Yesterday we took a lovely day trip to Southern Indiana. After an average temperature of -7 this week, the high 20 degree weather seemed balmy and we wanted out. What better place for a get-away than Lincoln's Boyhood Home? Especially on an inaugural weekend.
So off we went to the only National Park in Indiana - Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Maybe you aren't familiar with the rivalry between Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois to claim Lincoln. But that rivalry exists and can get you in touchy places with people who care if you don't watch where you attribute Lincoln's origins. To set the record straight: Lincoln was born in Kentucky, but his family wanted out of a slave state and so moved to Indiana when he was young (7). Lincoln moved to Illinois as a young adult (21) with his family. You decide which state has the biggest impact on Lincoln (we've made our decision).
Indiana is proud to be the place of Lincoln's Boyhood. See the sign below:
John took the opportunity to get a close up, not of Joyce and I, but of the drawing of Lincoln's boyhood activites:
We took full advantage of the 2 square mile park (it's not the biggest National Park out there) to walk in the woods Lincoln enjoyed as a boy. One of the signs informed us that it was formerly full of bears and panthers but Joyce didn't seem too concerned:
Joyce was ecstatic to be out of the car and in Southern Indiana it was even warmer - almost 40 degrees!
We also saw a historic farm site, replicating the Lincoln's home and walked along a .6 mile trail called "The Twelve Stones Trail" featuring stones from various places in Lincoln's life ensconced in placards. We also saw the graveyard where his mother who died when he was 9 was buried.
Joyce enjoyed sitting in the dirt the most.
Afterwards we drove through a Southern Indiana town called Santa Claus. And yes they took advantage of their name to carry out a theme within their town. We stopped at a restaurant called "St. Nick's" hoping we might find some hometown cooking. Instead we found a 15 foot Santa Claus statue (note the American flag flying in the background).
A close up of his face reveals he might be a little more menacing than folks think:
After investigating John decided we should drive further to Jasper Indiana to eat at the Schnitzelbank Restaurant. The billboards were enticing. And
this is what we found. Highlights of our meal there:
- the 40+ year old waitresses wearing "traditional" German costumes
- the nuns sitting by us who loved Joyce
- the waitress who stopped to comment on how cute Joyce was and then said "you just have to be so grateful when they're healthy, unlike those 5 month old conjoined twins from somewhere down South. You know they just had their surgery to separate them I heard on the news. They were joined somewhere down there. Can you imagine, conjoined?!"
- the amazing Schweine Schnitzel that our waitress raved about. Turned out to be a square of fried and breaded pork tenderloin. (not quite what we were imaging)
It was a day to remember.
I ate breakfast with this regal rooster this morning. I went to the flea market with my friend John, who purchased him. And yes, we all avoided ordering omelettes. 
Joyce and Julie on the big day.
Like most kids at one year, she was more interested in the wrapping paper than the gifts she received.
Andrew and Rebekah made her a special "Tweety Bird" cake.
Joyce is not sure what to make of the candle. With a little help from her Dad she finally blew it out.
On Saturday we went up to Mount Rainier National Park and went for a nice snowshoe/hike. The snow was a little icy and crusty but we had a great time in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Joyce seems to love it. She didn't make a sound the whole time as her big eyes tried to take in the giant 150 foot high trees, the gorgeous White River and steep mountains and hills from the straight jacket under her Dad's coat.
Here is the whole snowshoeing crew.
The image above was taken off the REI employee intranet-they did a big post on Dad (click it to enlarge), and it confirms what we knew all along, that Dad is as honest, hard-working, and fun at work as at home-thank you for always working so hard for us all Brad, even if it was mostly wining and dining.
very random sign....
sign painted on the little traveling johnny.
andrew and his soul mate horse.
bathroom
again, bathroom
scariest rocking horse i have ever seen. ever.
beautiful- new waterfall, created by the flooding.
Rosie skiing by the waterfall in beautiful snow.
Walking up our driveway after a fun morning in the snow.
Rosie and Sam survey the damage and how the creek had flooded the road and surrounding fields.
We had been snowshoeing in the area where the water is now flowing only days before. The trail went straight across where the water is now flowing. The water you see is a small offshoot of the White River.
Here is the White River. The water in this river primarily comes from the snow and glacier melt on Mount Rainier. This week it was higher than we have seen it in our time in Washington. In addition, it is usually a gray silty color from the glaciers but it is now brown.
