3 Months Old & Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hi all! It's been awhile, hasn't it? This post will be picture heavy (duh!) and should catch everybody up on what we've been up to this busy, busy summer. First, our doll baby is already 3 months old. Can you believe it? She is so much fun -- I can't believe I was ever nervous about having a girl. She is a hoot and even more fun everyday!

Simon made it through his 1st grade year at Landmark Academy. He had a great year, and we were so pleased with his progress. Here he is with his teacher, Miss Cantrell. We love her! She did an amazing job with 28 energetic first graders, making each of them feel unique and special. Simon just received a postcard from her from her summer travels to the Philippines. He was so excited and even googled the church on the postcard (with dad's help) so he could read more about it.



Simon with Mrs. Witt, the Principal at Landmark:



We had some fun family time at the beginning of the summer. We celebrated our niece Kendal's confirmation with her family (my brother Randy's daughter). By the way, Randy is quite smitten with Miss Nina, always wanting to hold her right away when we see them. We keep saying that he and Melea should go for #4, but somehow they aren't available for that.



We spent Memorial Day in Scottsbluff with Grandma Klein. We enjoy going with her to the ceremony the cemetery does for the veterans every year. Grandpa Klein was a very proud veteran and was always very active in the VFW, etc. Nina met Great Grandpa Benzel for the first time.



Simon turned 7 in June and we went low key for his party this year compared to the ufsuchs we've had in years past. Simon invited four friends to go with him to the Kung Fu Panda movie. Then the boys came back here and had pizza, a silly string war in the backyard, and rootbeer floats instead of cake. It was a great party. Please note the balloon animals, including the octupus hanging from the lamp. Yes, I made those myself and am available for hire for any of your future parties. It takes me about 45 minutes to make each animal so budget that into your time. :)



Simon has always adored my cousin Nicholas (like, who doesn't?) so we went to Aunt Pat's for a BBQ with him and his adorable girlfriend Kelly. Aunt Pat scored an original Barbie board game at Goodwill (she always wanted it as a child) and Simon played a round with Nick and Kelly. Nick turned out to be the prom queen, but Simon did secure a beautiful dress and a dashing date to the prom before the end of the game.



Summer Vacation 2008

We're just back from our summer vacation, and we had SO much fun! The ultimate destination was Brian's hometown in Iowa for his brother's wedding. We took our time getting there and made many stop along the way. The first stop was in Scottsbluff again. We love to visit the grandparents. We don't usually have time to do touristy stuff while we're there so this time was extra special. Instead of a hotel, we ended up staying in the guest quarters at Grandma Klein's retirement home. It was awesome! The guest quarters just happen to be right next to her apartment so we were able to go back and forth all day with ease. Nina was such a good baby, and she loves her Great Grandma Klein.



Our first stop in Scottsbluff was the Scottsbluff National Monument. We went there many times as kids so it was fun to share it with Simon and Nina. It was a gorgeous day so the views from the top of the monument were amazing!





We also visited the farm that Grandma and Grandpa used to live on, the country school they and my mom and Aunt Pat attended, and the house in town where they lived until Grandpa passed. As always, we enjoyed going to the cemetery to see Grandpa. I told Nina all about her amazing Great Grandpa.



Our last stop in Scottsbluff was their city pool. They have very cool waterslides there, and somehow Brian got to watch Nina and I got roped into going swimming with Simon. And this is where the first injury of the trip occurred. Before I went down the white slide, the guy said to sit up if you were going too fast. Well, too fast was an understatement, so I lifted my head to try to sit up, went around a curve and banged my head against the side of the slide. It is just now starting not to be super tender. Sympathy, please! I am injured! That slide was without tubes. Simon and I rode the yellow slide with the double tube too many times to count. I had lost my voice by the end of the day from screaming in terror because it went so fast. Simon's response? It was too slow, mom! And yes, I am purposely holding the tube in front of me so that none of you have to witness me in a swimsuit. It's not pretty.



Our next stop was our beloved Rapid City. One of our first vacations when we were kids was to Rapid City. We had so much fun that Brian and I have been bringing Simon there each year for about five years. We try to do something different every time, except for Mt. Rushmore. We go there every time.



This year Brian and Simon did the alpine slide, and instead of Old MacDonald's Farm, we did Bear Country. Simon LOVED it, and I wouldn't be surprised if we did that one again next time. He wasn't amused by my and Brian's jokes that we were going to roll down the window and offer the bears some licorice, reminding us several times that the sign says to leave your windows up!





Simon was excited to see a lynx, the mascot for his school. Go Landmark Lynx!



Our last stop in Rapid City was a picnic lunch at Storybook Island. The free public park is full of different little exhibits from all sorts of beloved stories. Aunt Pat used to take me there with her boys when we were kids, and Simon loves it. It's usually on our list as a must-do as well.













After Rapid City, we headed east across South Dakota. Destination: De Smet, Home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historical Society. The Ingalls lived in De Smet in Laura's books The Long Winter and On the Shores of Silver Lake.

The first thing we did in De Smet was visit the cemetery. Ma, Pa, Mary, Carrie and Grace are all buried there. Laura and Almanzo are buried in Missouri, where they lived later in life. Reading Pa's grave:




In the long winter, the Ingalls lived in the Railroad Surveyor's house, which still stands in De Smet. We took a tour of the house and were able to see tons of original Ingalls items.



The other house in town to tour is the house on third street. Pa built this house for the family as Laura and Almanzo were getting ready to move to Missouri. Pa, Ma, Mary, Carrie and Grace all lived there. Carrie eventually married and moved to Keystone, SD (near Rapid City). Grace was married in the parlor of the house and lived 7 miles north of De Smet with her husband. Mary always lived with Ma and Pa. She never married. Pa died first. Mary died just four years after Ma. She was very close with Ma and found it hard to go on after her death.



After the tour of this house, we went to the Ingalls' homestead which is the original land that Pa laid claim to when they came to Dakota territory. There are 16 interactive stations on the homestead and tons of original items. At this point Brian decided that Nina was cranky and that he must go back to the hotel immediately. Whatever! Simon and I plunged in and completed all 16 stations. I won't post a picture of everything (I know, you're bummed) but here is a glimpse of what we got to do:

Ingalls' Homestead:



I could TOTALLY ride for several hundred miles like this! Okay, maybe not:



Stoking the fire in the shanty:



Simon drove our group to school in a covered wagon. He did a great job with the horses!



Listening and learning at school:



How could I not get my sissy girl a sun bonnet? My prairie girl:



We had an amazing vacation! Our final stop was Brian's hometown for the wedding. Once I get the photos from the wedding, I will post again. Hope everyone is doing well!