Summer is over.....Already?!

I know summer usually goes by quickly, but this summer was really quick and I think it is because it was a simple, but fun summer.

Here is a recap of our summer- 

                                               The first day of summer break

                                   Baseball camp

                                 
                                         Local library event about Raptors.

                             
                                   Swimming with friends

                           Kayaking

                              1st time riding on a side by side

                                  Finishing the Fair sign for 4H

                                    More kayaking

                              Camping

                                            Swimming

                            Strawberry picking with Grandma

                                 

                                A quick summer trip to Duluth and the water was amazing and not too cold!

                          A very bad storm that hit our community

      Picking up  after the storm

                      Going trucking with Grandpa (His first time, they went to Indianapolis)

                  Helping our friends at Natures Edge clean up

Our trip to the prairie

                   Outdoor movie theatre

       Swimming lessons

                           Swimming at the culvert

More camping

                 VBS!

              Helping at VBS

First day of school 2019!!

Whew....what a wonderful summer, now on to fall activities!

Our wonderful prairie trip part 2

This is the last part of our trip. We moved quickly and did all this in two days. So the last place we stayed was in Walnut Grove, MN at Plum creek campground. We were not as impressed with this campground, but we did enjoy the walking trails there. 

Before we went to the campground we stopped at the Ingalls dugout spot, which I didn't know about and so didn't plan to stop, but I am so glad we stopped. It is actually on someones property, which the owners knew nothing of the historic site until Garth Williams (Illustrator of Lauras books) had told the family the Ingalls had once lived on their property. How cool!!

This was another favorite stop of the trip.

Walking in Plum Creek!

 And then the "big rock" that laura and her sister played on. The boys thought that was so cool to sit on the same rock as Laura did!

 I randomly picked a tent site and look where we ended up, right next to our tree. Ha ha, Conner found this on the tree on our site. J+K= LOVE

Staying in a tent was different compared to what we are use to now. It was fun adn to feel the cool breeze in the morning was refreshing. 

We never know how creative dad will get with our camping food, but I will say it is always yummy! Josh served us Venison with apples and bacon our last morning camping. It was very good! 

On the road again! This time back home. This is the bridge going over the Mississippi river in Wabasha. Very beautiful in this part of Minnesota. 

One last historic site- I love history! 

Caddie Woodlawn home. I stopped here as a little girl and always wanted to take the boys, well this trip it finally worked out!

 We were able to go in and check it and walk around. 

Read Caddie Woodlawn if you haven't yet! 

Well this was the end of our trip, a wonderful trip. Summer is almost done and it will be back to school. 

Our wonderful trip to the prairie! Part 1

We have made some fun summer memories this year, but going to the prairie was our highlight. So here is some pictures and notes about our trip.

The first fun stop, Minnesota's biggest candy store. Josh insisted we stop here and check it out. I will say it was cool and the variety of puzzles caught my eye. 

This is the ceiling in the candy store, this painting was my favorite! 

 Here we go on the road again. This was just before getting into South Dakota, we saw wind turbines everywhere. The boys thought they were pretty neat. I remember seeing these as a kid traveling through Texas. I didn't realize they had them in South Dakota.  

 As we drove up the dirt road to the homestead, I felt tears welling up, how cool to be in the same prairie as Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

 Here is our covered wagon that we stayed in. I will say it was very comfortable and it held up through the storm that evening. 

Here is inside our covered wagon, the next morning. 

So at this homestead it is a living prairie, they let you try things out for yourself and experience it.

Cutting the lawn. Look at that cool mower! 

Rope making!

         This is one of my favorite parts of the homestead, being able to climb, touch, see the Cottonwood trees Charles Ingalls planted and Mary, Laura and Carrie probably played on or at least sat next to while reading a book. There were five that he planted and they are all still strong and standing today!

The boys and I walking to see the Cottonwoods.

The boys on one of the Cottonwood trees

Josh and I on a walk through the Prairie. 

Walking to the church. 

One of the boys favorite parts of the homestead was going to the barn and playing with the kittens. 

They could have spent the night in there.

The rainbow after the storm. There was a tornado warning the night we stayed there, thankfully it wasn't too bad, just very windy.

Here is the chalk board in the replica school house, like the one Laura would have attended. 

  It is best to be honest and truthful and make the most of what you have.
Laura Ingalls Wilder