United States--Missouri and Montana

Missouri was the "Gateway to the West" for many pioneers.  It was also home to the Pony Express.  "Wanted--young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18.  Must be expert, riders, willing to risk death daily.  Orphans preferred.  Wages $25 a week."  This was a newspaper ad that recruited many brave riders to deliver mail from Missouri to California before the telegraph lines connected the states.  My 5 kids decided to answer the ad.  The hopped on their "ponies" and went as fast as they could from station to station. 

my brave riders

Corbin making the first pass to Ephram. 
Ephram then went to the next station and passed to Dyllan

Dyllan passing the mail bag to Braedi. 
The first riders continued around the block so as to not be left alone.

Faythe making the last leg of the journey.

Montana is known as the treasure state--it has buried treasure (gold, silver, copper, zinc and sapphires).  Montana has wide open spaces for elk, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and buffalo.  There are also a lot of sheep and cattle ranches.  Cows outnumber people 3 to 1.  We decided to figure out how many cows that would be if we were the only people in Montana.  The kids cut and colored 3 cows for each person in our family. 

looks like we didn't include dad in our count.  :)