We had SUCH a wonderful time this whole
10 day
road trip.
I love Hamptons.
What will we do when the kids are bigger??
On the way home, going through Baker City, I saw a sign for this.
And felt an unbelievably strong push to go see it.
That darn pioneer blood.
Makes it hard to see the road through the tears.
Okay... WOW.
Calvin stood there for a long time after we explained some things.
And then I explained some more.
The sweet older gentleman who greeted us at the door
shared some of his soul with us.
Meaningful nods and deep, reflective gazing on one another's countenances
told us volumes about each other. He understood that we understood the importance of what we were about to see. And was so appreciative.
But then a much-needed moment of comic relief...
the kids were a little alarmed when I explained that the animals were real animals... that they'd been specially preserved and stuffed...
and that so were the people.
The kids are used to Daddy joking all the time and having to look at me to tell if he's telling the truth or not, so when I say something like that... oh my stars, if you could have seen the momentary looks of shock and horror on their little faces, and then the embarrassed giggles.
But the rest of the time we walked solemnly through, pausing respectfully before each display. It was mind-boggling. I have so much respect for the pioneers. What a wonderful museum. The spirit touched us all.
The tiny white speck on the bottom left of the above photo is a Conestoga wagon on the actual Oregon Trail down below.
Oh Mr. Blue Cloud, I hope I get to meet you someday.
The Oregon Trail.
Daddy carrying the wounded pioneer girl.
(She twisted her ankle. How, you might ask? In a fun, tickling, wrestling match with Daddy and her bubbas in the hotel room that morning. Of all places.)
And last but not least, we had to stop in at
HAMLEY'S
in Pendleton.
And then, blissfully, we were home at last.
