Wednesday, November 3, 2010

My Mountain Man

I have to say Dave is certainly back in his element....and very happy to be! He drew an antelope tag this season, so he and his friend, Darin, went hunting for antelope. And so, Dave got his goat! He had the meat made into some great antelope/beef sticks...I was pleasantly surprised at how good they were!

Dave and Darin in NW South Dakota


Dave and his antelope


Fall in the Black Hills

We went for a drive through Spearfish Canyon northwest of Rapid City to see the leaves at the peak of the fall season as they were changing colors. Beautiful!!! Fall is quickly becoming my favorite time of year! The brisk air, the evergreens, the gold aspen trees, the cool nights and beautiful days...





Roadside picnic






Rowan showing his collection of leaves...He got to take them to school the following week for show and tell as they were collecting fall nature items!






Our trip to Omaha - September 2010

We had a fun trip to Omaha, NE, this past September to meet our cousins, Leann and Landon. They were visiting family in Kansas and had time for a "side trip" to their road trip, so I loaded up the kids and we hit the road to Omaha to meet them for a fun few days! We visited the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Children's Museum. They were both great! The zoo was probably the best I have ever been to. They really did a great job with the very realistic settings for the animals. You felt like you were in their actual environment. We also spent some (surprisingly) relaxing time in the Bass Pro Shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Go figure! Leann and I relaxed in some camping chairs while the girls slept in their stroller and the boys played in the tents and on the 4-wheelers (of course!). Thank you, Bass Pro Shop, for some quiet visiting time! :) During this whole trip, I think the boys' favorites were anything they could "drive".

Landon and Rowan at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE



Tatum and Parker hanging out in their stroller


Driving the jeep...a big hit with the boys



Stalagtites and Stalagmites...try explaining that to two 3 year olds! :)




The swamp was great! It was very dark with wood/rope bridges and nighttime sounds. This big guy was swimming by in the dark!






The gorillas are always my favorite exhibit...what amazing creatures. I could have watched them all day.


Our little monkeys with the gorillas.


Train ride around the zoo


Think we're teething?????


Fun at the Omaha Children's Museum



Our little scientists in the Bubble Lab


Driving the fire truck!





Can we take this one? It's on sale!!
Playing at Bass Pro Shop

Where the Buffalo Roam

Our second camping trip in South Dakota was in Custer State Park this August. Pictures do not do it justice...the Black Hills are really beautiful! We went camping with two other couples and their kids and had a great time visiting, building fires, scouting for deer, driving the Wildlife Loop, making S'mores, cooking out, and having some "adult drinks". :) Such a relaxing trip. Custer State Park is about an hour from Rapid City. The buffalo literally roam free around Custer State Park, so it was not unusual to find one outside your cabin door or several blocking the roads. They have an Annual Buffalo Roundup each September. We didn't make it this year, but hope to next year.

Custer State Park

Hanging out on our cabin porch


Campsite cuties - Parker (l) and Tatum (r)


Rowan and Cabela


Parker


Tatum


Cabela was taunted by the squirrels all day long!



Buffalo across the road


Campsite visitor


Campground kiss! Sweet sissies!

Rowan learned to ride a bike during our camping trip. Won't get on one now...go figure!

I ran into this guy outside the campground restroom. He's much bigger than he looks!


Yummy s'mores!!


Scenic drive - Custer State Park


Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park