SouthDakota2008: Mount Rushmore Again

On our trip to South Dakota this year, we went to Mount Rushmore three days. Our last visit we took Liz, Doug, Diane, and Grant. The weather when we got there was superb. Most everybody (except height adverse Paul) walked around the base of the monument.

Our favorite...Mount Rushmore...

Grant took this photo of Paul, Michele, Sammy, Diane, Liz, & Doug...

An unsuspecting Grant is about to get buffaloed...

Sammy sharing fries with his Aunt Diane...

Mount Rushmore National Memorial...
...has a very large and modern multi-level parking garage...
...which is apparently held up by this flimsy jack...

True story...
...on several occasions strangers walked up and asked to take photos of Sammy...

Liz & Doug...

Diane and Grant...

Grant, Paul, Michele, Sammy, Diane, Doug, Liz...

One of the many stairs we had to climb...

Doug waiting for everyone to catch up...

Grant read *every* word on the plaque...

Liz took this photo...
...all questions should be directed to her...

Wherever Sammy goes...
...he ends up with girls...

Sammy and the Rochester Rodeo

Last night we took Sammy to the rodeo at the Olmsted County Fair. Bernie and Mark came with us too. We'd never been to a rodeo before, so it wasn't always clear to us how the scoring was done...perhaps we'll have read the rule book. Luckily no one was seriously injured. The part we enjoyed the most was the horses running around the barrels. Sammy of course was in his glory...in a cowboy hat surrounded by fellow cowpokes.

Sammy enjoying the rodeo...

Sammy, Bernie, and Mark enjoying the rodeo...

Michele, Sammy, Bernie, and Mark...

A big bucking bronco...
...bucks a bold buckaroo...
...before a bevy of blaring bystanders...

A cowboy consoles an injured but unvanquished vaquero...

Does it matter if they lose their hat?

Two cowboys go to rope a calf...

The clown was quite athletic...and crazy...
...he climbed up one of the steel poles like the one behind him...

At the end, they all rode their horses in a big circle...
...raising a ton of dust...

A cowboy at the end of the day...

SouthDakota2008: Sammy Riding a Horse in the Black Hills

Here's a short video of Sammy riding a horse in the Black Hills during our trip there. Accompanying Sammy was his Grandpa D and Michele.

Our little cowboy...

SouthDakota2008: Sammy Hiking @ Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore proved a serious challenge for Sammy. He walked around the base of the monument, up and down the stairs. By the time the walk was almost completed, he was a tired and thirsty little boy.

Sammy hitting the water fountain...



Wide shot...



Videotaping Sammy...


Video of the shot...



A very tired Sammy...



An extremely tired Sammy...



Sammy continuing his weary climb up the stairs...

Swimming Saturday...

Yesterday Sammy invited Shannon over for a swim to escape the hot day. So for a while before it rained the two of them played in the pool.

All smiles...

Shannon is about to go down the slide...

Drying off as it starts to rain...

Byron Good Neighbor Days...

This past Friday night, Sammy took Linda with us to Byron. Dennis and his family (wife Dana, children Benton, Kendra, and Avery) had invited us attend the "Byron Good Neighbor Days." Dana's parents from La Crosse were also there.

It was a spectacular event. The weather was excellent. First was a parade which had everything from Shriners on motorcycles to a live band. As the participants went by, they tossed candy--tons of it--to the children on the sides. After the parade we went to watch the fireworks.

Sammy, Avery, and Dennis await the parade...
...as Kendra's grandparents look on from behind...

Benton was kind enough to give Avery and Sammy a ride to the parade...

A family affair walked by...
...the family that politicizes together...
...stays together...
...so long as everyone stays in the same political party...

Avery shared her sun-brella with Sammy...
...her grandfather is to Sammy's left...

The front of the parade as it approached...

The latest addition to...
Byron Fire Department (BFD)...
Engine 503...
Ladder #1...

Sammy running loose in the street for candy...
...what is more disturbing?....
(1) Sammy is loose in the street by himself....
--or--
(2) We were photographing our son loose in the street...

Shriners on motorcycles...
...we were amazed by their driving...

Signs of the times?
...Obama's signs are the smallest...

The parade group of the day...
Christ Lutheran Church's...
Lawn Chair Brigade...

On a sea of black asphalt...
...with meticulous precision and impeccable rhythm...
...the Lawn Chair Brigade demonstrated synchronized group manoeuvres...
...on a scale not seen since...
...Esther William's synchronized swimming movies...
(for those of you who have no idea...go here and skip ahead to the 1 minute mark)

Dana in the Lawn Chair Brigade...

Troy with his son Joshua...
...wonder what he looks like? We did too until this past Friday...
...Dennis' shirt became a magnet for all the political stickers given to the kids...

Linda blowing bubbles with Avery...

Sammy serenades Linda and Dennis with the "Ballad of Davey Crocket"...

Dennis temporarily detained a firefly...
...which amazed Sammy to no end...

Benton, Kendra, Avery, and Sammy await the fireworks...

Ooh...ahhhh....wow....