Laura Ingalls Wilder Tour Nerd Fest 2010

Not far from our house is the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pepin, WI as well as the town she grew up in, Walnut Grove, MN. Janie has read a couple of the books and so has my niece Quincy, so my sister Jill and my niece decided to come out for a visit/ tour.

We first drove to Walnut Grove, which is about 3 hours away, in the middle of the prairie that's for SURE! We passed miles and miles of corn fields. We toured the museum, which was cool because it was hands on so the kids could do things like try washing the clothes with a wash basin and washboard, they played checkers, drew with the slate pencils and talked on the old fashion phone. We also went to the Wilder festival, which was small but cool because they had demonstrations of things like a blacksmith and some women spinning wool into thread. I can't even begin to fathom what it was like to spend a whole day doing things just to survive! It gave me a greater appreciation for modern technology!

Aaron, Janie and Quincy in a covered wagon,

I guess the 3 hour car ride wasn't so bad after all.

Jaine going for a pony ride at the festival.

We also went on a little hike by Plum Creek. It was stunning the amount of wild flowers spread across the prairie. We also saw half of a pageant about Laura's life (only half because the pageant was outdoor and due to the severe thunderstorms heading that way it ended early). Janie and her cousin Quincy wore bonnets the whole time, and we referred to them as Mary (Janie) and Laura (Quincy). Aaron was with us as well and he seemed to have a really good time to.

The girls on the banks of Plum Creek.

Wildflowers that were everywhere!

We also visited Pepin, WI, her birthplace. The kids loved just running around the prairie, climbing trees, playing with sticks, and throwing and collecting pebbles.

Little House in the Big Woods, Janie was Mary,

Quincy was Laura and Aaron wanted to be Jack the bull dog.

Girls climbing a tree.

We had so much fun, I loved having my sister here. We chatted so much, which I am sure Jay appreciates because he has been out of town for over a week and he was in for an earful of chattiness but I got a lot of it out having my sister here!

Me and my sister Jill.