Baking Christmas Cookies - December 2010

One of Rowan's favorite (of many) Christmas traditions...

Quite the helper!

He must have asked if it was "time to do the sprinkles" about 100 times! :)

Reaping the rewards!

Tatum and Parker's first visit to Santa Claus - December 2010

....and you see how it went. That's Parker on the left. Tatum is just following suit.

You may notice there is no picture at all with Santa Claus and Rowan. He would not even go see him this year. He may have looked just like the girls here.

Rowan's First School Christmas Program - December 2010

Rowan's preschool held a Christmas program this past year...Rowan's first. He did really great! We thought he would get kinda shy, but he stood up there and performed without missing a beat.

Parker, Tatum and Rowan

Rowan's wonderful preschool teacher, Mrs. Larson

1880 Train Holiday Express ride - December 2010

As a special holiday treat for the kids (and the adults!), we took a ride on the 1880 Train Holiday Express. It was a nice hour-long ride out of Hill City into Keystone (where Mt. Rushmore is located) to pick up Santa Claus! The kids each got a candy cane and a jingle bell in the spirit of Christmas. :) It was nice to ride through a Winter Wonderland for the holidays.

Parker Pie

Daddy and Tatum

Tatum

Rowan, Tatum, Grandma and Parker

Tatum

Rowan enjoying the sights we rode by

Yummmm....sugar cookies and hot cocoa :)

Santa arrives!

Tatum and Rowan

Christmas tree hunt - December 2010

This is the first time we did not buy our Christmas tree on a street corner in town! :) We actually got to go into the Black Hills National Forest near our house and cut down our own tree this year. It was a fun adventure that Rowan really enjoyed too...the girlies stayed home by the fire. ;)

Getting ready for the hunt!

Cabela got in on the action too!

Mommy and Rowan

"I'll find our tree!"

This is the one!

Rowan and Mommy hauling our tree to the car

Rowan found a "tree" for Grandma

Taking it home to decorate

Ready for Christmas

Downtown Rapid Christmas Parade - December 2010

Downtown Rapid City has a really nice annual Christmas parade. We had lots of fun despite the chilly night!

Daddy and Tatum

Grandma Donna and Parker

Rowan waiting for the parade to begin

Ellsworth AFB B1 Bomber parade float

Santa's sleigh led by a Harley Davidson

First Big Snow of the Winter - November 2010

The first big snow this winter was during Thanksgiving...about 4 inches. Rowan loves to play in the snow (thank goodness!) and he LOVES to throw snowballs at us! Some pics of Rowan playing outside in the snow...

Carter pulling Caden and Rowan on the sled