Harvest time fun

sharing has it's limits....

Brother's keeper in the corn bin

We went to Valla's Pumpkin Patch for a home schoolers day.  We got an admission discount that included a small pumpkin, train ride and a class on apples.  Vallas is a huge disneylandish pumpkin patch that has expanded in the many years it has been going.... lots of different haunted houses, games, rides,mazes, pig races, shows, and activities on a farm now dedicated just to the pumpkin patch.  We spent about 5 hours there and saw just over half the stuff there

Sean and Issac

We ate lunch and then headed as a group of 4 families to the apple class.  In the education room I sat in front with the boys and Rachael was in the rear with the younger children.  About 10 minutes into the class I had a panic..... are all Rachael's children her amid the others..... Where was 7 year old Sean?     He wasn't with us.  I quickly got out of my seat, told Rachael and went off looking for Sean.   I walked down a hill a ways and there he was in a cross road, just standing there.  He didn't look like he was lost.... just waiting.

  The first thing he said is "I knew you would come, grandma because I prayed"

I told him how proud I was he stayed put in the cross road.  He was a little embarrassed, he took a side track through a short haunted house and that is how he became lost.  I asked him how long it I take me to find him after his prayer...... about 10 minutes.

End of year garden celebration Pig Fest

The charitable group helping our tenants with their gardens bought a 200+ lb 7 month old pig for a celebration. Friday was preparation day.....










singing off the hair with a torch


cutting it open



this is our apartment complex

















the missionaries live in the complex

Sept/Oct

On Monday mornings we have our garbage cans full of beer bottles. The Burmese Kar-en people love their beer. Kay gets into the garbage bins and takes them out, returnable and non returnable. Here we are at the return center in Iowa... just across the river getting our 37 dollars. I pushed the cart..... eeeewwwww.






Rachael's children are studying the Lewis and Clark Expidition. About an hour away they have a museum on Lewis and Clark. This boat is the replica used in the IMAX on Lewis and Clark.




































The children enjoy each other and take care of each other















it is easier to row with 2 people
















They all ready knew many of the answers to the questions






















Time to play prarie dog!

Hot Springs AR

Crater of Diamonds State Park AR

Kay and I spent 4 days in Hot Springs Arkansas.  I had never been to AR. Our first day we spent the WHOLE day at Crater of Diamonds State Park Kay (professional ditch digger) dug a gigantic hole and I spent my time sifting and making trips to anywhere but in the sun.  We went into Little Rock and

Central High School tour

 went on a tour of Central High School where they tried to integrate blacks into the schools and it made National News.   President Clinton Library, Heifer company, Little Rock Museum,  Old Mill (in the film Gone with the Wind)

drinking fountain in Hot Springs AR, it is  hot water

1920's Buckhorn Bath

All done with my bath,lofa scrub, massage, hot towel treatment, needle shower and sitz.... ready to take on the world!

The bikers invade Hot Springs for the weekend.  We met a past student of Pete's (Kay's science teacher brother) who was at the "legalize Marajuana table..... we went there for the free candy and boy do we feel good (kidding)  Kay was looking for the brownies.

In Hot Springs we visited the Hot Springs National Park, got deluxe baths and massages, took a stroll around town and watched the bikers as they gathered for a biker event. We will watch their parade tonight.

Nauvoo, Ill

Nauvoo Ill is off the beaten path, it is  the city Joseph Smith founded, built a temple and Latter Day Saints flocked to Nauvoo after joining the church.  At the time it was bigger than Chicago. Joseph and his brother Hyrum were Martyred near here and the Mormons packed up and left to save their lives.  Mobs were threatening to destroy all Mormons and the governor even put out a Mormon extermination order so they left and traveled by wagon and handcart to Salt Lake City, Utah, out of the United States at the time in the 1840’s.  Nauvoo is a place of remembering today. It is a Williamsburg-like place where you can see the daily living of people in the 1830’s and 40’s.   Janell and I took my grandsons, Ethan and Sean to Nauvoo for a 2 1/2 day visit.

We watched plays and musical groups

Sister Frisby on her 3 month mission.

Rail Road Days

Omaha is famous for the railroad.  They are in  the center of the country so were a hub in the days of rails.