Walnut Grove, Minnesota

Elisa Rebecca ironing on the farm

Gabriel ready to teach his siblings a lesson or two

This covered wagon is true to average size and much smaller than they appear on TV

A replica of the sod house from the Banks of Plum Creek

I couldn't resist these purchases. My girlies are SO adorable:) They all LOVE to help in the kitchen and the aprons will come in handy. As a girl I always wanted a bonnet, but I never had the chance to have one for my very own. So for this instant, I was living vicariously!

Elijah, safe in Daddy's arms, watching a REAL train go by. The funnest part of our travels for Elijah has been all the train sightings. 138 cars is our record so far:)

Amanda and Ai-Lin on the same prairie where Mary and Laura played

On the Banks of Plum Creek

Ma with her girls

Honey and Pa

I am a Little House fan through and through. When I was a child, we were allowed one hour of television a day after our school work and chores were completed. You guessed it! My choice, much to my brothers' dismay, was ALWAYS Little House on the Prairie. My dad even built me my very own log cabin playhouse where I pretended to be Ma for hours. My mom sewed my favorite doll, named Stephanie, old fashioned clothes including a matching bonnet. I spent hours on my own little imagined prairie. I read the Little House books and have shared a few with my kiddos. I hooked Amanda on Little House reruns. Visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum was a delight. This trip has given me a new appreciation for the pioneer women. A few late nights of driving have landed us in the middle of nowhere driving through with no signs of civilization, no cell service, and no other cars. I couldn't help but feel vulnerable during those times. What if our car broke down? Who would help us? What would we do with ALL the children? It was all just a too tad eerie for this mama. I confess I prayed quite a bit during those moments. Once we pulled over for a boy pee stop and Willie knowing my nervousness started doing a jig in front of the headlights. I love that man! He always knows how and when to make me laugh. Memories in the making. Awesome:) So I respect women who followed their men in covered wagons and who faced the unknown even with their children in tow. They are nothing short of amazing! As a child I wished I could have been one of them. I now know God knew what He was doing when He placed me in this time and place after all! I'll stick to Little House books and reruns from the comforts of the twenty-first century, thank you.