Camping in Kansas City, Missouri

Two weeks ago we went cabin camping outside of Kansas City, Missouri for 4 days. On our way there we stopped at a tiny town called Lindsborg, which was settled by Swedes and to this day bears its Swedish heritage very proudly. We have a friend who is from Lindsborg who lives here in Norman and he says he even learned some Swedish in school in addition to celebrating "hyllningsfest" in the summer (something the first Swedes brought with them and has been a tradition in Lindsborg ever since) and Lucia in the winter. The kids really loved that. We bought Swedish candy and some other little trinkets, including a Swedish geography puzzle at a store called Hemslöjd where they also have a Dala horse factory. When it came time for dinner we stumbled upon a fund raising dinner at the Methodist church with a great home-cooked spaghetti meal (with salad and dessert) complete with live music. I think this may have been Mark's favorite part of the entire trip.

 Outside "Hemslöjd"

 Inside Hemslöjd.

 Methodist Spaghetti Dinner.

Then we drove on to our cabin outside Kansas City. It was just a step up from camping in a tent, which was the point. In the front room there was a double bed for Mark and me, and in the second room were two bunk beds - perfect for our family with 4 kids. It also had a refrigerator (!) and we used the bath and shower in the main/common building. We cooked outside on the grill and ate at the picnic table. Walmart was 3 minutes away. We were not exactly "roughing it," but then we had to be somewhat clean and showered to the places we visited.

 

 Hot dog dinner and "smores" for dessert.

 The front room.

 There was a bunk bed against two of the walls in the back room..

 The porch swing was popular. Isak even took a nap here.

First on the agenda Saturday morning was the Kansas City Temple Open House. Before the dedication of a Temple anyone and everyone is welcome to tour the temple and see all the rooms - something that is not a possibility to anyone but adult, worthy church members once it has been dedicated. The kids were very excited about this, and surprised at how "fancy" it was inside.

 The Kansas City Temple.

 Sealing room (weddings).

 Celestial room.

 Baptismal font.

Oxen underneath the baptismal font (there are 12) - the MAIN REASON we came to see this temple.

Elina has been absolutely incessant about wanting to see them!

We also visited Historic Liberty Jail - a prison where Joseph Smith and several other leaders of the church were imprisoned for "treason" for many months in the cold winter. (Liberty is the name of the town - I always thought it was a terrible name, "Liberty" jail...)

 "I didn't know Joseph Smith was still there," Anja said when we first entered...

 Four foot thick walls including a layer of "rubble." Should prisoners dig through the log layer they would have to remove stones by hand which would cause the ones on top to fall down, alerting the guards upstairs.

 Liberty Jail entry. 

 Elina liked the plates replica.

On Sunday we went to Independence - another place of some significance for church history where they have a nice visitor's center with lots of pioneer stuff.

 A printing press.

 This was Isak's favorite part: Books of Mormon in every imaginable language.

One last night of camping.

And lastly, on Monday, we stopped at Cabela's (similar to Bass Pro Shop, just bigger). Isak got a baseball cap and Julia got new sandals.

  Outside Cabela's

 Below: 

 Julia wanted to eat the bread (only) on my sandwich 

and leave me with the veggies and cheese inside...

She was told "No."

 Julia's new sandals.

 And then a few hours to get home.

We took a walk in the incredible weather we have now after the storms. Oklahoma is so green right now. We've been blessed with lots of rain! I am glad the storms are over for now and pray for a calm May - if there is such a thing.

 Mark and Anja on the dirt bike.

 A few trees had fallen in the storm.

 It's higher than it looks.

See the half tree? That is where the tornado landed, took parts of another tree on the other side of the little road, and then skipped a few and touched ground for real a few hundred yards away.

 Wading in the Cherry Creek. So much fun!

 4-wheelers came by, headed for the big sand dunes.

 The water was really deep in places, and the current was strong.

Hard to think that the tornado struck down right here when it first touched ground, just two days ago.

Tornado Warning!

Norman was hit by a tornado on Friday the 13th of April. We - like most Oklahomans - do not own a storm shelter. Why it is not simply part of the building code to put a shelter in for each house, or one per 3 houses or something - I will never know. Before we lived in this house, we never worried about it because we lived a 30 second drive from the OU stadium and we just jumped in the car and drove in underneath the stadium, which must be one of the most solid structures ever built. We then either sat in the car or took refuge in the bathrooms (which are located all the way underneath the lowest part of the stairs/risers) depending on the level of threat.

This time we took shelter at home in the downstairs bathroom right after school, with bike helmets blankets and pillows etc - most Oklahomans have done this at some point or another. Elina was scared and cried. "If we die, we'll all be together, right?" "That's right," I reassued her. I do not have a picture of us all decked out in our helmets.

But here are a few of when we took shelter later that evening when we were under warning again and had 25 minutes to hide.

 We had the car packed with 6 gallons of water, and a 72 hour emergency kit for each of the kids (in their backpacks). I even packed their shoes in advance, so when the weather report said, at 11:15pm, that Norman would be hit by a circulating storm by 11:39pm, we tore the kids out of bed and headed to the stadium. 

Here they are in the men's room.

 Their 72 hour kits containing snacks, change of clothes, hygiene products (toothbrush/paste, hairbrush, towel, soap, shampoo/conditioner, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc), a flashlight, meds and other items that would make life bearable should our house be struck or we would not be able to return home for a few days. Mark carries the bulk of the food in his larger pack.

 Anja checking out her snack options. 

 We brought the dog, but left the guinea pigs...

No need to bring water or a bowl for the dog... (!)

Easter Egg Hunt 2012

Today after school we had the only egg hunt I plan for us to attend this year, because we are hiding Swedish Easter eggs on Saturday. (Trying to avoid obscene amounts of candy.) The kids had a great time. We had just the right amount of kids to where it was not too crazy.

 Eager hunters waiting...

 Julia had a great time.

Anja found lots of eggs. 

 Ever generous, Elina shared her many eggs with Julia, who did not find as many.

Isak had a heavy basket...