Living History Farms

Of all the places I haven't written about yet, it's maybe my favorite!  This summer I am interning in the marketing and communications department at Living History Farms in Urbandale, IA.  The farm is an outdoor, hands-on museum.  There are different farms you can visit,  interpreters are at each site to tell you the history of the farm site, how it was run by the people, etc.  You walk/hike along a path and you stop at three farm sites.  I'll show you a few pictures from each site in order.

1700 Ioway Farm:

1850's Farm:

1900 Farm:

 

Walking path that takes people from farm site to farm site:

 

The tractor then takes you from the farms sites:

To the 1875 Town of Walnut Hill:

Here is Dario and the kids at the old fashioned 4th of July event.  At the Flynn Mansion.

In the Church

Old School House

In the General Store

Town of Walnut Hill.

I highly encourage anyone who would like more information on Living History Farms to click here and plan a visit.  They are only open during the summer and a few times in the fall, spring and winter for special events, which are so much fun!

Make Your Own Pizza

This is a simple post, I just wanted to share what my daughter and I did the other day.  I thought it would be one of those fun ideas you can do when it's yucky outside.

We were having a difficult time deciding what we wanted to make for dinner.  Faith enjoys everything I make, and I know she loves to help, but a lot of the food I make involves sharp stuff, so she doesn't get to do a lot of helping.  I asked her if she wanted to make dinner, and she loved the idea.  So, we decided to pick up the Pillsbury Pizza Dough, some mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and pizza sauce.  We also used fresh tomatoes from the garden.

My daughter had a blast making the pizzas for everyone.  For her grandparents she made a pepperoni heart pizza and for her parents and brother she made a cheese heart pizza.

Here are some pictures of our fun!

Gabrielle Douglas at the 2012 Olympics

What an exciting time of year!  The summer Olympics have once again brought a prideful glow to the United States.  I am so proud of all the athletes representing the United States in this years Olympics, however, I have my favorite.  In our town of West Des Moines, IA we have sent out our second Olympian to represent us in gymnastics.  In 2008 we were so proud to have Shawn Johnson, also from West Des Moines, and this year it's Gabrielle Douglas.

Gabrielle Douglas competing in the 2012 Olympics

What an amazing girl and how awesome is it that she, and Shawn Johnson, attended the same high school as I did!  Tonight we were all on pins and needles, praying for a strong win for our girls, and they delivered, to say the least.

Shawn Johnson after the 2008 Olympics

My daughter goes to a day camp Monday through Friday, and everyday they go somewhere new, the Science Center of Des Moines, the Art Center, our local pools, etc.  One of the places they go is to Chow's Gymnastics studio.  This is the studio Shawn Johnson and Gabrielle Douglas trained in, which eventually pushed them to the Olympics.  Needless to say, the two girls' images and posters and life sized cutouts are plastered all over the studio, as it should be because we are all so proud to have them! The look on my daughter's face when she saw the girl she had watched train on one of her visits to the gymnastics studio, was priceless.

Chow's Gymnastics Studio in West Des Moines, IA

What a treat for her to have met this inspirational woman and then watch her compete on television.  It was a special moment, I loved it.  Congratulations to the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalists, the Fab Five, Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/31/2924082/us-womens-gymnastics-team-wins.html#storylink=cpy

We are so proud of you girls!

CONGRATULATIONS U.S.A.!!!!!!!

For more information on Chow's Gymnastics in West Des Moines, IA please click here!