The Tooth Fairy, Xylophones, and Rainbow Trout

Today brought evidence of a visit from the Tooth Fairy - she found us in Colorado!  We made our beds and then tromped downstairs for a pancake breakfast.  Nothing better than blueberry pancakes, unless it's chocolate chip pancakes.  Avocado toast (TOAST!) for Mom and Auntie, though.

After breakfast we settled in to write a few postcards, while Joseph played with the wagonload of moose. Rosalie chose one with a picture of the Grand Canyon with snow for Taylor, since it looked like a scene from Frozen.  Jane wrote postcards to her pen pal Mrs. Chandler, her dogs, and to her future self.  She's a crack up.

 Uncle Will brought in the rest of the beehive from the tree he chopped down yesterday. It was amazing! We could actually see bee larvae wiggling inside of it. We had watched a bee documentary in anticipation of this trip, but that was nothing like seeing the bees moving in their eggs in person. It was bittersweet though, since the baby bees will not survive.

We got our shoes on and headed out for a trip into town.  Right outside the cabin door are beautiful wildflowers and Rosalie spent some time picking some of the  prettiest for a bouquet for the dinner table.  She was so pleased when Bumpers helped her.

Kion the Lion jacket - ROAR!

In town, we stopped for fresh cookies and more bread for toast and then Will and Char made a Wal-Mart trip while we played in the park.  It had all different sized chimes tuned - we decided we needed some of these for our back yard!  Slides, spinners, merry-go-rounds and a river down the road.  We could have stayed there all day!

At the other end of the parking lot, was the train they used in the movie, Ticket to Tomahawk, and later in the television show Petticoat Junction.  As we walked over, I overheard this conversation:

Grace: Wow!  That's the first train ever made, Jane.

Jane: How do you know?Grace: Because it has a number one on it!

On the way to town, there was a hailstorm, and then mud everywhere

I took Rosalie to the post office and she waited in line with me and told the clerk exactly what she wanted (11 postcard stamps). We found a pretty seashell stamp for Taylor's postcard.

Then, we explored the train museum. Joseph could hardly contain himself. There were trains everywhere!  Even a working layout!  He would have moved in, if he could have. Grandma and Bumpers sprung for souvenirs, too.  Grace fell in love with a green pullback steam engine. Joseph found a wooden circus train, and Rosalie got a light up handheld fan (which has already broke - we are taking it back next time we are in town).  Jane spent her own money on a mood ring, only to discover that she is in love with someone - who could it be???

Charlotte would find each sign and say "Read, read, read, read, read" and
follow along with her finger.

The girls climbed up in the caboose.

The kids were exhausted when we returned, but Will knew that Jane has been dying to go fishing.  So, I put the little ones down for bed and Arthur and Jane and Will headed down to the lake. Within 20 minutes, Jane caught 3 fish  - rainbow trout!!!  This was a bit of a sore subject with Auntie Heather who has been fishing multiple times and has never caught a thing.  She brought it home and Will showed me how to gut and clean it and Char showed me how to batter and fry it. I figured if Jane has the wherewithal to fish, I'd better be able to get it ready to eat.  It was the best fish I'd ever eaten. We battered it in flour, cornmeal and Lawry's seasoning salt and pepper and put in the electric fry pan outside at 325 for five minutes on each side.  Then we brought it in and Char showed me how to - sort of - filet them (they were too small to actually filet, but we did get most of the tiny bones out).  Then we all huddled around the plate eating little finger bites while it was still warm. So delicious! I can't wait to get my fishing license on Wednesday and try for myself!

Yum!