The Smith's

Hmmmm.....

2010-02-12T22:39:00.003-07:00

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

2009-02-14T17:20:00.003-07:00

Jeffrey reciting the Pledge of Allegiance....

Brendan's First Blogcast

2009-01-11T09:56:00.003-07:00

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

Christmas Pictures

2008-12-28T20:06:00.003-07:00

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

The Boys....

2008-11-23T17:16:00.002-07:00

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

A few pics....

2008-11-12T20:23:00.001-07:00

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

Some pictures

2008-10-19T21:05:00.001-06:00

Just a few pictures....

Brendan's Birthday

2008-10-13T19:07:00.002-06:00

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

Brendan Ryan Smith

2008-10-13T14:43:00.003-06:00

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....

2008-07-24T20:01:00.002-06:00

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

2008-07-23T20:31:00.011-06:00

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

2008-07-05T11:50:00.005-06:00

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

2008-06-20T19:21:00.002-06:00

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....

2008-06-16T10:42:00.003-06:00

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....

2008-06-16T10:32:00.004-06:00

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

Christopher's Graduation

2008-05-30T22:35:00.012-06:00

What a day. Far from the graduation I remember in Barry...287 graduates from Charles M. Russell High School. Here are a few pictures.

This is a picture of Christopher walking up to get his diploma.

This is a picture of Christopher going back to his seat after he got his diploma (he had his back to us when it was presented)

The entire class...

Christopher after graduation.

Christopher and Brittney

Here is the whole group, my beautiful wife Kelly, Me, Brittney, Christopher, Christopher's mom Michelle, his step-dad Jamie, Heather and Don Gartin, Christopher's grand parents. The little cuttie that Heather is holding is Zoe...Mels' daughter. Mel was juggling cameras taking this picture.

Baby Name Link

2008-05-28T21:28:00.001-06:00

Try this link...I think it works now

Baby Name Poll

Help us with a name

2008-05-28T18:17:00.001-06:00

Please take the following poll to help Todd and I come up with a boy name since my hamburger has turned into a hot dog. Thanks.

http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/bnpoll.asp?pollid=122540

Senior Prom

2008-04-25T18:24:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pictures of Christopher and his girlfriend Mallory taken this evening before the senior prom.

Easter Egg Hunt

2008-03-23T11:28:00.003-06:00

Here is a short video of Ethan and Jeffrey during the Easter Egg Hunt yesterday.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the pictures I took of tonight's lunar eclipse. I also took a little video of it but haven't had a chance to go through it yet.

Enjoy....

Ethan Dancing....

2008-02-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Its a little dark, but I got a bit of video of Ethan dancing....

Montana's News Station

2008-02-09T10:57:00.001-07:00

So, we were playing with the video camera the other night and caught Jeffrey trying to create a comercial for a local news program...you would never guess what channel we watch the news on....

Will his future be in the spotlight? He enjoys being in front of the camera....

Brutus the Grizzly Bear

2008-02-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

We paid a visit to the Great Rockies Sports Show at the Montana Expo Park this weekend. One of the biggest attractions was Brutus the Grizzly Bear. It was kind of interesting to watch him with his handler and I got a little video of him grabbing something out of his handler's pouch.

To learn more about Brutus, visit his web page: http://www.grizzlyencounter.com/

A little taste of my photography

2008-02-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

So I decided to sit down and go through some of my pictures to post on here. This is just a few of my favorites...

This is by and far one of my favorite photos. I took this picture at Giant Springs State Park here in Great Falls in October of 2006

Another one of my favorites...this picture was taken in October of 2006 near Lincoln, Montana.

This picture was taken on October of 2005. It s a couple of trees along the Missouri River here in Great Falls. This photograph won the Malmstrom photo contest, black and white division.

Another picture taken in October of 2005. This is a night shot of Black Eagle Dam in Great Falls.

This picture was taken in the summber of 2006. It is a picture of Glacier Park taken from the middle of St. Mary's lake.

This picture of the sunset was taken in the fall of 2007 between Great Falls and Stanford.

I don't remember when I took this picture...circa 2004 or 2005. This is the Milwaukee Station in Great Falls. It is former railroad station converted into offices and one of my favorite builings in Great Falls to photograph.

This picture was taken in the summer of 2006. This bird chose to visit our apple tree so I caught him with my camera.

Well, like I said, a little taste. As I get a chance to go through more of my photos, I'll post more....

Ethan walking down the hall

2008-01-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video of Ethan walking down the hall carrying mommy's coffee cup :-)

A few pics to start with....

2008-01-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

OK, here are a few pictures to get things started...

Jeffrey ignoring his dinner and posing for the camera....

Ethan posing for the camera....

Christopher messing with the truck and talking on the phone...go figure :)

Momma and her boys

Brittney at Glacier....

Family picture 2007

My First Entry....

2008-01-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

So...I decided to create a Blog. My intent is to post pictures, both of my family and those I've taken.

More to follow.....