Little Day on the Prairie

Ever since we started reading the Little House series, we (or at least I) have been excited to visit the Homestead in De Smet. On Memorial Day we went to De Smet for their annual Memorial Day service at the cemetery (which is only about 5 minutes and we missed because Ella had to go to the bathroom...but we still got to see lots of my extended family and visit family grave sites). Afterwards we took our little half-pints and farmer boy to the Homestead for the afternoon. We just finished reading On the Banks of Plum Creek when we went. Now we are a few chapters into On the Shores of Silver Lake, so we'll have to visit again when we finish- since this is the first book based in De Smet. (once you pay, you can go ALL year!)

It was lots of fun! It's very authentic and very hands on. There are actually signs up that say, please touch everything! Needless to say all the kids had a great time.

There are several buildings set up on the land. Some are originals that have been moved on to the property, and some I believe are replicas.

Here is Addie in the first shanty that we looked in. She instantly went to the hat and put it on.

Ella in the same shanty "pouring some tea".

When asked at the end of the day what his favorite thing was, Nathan answered "the water pump". We did have to pull him away from this-I'm sure it wasn't so fun when you had to do it though.

Thankfully Ella and Addie were content to let Nathan do all the pumping, and the would do all the splashing. If you can't tell from this picture, it was very windy!

We steadily moved along from place to place...next we went to the house that Charles built, which started as a one room shanty, but later became a 3-room house. Here's Ella trying out the sewing machine.

Poor Addie was not quite big enough to sew.

This woman told them all about the house, and then taught them how to make button toy (using a button and a piece of string) and also how to braid to make a rug.

Nathan testing out his button toy:

Addie even payed attention as the woman spoke and caught a button toy of her own.

Here's Matt helping Nathan with the braiding. It was good for Nathan to try, but still pretty difficult for Ella.

Outside the home we got to use some homemade soap (which they made from the ashes of the stove) and wash some clothes!

Nathan's turn!

After they are washed, you have to hang them up to dry of course!

Next stop...pony rides! There were two bigger ponies and a little cart which were already out, so Ella and Nathan got to ride this adorable little thing. Ella LOVED this, she even went out twice.

Ella is shucking some corn at the machinery shed. Here they learned all about The Long Winter, and everything they had to do to survive, like burning straw for heat and grinding wheat in their coffee grinder to make flour.

Addie & Papa. Addie doesn't seem so sure about her corn cob doll. She did get more affectionate, but then later disrobed it and try to eat it!

Nathan making a rope! Nathan got to make a lasso, and Ella made a jump rope.

This is a little out of sequence, but after you put the corn through the machine and get all the kernels off, you get to make a corn cob doll. Nathan made two so he could give one to Addie.

All of the workers at the Homestead were awesome! They really focused on teaching the children and letting them experience everything.

Our final stop was the school house. This was on the edge of the property so we took a wagon ride.

Ella got to drive the team, Sam and David.

School time!

Hearing about country schools like this actually makes home schooling seem easy!

Nathan as usual was a great little student.

All the little boys got a hat and all the little girls got a bonnet and sun dress to wear in the classroom.

We're excited to go back again! I'm a little biased, but it was a great way to spend the afternoon-so educational yet no one thinks about it because they're having fun!

It also doesn't hurt to follow up with a trip DQ!