The right place.

This summer I volunteered our family to work once a week at This is the Place Heritage Park. My family is so good about humoring me.

Actually, the kids really love getting dressed up and being pioneers for a day.

And I can go no further with out publicly thanking my wonderful mother for making the girls' dresses and pantaloons. I get compliments on them all the time. I love my mother!

Sam slips into another world and time when he goes. Especially with the dialog. I've had people ask me where he is taking acting lessons. They are always so surprised when I tell them he's not.


Elise is in heaven with all the animals. It's exciting for me, as mother, to see my children grow into and develop their talents.


Claire is happy to run around with friends. She also takes her house chores very seriously (hmmm...) and loves to tend the baby animals.


Anna is happy to run around with Claire, tending animals and riding ponies. We had some drama last week, but with some training, a good night's sleep and plenty of food and water, this week was a much happier experience for her.



Another thing that makes this experience so much fun is that our friends are up there with us!
 Here are a few of them in front of the house that we tend. The official term is "interpreters." That's what we are.We interpret the history for our guests at the park.




At times pioneer life seems so idyllic. It's quieter.  It's moves at a slower pace. It's more family-centered.

Today we picked cherries. They will be really sweet in about a week, but we couldn't help ourselves.



Idyllic, yes?
Well, here's a little reality for you:
This morning Claire and Anna ate a whole pint of blueberries for breakfast. Then they ate pocket-fulls of cherries at the park. Can you see where this is going? Yep. To the loo. (or "necessary" as we call it at the park) Thank goodness for indoor plumbing.

This is the garden we help tend:


This little lamb was so new, it still had it's umbilical chord.



All in all, a very good day. Hot, but good. We come home tired and sleep well.
Yes,
this is the right place!

What do get when...

...you mix new friends with cupcakes?

A really fabulous time!

Michal, from Relishing Motherhood, and her kids came by to visit!

It is always thrilling for me to meet ladies that I've admired and grown to love through their blogs. What makes it even better is that Michal and her darling crew are everything I thought they'd be. We spent the afternoon talking and playing. Now I really wish we lived closer!

Look at the wild excitement in those eyes. My kids have never had such fancy cupcakes.
Some how we knew we were going to get along.


Oh my. These kids are hilarious! And eerily similar. We learned we have some things in common:
A deep respect for Calvin and Hobbs.
An affinity for all things Star Wars.
We all enjoyed sliding down the stairs on bean bags.
And swinging on the swing.
AND CUPCAKES! We all like cupcakes! Who knew?? :)



Thanks so much for taking the time to see us! I'm so glad we're friends!