Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home and Trip

Kalie has loved Laura Ingalls for quite a while- she has read all of her books and loves watching the dvd's of the series. Over the past several months, she has introduced Karlee and Kate to the Ingall's family as well, and three of them aka Laura, Keri and Grace have had quite the adventures. Of course, we are Ma and Pa and they don't miss a beat calling us that. We took them to see her final home- the place where she wrote the books. We also went down into Arkansas with the plans of hiking and camping in the Ozarks but with rain and COLD weather that suddenly moved through, our plans had to deviate just a bit....
Mansfield, Missouri- last home of Laura
the girls got matching "Laura" bonnets
It was so COLD outside!!

Now, here is where the story continues. For those of you who know Kalie, know that when she plays anything, it is done with everything she has. No detail is left untouched. So, as we became the Ingalls family, we were heading out for our new homestead (aka place to spend the night) in our covered wagon. Well, seeing that the Ingalls had no fast food Taco Bells we pulled our wagon over on the side of the road and ate the left over fried chicken and biscuits Ma had cooked and packed the night before for our journey. After an entire day of driving (aka 2 hours), we came across a cabin. This cabin had to be just right- no running water, preferrably near water (read the books) and as rustic as if Pa had built it himself. We found it nestled in the White River in the Ozarks.This cabin was one room. No water (bath house or outhouse) was up the road. Kalie thought it was perfect and Karlee and Kate or Laura, Keri and Grace agreed.
When we arrived, the girls put their bonnets on the rack and began their chores of making this cabin our home.
Pa and I visited outside while the girls cleaned. Notice the quilts on the little bed on the right. These are our quilts from home. We had to bring these on this trip because Laura slept on patchwork quilts. We also went to "Oleson's Mercantile" (or walmart) for groceries. Of course, the groceries were foods that the Ingalls would have had and remember we had no stove, etc except a tiny microwave. So, we ate oatmeal, ham, etc. and we got creative a couple of times just for variety.
We were not expecting it to rain the ENTIRE time we were there, but it did. So, I became Miss Beedle, and the children went to school.
Laura, Keri and Grace started out in the bed together, but... "Grace" ended up in bed with Ma and Pa so everyone could get some sleep. The next morning, this is how Grace had finally gone to sleep. She is stretched across mine and Drew's pillows.

Still freezing and raining outside, we posed for a quick picture.
The family before loading up to return home. We really did have a good time. I never thought children would find so much fun in cleaning and sweeping, but they did! I think that was the favorite!