Bunny Hop

2014:

The cat has been busy.

Much to Xandra's dismay, 

she caught a bunny in the yard.

Xandra rescued the bunny from Moria,

and returned it to the yard. 

 Hopefully the bunny hopped in the opposite direction this time, far away from the black cat stalking our yard.

No Idea

2014:

He's very proud of himself.

He managed to climb up here all by himself.

Now that he's up,

he has no idea how to get down.

Stop and See the Chicken

2014:

On the way from Minnesota to North Dokota, or vice versa, we always pass a very important monument.  Until a recent summer night, we've never taken the time to properly appreciate this important symbol in our midst.  Finally, Joe could pass by no longer without acknowleding this special monument in our midst...

the world's largest prairie chicken.

Located in Rothsay, Minnesota approximately 30 minutes from my in-laws doorstep,

at the precise spot where you are just ready to be done travelling and out of the car, but you know you can hang on for just another 30 minutes as long as you don't have to make any more stops.

It is at that precise moment that your husband decides its time to take a family picture at the World's Largest Prairie Chicken.

So, you begrudgingly climb from the car, when everyone has already happily run ahead, pull out the camera, take the shot, roll your eyes at your husband and calculate that if you weren't staring at this oversized chicken, 

you'd be 15 minutes from home,

and then you zoom in and see the smiling faces of your children and their prairie chicken excitement

and you feel bad, because you're not enjoying this monumental moment.  Instead you're grumpy. 

And then you look up and see the sunset, that you would never had seen if you hadn't stopped because you'd be travelling in the opposite direction

and then you're thankful for God's faithfulness and the beauty He creates, and while you're still not excited about the oversized prairie chicken, you concede that the stop was worth it.  

Especially when you read that the purpose of the prairie chicken monument is to remind visitors of the beauty of the prairie.

Mission accomplished.  Even for grumpy mamas.

Some people stop and smell the roses.  We stop and see the prairie chicken.

Sometimes God's beauty is in the most unexpected places.

On the Prairie, Part 4

2015:

After their fun at Theia's mercantile, our guests enjoyed a Little House dinner,

while Ma & Pa pose with their cornbread

for an American Gothic picture.

Then Theia opened presents,

and we cut the covered wagon cake.

and took one final shot of all the guests.

And then all the little pioneers all headed home.

A Little to the Right and Behind

2014:

As I was in the house preparing children and diaper bags and various items to leave the house one morning, my children were outside.  And here's what happened:

Joey threw something on top of the van.  What it was, I cannot remember. The children who were outdoors, collectively decided that the best way to get the item off said van was to throw Tikvah's shoe at it and knock it off.  So, Theia grabbed Tikvah's shoe, and standing on the sidewalk in front of the large window on the house, facing the van, proceeded to throw the shoe hiiiiiiiiiiigh into the air

and the shoe landed on the roof

of the house

just to the right of the front door, behind her and in the opposite direction of the van.

And I laughed VERY, VERY hard for a VERY long time.

On The Prairie, Part 3

While the cornbread cooked, we made rag dolls.

and then the kids headed to the basement to visit

Theia's Mercantile.

In addition to free rocking horse rides,

the Mercantile was stocked with all kinds of penny candies.

Each guest got a bag with 20 pennies

and then they were able to choose whatever items from the store they wanted

and spend their pennies for the items.

Theia was the storekeeper

and grandma assisted.

Also in the basement, we had buttons and twine.

The kids enjoyed making their own button necklaces.

The Lincoln Logs were out, too, for the builder types to enjoy.

To be continued...