Merango Cave

Our next day trip took us to Marengo cave in Marengo, IN.   I'd never been in a cave and was the most excited of any of us to go.  Marengo cave is one of the most decorated caves in the United States, said the sign.  I didn't have anything to compare it to, so it was pretty decorated.

It was 52 degrees in the cave.  It was in the 90s out, so it felt wonderful!  Plus we learned a lot about cave formations.  In this picture, we have a collection of stalagmites, stalactites, soda straws, columns and a curtain.

Our guide was super informative and had some cave jokes that kept the tour lively.  There were two tour options and we took the one mile, one hour tour.  We will come back and do the shorter tour next time because they cover different areas of the cave.   It was an easy walk and none of us felt claustrophobic or closed in at all.  It was extremely dark, of course, but there were enough lights along the way so we could see where we were going and see the cave structures that our guide pointed out.  At one point, he turned out all the artificial light and we were in the most absolute darkness. 

This cave was discovered in 1883 and was immediately open for public tours. It has been used in many capacitates over the years, a church, concert hall, wedding location, boy scout campground, refrigerator, and ganster hide out.  We don't really know about the gansters, but I figure as much.

There was a neat mining experience for the kids.  You bought a bag of sand at the gift shop and took it out to the mining trough and washed away the sand. 

Bee was left with gemstones and Lou was left with arrowheads.

Then he went back and bought another bag using his own money.   Four arrowheads is great, but ten is better.

What another great day trip!  Now it's back to regular days.  The grocery store is calling my name.... and the laundry... and the garden.

new harmony, Indina

I usually am vague about specific locations we visit, except today I'm not.  It was a little but of a drive for us, so I'm just putting it out there.  The fam and I found ourselves with a few vacation days for hubby and no real plans.  We had some plans and then we tried to do too much and anyway, canceled something and ended up with a few days at home. It worked out.  We took a day trip to New Harmony, Indiana. 

Murphy Park  "Playtopia"

It's a small town that has one of those peaceful, restful paces about it, cute quaint shops, downtown walking and unique sites.  The residents travel in gold carts and some streets are walking only.  The town itself has a great history, being settled as Christian refuge in the early 1800s and then artist utopia almost one hundred years later.  This lesson in history is vague and rough at best.  Anyway, it's full of artists and hosts historical tours, art festivals and music events. 

Bliss Artisan Icecream

We visited the quaintest little icecream shop.  It had funky vintage décor that pretty much fit the eclectic feel of the entire town.  It also had pretty great homemade ice cream.  It was Lou's #1 event, we ranked the activities on our way home. 

 

Bee found an ancient typewriter on the floor and hung out there.  (She has decided not to blog anymore for awhile saying that she is too busy for that and also it turns out it's just not her thing.) 

 

A big part of the attraction in the town are a series of historic buildings.  There are houses and shops from two different historic eras, one being in the early 1800s and the other at the end of the 1800s.  There are old log cabins next to Victorian homes, next to current modern homes.   

Some of the buildings are open only during festivals and special events and during the twice daily walking tours.  My favorite site of the day, which happens to be open most every day is the oculus house.    It's stinking amazing.  You step into this dark cabin and shut the door.  There are benches on the wall to the right and left of the door.  The door has a hole in it and after letting your eyes adjust, you can see everything outside the cabin as though it's being projected on the walls.  It's amazing, it was my #1 event.   

There are miles and miles of trails to walk and a lake with turtles to feed. 

And rocks to be skipped.

One of the neat things I had heard about but had never been to is the roofless church. 

We literally stumbled upon it.  It's sort of a walled in court yard, that's the roofless part.  Then there is this roofed structure in the middle.   I think they do weddings and such here but don't have regular church services at the present time.

There were lots of little tucked away spots for sitting and such.  There were little gardens and fountains tucked away in shady corners.  It was very peaceful. 

As we walked around town, we saw dozens of water well pumps like this one.  Bee and Lou drank out of every single one-  Bee with her hands, Lou with his whole face.

