Hmmmm.....

So, it looks like it has been almost a year since I've posted anything here. Hmmm...I guess I've concentrated most of my effort on Facebook and my other blog. I need to get better at posting to this blog as well as the other places I post to.

Anyhow, Mr. Brendan decided to take a few steps for the first time tonight. Though this video isn't of the first steps, it is about five minutes later after we coaxed him into taking a few more.

And to the Reproject

Jeffrey reciting the Pledge of Allegiance....

Brendan's First Blogcast

A short video of Brendan smiling at his mommy :-)

Christmas Pictures

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

The Boys....

The boys were playing this morning so I took a few pictures of them....

A few pics....

Here are a few pics from the other night....

Some pictures

Just a few pictures....

Brendan's Birthday

A few more pictures of Brendan...and of course Jeffrey and Ethan!

Brendan Ryan Smith

Brendan Ryan Smith graced us this morning at 7:51 weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 19.75 inches long.

Both baby and mommy are doing fine.

http://newbabynews.net/hospitals/gtf11/public/showBaby.pl?babyID=h11-5260

And the name is....

After an exhausting search, discussion, debate, and thought, we have come up with the name of our new son.

First, before I tell you, I want to thank all of you who have provided votes for the polls, input via e-mail or in person in our search for the perfect name.

Now, with out further delay...our new son, due in October, will be named........Ricky Bobby Smith

Yeah right, just kidding :-) We have decided on Brendan Ryan Smith.

Weekend at the Cabin - Views of Glacier

Our family is blessed to have friends in our lives that allow us to come and visit their cabin and be part of their family. Thank you Dean and Mona.

This past weekend we did just that...spent the weekend at the cabin on St Mary Lake and a little time in Glacier National Park.

Friday night after the rest had called it a night, I did a little night photography on the dock.

Saturday morning we took a trip into Glacier National Park (only a few miles from the cabin). We had lunch in the park then headed up the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass and the Continental Divide. After spending a little time on the pass we headed back down and to the cabin.

Saturday night we had a BBQ with Dean, Mona, Liz, Bur, Alyson and Estin. It was good eats and a good time.

Though it was hard, Sunday we packed things up and headed back to Great Falls after a great weekend.

Relaxing at the cabin

Eating Watermellon


Night shots of St Mary Lake

Jeffrey on Logan Pass

Ethan at the cabin

Goat on the Going-to-the-Sun Road

A view from Logan Pass

Clements Mountain viewed from Logan Pass

Brittney and Ethan on Logan Pass Jeffrey and Brittney on Logan Pass

Barack in Butte

Thursday after work Kelly and I packed up the car and the kids and headed to Butte. We were hoping to see Barack Obama in the 4th of July parade.

After an adventurous trip to Butte (flat tire, car change, storm) we made it and checked into the War Bonnet Hotel in Butte at about 10 PM (too late for Brittney to go swimming). So we called it a night.

The next morning, Independence Day, we all got up only to learn that Barack was not going to be in the parade, due to security reasons. Even though we were disappointed, we had breakfast, got everyone ready, checked out and went to watch the parade anyway.

Though it was long, it was a pretty good parade. Senator Max Baucus and Governor Brian Schweitzer lead the parade off. There were some great floats and lots of politicians!

After the parade we looked around Butte, and went to the Berkley Pit. The Berkley Pit is an open pit mine that ceased operation in 1982 and has been filling up with water every since.

Still a little disappointed we didn't get to see Barack (we couldn't get tickets to the picnic he hosted at Montana Tech), it was decided we would go up to Montana Tech and see how close we could get without tickets. We learned that he was at the World Museum of Mining so we headed that way. Of course we couldn't get very close but we did get to where Highway Patrol had the road block and we parked there.

After about 30 minutes at the exit to the museum (and Kelly checking with the trooper to make sure we were OK where we were), Kelly and Brittney spotted a small group of people leaving the museum, walking across the tennis court about 50 yards away. Sure enough it was Barack and what I would assume was a group of Secret Service agents. Everyone that was waiting in the area we were in jumped out of their cars and I took a couple of pictures. Here is the best one:

Here is the picture enlarged (it is a bit grainy)

Even though we didn't get to see him in the parade, or very close, it wasn't a bad trip at all and we got to see Barack.

Baby Name Poll #2

Since we have yet to come up with a name for our newest little boy due in October, Kelly has created another poll with more choices. You can go vote on it by clicking on this link:

http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/bnpoll.asp?pollid=123575

Only in Montana....

Every time I see this sign I can't help but laugh and take a picture...it is at a rest stop outside of Missoula...TELL YOUR DOG TO HOLD IT :-)

A few pics....

The past week I've done a bit of traveling...a trip to Helena on Thursday and a trip to Washington this weekend to pick up Brittney. Here are a few pictures from the trip.


Holter Lake

Inside of Cataldo Mission in Idaho...the oldest standing building in Idaho

The outside of Cataldo Misson

Multnomah Falls in Oregon, the second tallest waterfall in the USA

Christopher and Brittney at Multnomah Falls