I Can See Clearly Now...The Headaches Are Gone...

After having headaches nearly every night for the last while, Emily found out at the eye doctor that her eyes are nearly as bad as Erin's. Terry and I decided to give glasses a try. After nearly one month of glasses, she has not complained of headaches once!! Mission: accomplished!

Home on the Range!

Tuesday night was Trevor's first (and only) music program for the year. They had a western theme and, as usual, the music teacher had an awesome program lined up for us. They were asked to dress in a western theme if they had access to the clothes. Trevor borrowed Terry's hat....and as much as he gets tired of hearing it....he certainly looked like a young Terry!! The train song that they sang (Get on Board) brought back many memories of Trevor's "train days"! This was one of his favorite songs from those years...and we heard it many, many times.

Trevor, you did an awesome job performing and your love of music shows through. I am looking forward to hearing your choir concernts next year and seeing what you learn to do with the trombone in band. We are proud of you!

Talent Show

This year was our school's 3rd Annual Talent Show. Two years ago, all three kids sang "Grandfather's Clock", last year they all sang "America the Beautiful" but Trevor wasn't willing to participate this year. Emily and Erin did a beautiful job singing "Amazing Grace" and they got many compliments afterwards. Erin also sang with another girl - "Butterfly Fly Away" by Miley Cyrus. She also did a gymnastics routine which "wowed" a lot of people! Those "rubber band" joints certainly help her move in unusual ways!

Levi, Kayla, Chris, Mason, Shawn and Granny were able to attend the Talent Show as well. It was special to have Levi and Kayla come.....the first time for Levi to watch a school program!! Afterwards, they all came over for cake and ice cream to celebrate Granny's birthday. Emily and Erin were each given a rose from Levi and Kayla - that was very special, Kayla!!

Walnut Grove, MN - Plum Creek

Our last stop of the Laura Ingalls Wilder tour over spring break was Walnut Grove. Mom had been there before so she was able to show us the sites that needed to be seen! I was a bit concerned that the kids would be disappointed when they realized the actual dug-out wasn't there any longer. However, much to my surprise, they were more concerned with finding the foot bridge (also not there!) that crossed the creek, the flat rock that Laura wrote about being in the creek as well as the table top land formation. Trevor even seemed to enjoy this stop (despite being sick for the whole portion of DeSmet/Walnut Grove). Emily and Erin had fun just running through the prairie grasses "just like Laura and Mary used to do". Precious, precious memories were made on this trip and made all the driving so worth while. Both of the girls have said...."Next trip, to Missouri!"

DeSmet, SD - Surveyor's House and more

After touring the homestead, we drove on into town to tour the Surveyor's House and the house that Pa built for he and Ma to "retire" in. The girls certainly impressed our tour guide with their knowledge of Laura's life. Emily and Erin are both immursed in the life that Laura lived. I have wondered how much they have retained from the books that we have read together and those they have read on their own. I need not wonder any longer!!

DeSmet, SD - Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead Site

We had so much fun exploring the homestead site that, before we realized it, we had been there for nearly three hours! We all climbed the "look-out tower" (even those of us afraid of heights!) to look out over the homestead and take in a view of the sloughs. It was so fascinating to Emily and Erin to actually be where the books took place! There was a replica of a dugout home as well as the stable, barn, house, school, garden areas and the memorial to the Ingalls family. After our trip was completed, they both voted the Homestead as the best stop of all. I would have to agree on that vote!!

Grandparents

After our time spent with Grandma and Grandpa in Sibley, IA, we traveled on to South Dakota. Thankfully, we were able to stop by and visit Grandma and Grandpa Krisher. It has been a long time since we were there so I was glad that it worked out this time.

A Walk Down Memory Lane....

Erin, Emily and Trevor had so much fun exploring the different barns. Emily was most concerned with finding out if all of Gpa's cats found good homes!
We went into the house to make sure everything was in good order....and to look it over for memories sake. I was surprised with how much the kids remembered about the house because it had been a long time since they had been there. Erin had fun checking out the neat closets while Trevor kind of startled himself! There is a mirror behind him in the photo but at first glance he didn't realize it was a mirror when he looked behind the door. His first thought was someone else was coming down a secret passageway!! So, of course, I had to get his picture with the mirror in the background!

Gpa and Gma were in good spirits the day of our visit. Gpa's memory was in and out but, for the most part, he was very good. Trevor was the one he seemed to remember the most...he was concerned with why he was still wearing his headgear/braces. A few times when the kids walked away to look at something he would mutter to "please don't go in the basement" or "please don't mess with all our stuff" but he was in the common's area and seemed to be happy there. Other than wondering why they remodeled the house "this way" while looking at the commons ceiling!! At one point, a nurse asked him who all the people were by him and he said "These are my grandkids!". That made me happy. I tried a few times to get him to smile by asking where his smiles went. After a little teasing, I DID get a half smile, though! During a conversation, I just looked at him and used "his" phrase (Ach....come on now!) and he gave another little smile. Gma seemed very happy to have us there....and I was thrilled to be with them, even if for a very short time.

Girls Weekend at Mall of America

The highlight of our trip to MOA was the American Girl Doll store. Emily and Erin each had birthday money that was specifically for this purpose. Erin found two different craft books - one for making yarn flowers of various sizes and another to make paper doll clothes for a cardboard JULIE doll (her favorite). Emily found an activity book also - for teaching school to your doll - and then the Feel Better Kit (a leg cast, arm cast, ice pack, finger splint, ace bandage and pair of crutches). This kit has been on the wish list for a few years now!! That is a FUN store for little girls....and their mom!! Luckily, we window shopped prior to going to the doll store because they were DONE with mall shopping after that. I did learn (again), though, that I am NOT a mall shopper. It is fun to go once a year but I much prefer the bargain shopping at thrift stores!!

On the Road Again!!

Spring break has brought a LOT of drive time but we are making a lot of memories. Last weekend, the girls and I went to Minneapolis to visit the American Girl Doll store at the Mall of America. While Trevor stayed with Gpa Dale on Friday and helped Terry at a show on Saturday, Gma Mickey went with us "girls" and enjoyed some fun time with Terry's sis and family. On Monday, my mom left with the kids and I to visit SD, IA and MN. I wanted to take advantage of spring break to visit both sets of my grandparents. We were able to go down memory lane by visiting Gpa and Gma de Boer's farm one last time. I realize that time passes and brings many changes.....but it was hard for me to say good-bye to "the farm" so I took MANY pictures. Following that, we spent some time at the nursing home with Gpa and Gma - I even got a few smiles from Gpa!! On our way up to Brookings, SD, we stopped by to see Gpa and Gma Krisher - that was very special as we haven't seen them in over three years. Today we spent several hours at the site of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homestead site near De Smet, SD and I, of course, took many pictures! We also toured the two different homes within De Smet, SD and tomorrow we will tour the museum at Walnut Grove, MN. The kids have done GREAT considering the number of hours we have logged in the car. Pictures to follow upon arrival at home!!

A SPECIAL FAMILY TIME.....