 
What I thought would be our favorite activity, but didn't make anyone's #1 spot was the labyrinth.  It's like a real life tall bushes maze. 
 

Although a labyrinth isn't really a maze, but rather a meditative waking trail.  Something like that.  Here's a stock photo borrowed from the iupui website.   If you follow the path and don't take any cheats, you will mindlessly wind your way to the prayer chapel in the center.  I think you'd be walking like an hour if you did. 

We have another fun day planned for tomorrow for our impromptu stay-cation.  The pizza stop on the way home will no doubt be Lou's #1 for the day. 

boots

On the way home from visiting my sister at the farm, we stopped and bought boots.  The kids watched the billboards signs for the boot store for over an hour.  We saw 14 signs that last hour before we got there! 

  Bee sort of had a love affair with her old boots, which were cheap ones from Target.  They had gotten all skinned and scuffed and looked pretty yuck.  I was more than happy to buy them real ones. 

Plus it means that Lou will wear something other than sports pants.  Can't wear sports pants with boots. 

Five years ago, the kids had a thing for boots too.

first week of summer vacation!

We have finished up the first week of summer vacation!  I know a lot of people still are finishing up school this week!  We had an extra hour added to many of our days to make up all the many, many snow days this year.  The teachers even went on Saturdays to make up the rest of our contractual hours.  It stunk, but now that we're out, it might have been worth it. 

The first thing I did was delete this ridiculously early alarm!

We've been playing at the splash pad a the gym (The kids are old enough this summer to play there while I work out!  I've been waiting for this day!)

We've been hitting up Holiday World! 

(Bee with a friend on one of my not so favorite ride- but she's old enough to ride without me!)

and finding water to play in,

or getting caught in the rain.

Lou and Bee are fish. 

We've discovered a new-to-us game.  This one's called 'chairs' and we've been playing it like crazy.  You basically just stack the chair and try to get it all to balance.

We've been loosing teeth. Number two for Lou!  I feel fairly sure he'll be needing some braces some day. 

We've taken in a baseball game.

And have been reading,

and doing our summer school work,

and working on pinterest projects.

and enjoying the new Mcallisters Deli in town.

There's been a little fun going on in the garden, not a lot, but a little.

 

Now we just need a whole bunch more weeks like this one and we will be rested up and ready for next school year.

wrapping things up

 The school year is all wrapped up now.  Geesh- it was one of those times where the days were long but the year was short. 

 
Bee wrapped up her soccer season.  Her team won one game, and it happened to be in the championship.   They finished up 5th out of 6 teams. 

 
Spring musical...  One of the many, many events they squeeze in the last few moments of school.  I couldn't really see Bee from my teacher seat, but I was right in front of Lou. 

Field day... Both kids got to enjoy field day.  Lou's team was called "Veal Victory."   Here are the four boys in his class.  Yep, only four boys!   Poor Bee's team is not pictured.  They were "Hamm's Heroes."  Her team beat my class by one point.

Here's my team.  We were "Moore's Mighty Monsters."

 
And the awards program... Here's Lou getting one of his awards.  A friend sent it to me, I didn't get any pictures of my own of him. I didn't get any decent pictures of Bee.  They both got awards for highest honor roll and physical fitness.  Being a teacher at their school is great because I get to go to all the programs, but I rarely can get my camera up where I need it. 

 
Lou's baseball season wrapped up too.  Actually the last day of school was the last game.  We also hosted the end of the season celebration at our house after the game... It made for a super long day. 

 
Here's Bee enjoying the final game.  Really, she spent most of her time hanging out with the little siblings of a few player friends and getting in some babysitting practice. 

Speaking of last day of school...

I didn't get the 'going off to last day of school' pictures, but these photos were taken on the last day.

First day, last day... 1st grade.

 

                                                           First day, last day... third grade. 

Hello Summer!  All I can say is- I need it!