Grandma's House

The four little ones and I went to visit Grandma Ingalls in August.  We had such a wonderful time.  Grandma fed us well for lunch and even had a bowl of ice cream.  The kids loved every minute of it.  I can't wait to be able to go visit Grandma more.  When we are at the ranch she will be an hour away.  Close enough I can leave the boys home and the girls and I can go visiting.

Thanks, Grandma, for letting us come visit you.

The Last Neighborhood Fire of the Summer

The last fire in the neighborhood happened on August 17th towards 8:30.  We had had a storm come through and while we were eating some lightning struck not too far away, in fact, a mile away.  A little later we got a call from my sister who was down at the Mark Park. There was a fire on top of the hill and they had called it in.  When there is a fire close by of course you have to go out and look.

 The smoke was just starting.

 First firefighters on scene.

 More firefighters coming.

 One of the times the fire flared up high enough for us to see was when it hit the fence line.

This truck and one other zoomed past on their way to what we assumed was another fire.  There were fires reported east of us where the storm headed.

Special Treat for Kiara

Kiara acted like she was the luckiest girl ever.

It is a special treat to have Aunt Kaylene paint your toenails.

If I had our pictures unpacked I'd post a picture of myself at about Kiara's age having my nails painted by my Aunt Mary.  Pretty special business to be pampered by an aunt.

Ingalls Family Reunion

This summer we attended the Ingalls Family Reunion.  It was great to see those who attended.  I remember so many of them from my childhood.

The big excitement of the day was Stephen and getting to ride in the "coolest car ever."

Brigid spent a very, very long time winding the rope around as evenly as I've ever seen anyone do.

She even made a new friend.  He said he would take her home with him.  I think she would have gone home with him if I had let her.  They were good buddies.

This is a picture of my mom and Uncle Rod with some of their cousins.

Stephen's New Hobby

Stephen spend a couple of hours on July 23rd with a friend of mine to try his hand at blacksmithing.

 He helped make a spoon.

 He also helped make a cool nail and hook.

Kjetil (KJ) is from Norway.  He is married to my very bestest friend from my homeschooling years.  KJ was so kind to let Stephen come to see his shop and beyond wonderful letting Stephen actually make some things.  Stephen has decided he needs a blacksmithing shop at the ranch.  Good thing we have an experienced blacksmith to help us set that up.  Thanks again, KJ.

Nature in the Neighborhood

 That little dot is actually a fire that kept flaring up and then dying down.

This was a crazy lightning storm. 

  

 This was an even MORE crazy lightning storm.

These were all taken at night, but you couldn't tell during the lightning.

 The moon was amazing that night.