Girls' Day Out

Every summer, my aunt Michelle takes all of her nieces on a girls' day out (the girls who are old enough, that is). She took Jenna, Anna, Abby, Katie and I to De Smet, South Dakota, for a two day trip this past Friday and Saturday! We had a great time and learned quite a bit about the history of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The reason we went to De Smet, which happens to be the town where Laura grew up if you've read Little Town on the Prairie, was to watch the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant that is put out every year. Each year they act out a different book from the series that Laura wrote, and this year the book was Little Town on the Prairie.
We also got to visit the homestead on the original 160 acres that Pa claimed. And the best part was the dresses that Abby, Jenna, and Anna wore. They were homemade dresses with sunbonnets! They got a lot of comments as we were walking around the homestead. What a wonderful opportunity to walk where Laura walked and to see history come alive!

At the Homestead

 From left: Jenna, Anna, Abby

A dugout house, similar to the one that the Ingalls lived in on Plum Creek

Being taught how to wash clothes!

So glad I don't have to wash clothes this way!

At school:

 Anna, leading the class in an exercise

Jenna

We rode in a covered wagon to and from the school house! In this first picture, you can see the school house from a distance. Notice the teacher standing in the door way. 

We even got to drive! ;-)

 There were also pony rides. There were some ponies for riding, and others that would pull a cart.

And just some cute pictures of the girls in their dresses:

We had such a good time, and we are so grateful to Aunt Michelle, who goes so far out of her way to make us have a wonderful time! She had been planning this since last November, and what a fun trip it was! We are so blessed to be her nieces. And a special thanks to my mom and to Jenna and Anna's Aunt Jodi for making the dresses!

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
and He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23