Post Library

Few parenting moments are more perfect than the ride home from the library.

Jeffers Petroglyphs

On a whim this morning, I decided to take the kids to see the Jeffers Petroglyphs. 150 miles each way. But that is what summer vacation is for, right?

I may make my kids into road trippers yet.

We stopped in Mankato for lunch. I led a short tour of the highlights of my time there, then we needed a bit of leg stretching. The only park I could remember (despite having worked as a parks playground supervisor), was Sibley. Wow! Sibley park has changed in the last 18 years. It is really, really cool now. 

We headed off to Jeffers. There may have been a moment when I pulled over and gave the children what for, but once we got to the site, they were awesome, enthusiastic, history loving, angels.

They had great hands on activities for the kids as they explored a travois full of stuff:
Deer skin poncho and dress:


As well as a friction fire making tool, hide scraper, lacrosse sticks, water bladders, I could go on and on.

We headed out for a tour of the rocks. It was hot, but at least it was breezy. Felix was completely absorbed with the information, Leo and Relia a little less, but they handled their lack of interest well, so, no complaints.




I forgot to bring our water bottles out on the rock. Thank goodness they had some water for us.


After the tour, we removed our shoes and wandered the rock.


I was ready to hustle my brood out the door, when they announced they'd be doing a little atlatl throwing. Who could resist throwing spears at a fake bison?!





We headed home, and made another stop at Sibley park. We chased and were chased by the rain most of the way home, but once we hit Bloomington it came down in gusting sheets. I white knuckled it the whole way home. But we made it home safe, and snuggled up in beds to ride out the rest of the storm.

Haircuts!

On Thursday I was attending a class and the kids were home with a babysitter. When I got home, Leo looked like this:

I couldn't stop laughing. I'm not one bit surprised that he hid in his room and surreptitiously cut his own hair. When we asked him why, he said, "My hair was in my eyes."

So today I took him to get it fixed, and of course that meant getting it buzzed.

Now he looks like Caillou.

Rellie also got her long desired shaved side.

Before

During (so happy!)

And after. She loves it!

James J Hill house

After haircuts we went to get another historical society stamp on our passports. 

The boys did really well. Felix & Rellie asked great questions, and Leo managed to walk, and keep his hands to himself. We were very proud of all of them. They desperately want to take the "Nooks & Crannies" tour next.

The mushroom cave!

Then lunch at another famous landmark