"On my side of the family, we've been able to follow records back to the mid twentieth century," Ruth says, though as she speaks, she's checking around the table to see if anyone would like more food, and passes a little more challah down to Jim. "On James' side, we've traced back some branches to the eighteenth, though the Lakota didn't leave any physical birth records to dig back any further down that part of the family line."

"My dad's side of the family came over during the American pioneer days too," Jim adds, earning a somewhat startled look from his mom, who hadn't expected him to bring up George.