It was really beautiful, cool weather and a nice walk with all of the kids.

Robert had the camera and took great pictures. The kids had fun running around with their friends and found turkey feathers. They put them in their hair and ran around whooping and hollering. Great fun for them and us to watch.

Railroad fun...

We took a trip to Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. There is a lot of history there about the railroad so we took advantage of the museums and tours. First we went to the Union Pacific Museum and learned all about how the railroad came all the way out here. Then we went to General Grenville Dodge's house and took a tour and watched a film. Dodge was a great contributor and engineer of the railroad. He also was a general in the Civil War and many famous people from that time had come to his house. The nice tour director had the kids go on a scavenger hunt by finding certain objects within the house and had lots of fun. I think she was surprised that they liked her game as much as they did. Our last stop was at a visitors train depot. We climbed all over old steam engines and cars. The last car was a converted caboose that had a bathroom. Rob went underneath and smiled for this great picture. I am so glad that we are able to go on these fun field trips together.
I don't have any pictures of the renaissance festival that we went to last weekend, but that was also lots of fun. When I was a kid I would go to the one in Minnesota and thought the kids would enjoy the silliness and the costumes. They did and so did Rob and I. They had people shouting out "Justice, get your justice here." There was a poor fellow with his head and arms hanging out a wall with a huge mess of tomatoes laying on the ground. Another lady shouted about how for $1 you could have your child put in the stocks complete with a certificate from the queen. We asked Brendan if he would like to do that, he said no. Other than that, the kids have been busy playing soccer and school. Next week is their last week of soccer and then we will have to find some other form of exercise!

Mall of America and Bass World...

Here are the kids at a great store in Council Bluffs, IA called Bass World. For those of you in Ketchikan, it is a combination of the Discovery Center and Tongass Trading Company. There are great displays of black and brown bears, deer, fish tanks with local fish, and cool gear. The other picture is from the Mall of America in front of the shark exhibit. We never actually got to go because it closed when we got around to it. We had fun on the rides in Camp Snoopy. We never had so much fun! Brendan rode on rollercoasters with Rob and the others rode fun rides more for their level. I can't wait to go back!

Family Reunion...

August 21, we all drove to Minnesota and met with my Dad and Terry and had dinner. It was a great time because, well, it was the first time they had met each other in person! What a great treat for us all. The next morning we went to breakfast with my Grandma at Perkins and that was a nice reunion for all of us. My Grandma has 10 grandchildren and about 26 great-grandchildren. ( I think that is the right number.) Sorry it has taken me so long to get these downloaded. It has been a busy summer and fall.