Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and a Birthday, oh my!

We have been absent for a little while, but for good reason...we were off celebrating the Amazing FarmWife's Birthday!!!
We had pre-arranged to meet cousins in Dixon and bring a celebration with us!  The choice for dinner was Ice-Cream Sundaes (make-your-own!).  And we thought that some birthday balloons would hit the spot!
Wouldn't Grandma have an amazing time?!
So, we packed people up, packed up food for (actual) meals, packed up children, drove to Illinois, stopped at the store to get toppings and miscellaneous needs(really, who doesn't NEED headphones?Which child left shoes back at home?), pick up the balloons, and deposit everyone and everything at Fabulous Aunt and Uncle's home.
A quick call to Uncle Photographer to arrange for a drop off for the Amazing FarmWife to attend her party, and we had the weekend in full swing!

Night one: play outside with the Reese's Pieces Cousins, welcome the Amazing FarmWife and Uncle Photographer, eat ice-cream sundaes, stay up late talking

Day two: play outside, eat an actual three meals, go to park, play outside, Welcome MorMor and the Amazing FarmWife, stay up late talking

Day three: good-bye to the three Reese's Pieces Cousins, play outside, welcome Uncle Yoga-Ranger, eat three actual meals, go to park, stay up late talking

Day four: go to church, have dinner with Dear Farmer's whole family, plus Uncle and Aunt Bike Doctor and Mac-Amazing, Uncle Yoga-Ranger, Uncle Photographer, Fabulous Aunt and Uncle, Twin-Cousin#1 and her cousinettes and the Amazing FarmWife.  Eventually Dear Farmer's entire family has to go home this afternoon...{sigh}

if you are reading and get the feeling that Fabulous Aunt and Uncle have a revolving door...you are correct. That is what happens when the family comes home, but ooooooooh, how much fun we all have!
After this weekend, it may take the Amazing FarmWife a little while to recuperate. She deserves a little rest.
Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Dear Farmer's Favorite Holiday-Thanksgiving!

Why? Because there's no gift giving involved.  Because there's a focus on gratitude to God.  Because there's a meal involved, with turkey!  Because we have one super-amazing family that gathers together and doesn't pretend to have a good time, they actually are having a good time! Because it marks the end of the busy season, and the beginning of rest.
Our tradition is to go to gather with family where-ever the Wife's Grandma (the Amazing Farm-Wife) is.  As the matriarch of the family, where-ever she goes is designated "the Family Thanksgiving" house.  Some years ago she traveled to our cottage for Thanksgiving, and then to our farm...so we hosted.  Nowadays she stays closer to home and the family gathers at Fabulous Aunt and Uncle's home.  That is where we will be this year.  It will be a small crowd...Dear Farmer and the Wife.  Honorable Son #1, The Farmer's Daughter, the Hausfrau, the WhizBang! Farmer's Daughter, the Keeper of the Flame, the Pied Piper, the Farmer's Shadow, the Little Farmer's Daughter Trio, The Millibilly Cousins and their 9 Millibilly Children, the Bike Doctor and the Doctor's Wife and Grandson, Donald Duck-Uncle and his boys, Huey and Duey, Un-Cool Photographer, The Overcomer Uncle, Great Uncle, Great Aunt, Great Cousin, Fabulous Aunt, Fabulous Uncle, Awesome Grammy and The Amazing Farm-Wife-Grandma. Just a small contingent of the broader mob we call FAMILY.
Happy Thanksgiving from Dear Farmer's Family to you! We hope you enjoy your day as well!

Family Series (Part 1)...Grandmother: the Amazing Farm-Wife

The Wife recently got a wonderful compliment: "I want to be like your mom. Your mom's the awesomest farm-wife.  She does so much, helps your dad, AND gets in there with the cattle.  She's so involved." Thank you, the Wife will live on that one for a while...but she's not the original farm-wife, she does take lessons from a really great teacher.  Here's the story:

The Wife has a special family(you may have gathered) which sprung from one amazing woman...her Grandmother.  Grandma was the Amazing Farm-Wife, that's all she ever wanted to be.  A farmer's wife and a mother.  Simple enough.  Life (however) is never that simple.
Grandma gave birth to thirteen children, twelve survived, eleven still-living. Her husband was a veteran,a farmer, a salesman and a nurse.  He passed at far too young an age. She lived in farmhouses with no electricity or plumbing. She gardened and butchered for food.  She kept a sense of humor about her that makes her a joy to be around...even if she's lecturing you on what you should and shouldn't do.  She has emphasized the importance of family being together, a unit, and a place of safety.  Is this because of being from a rural area?  Maybe because of the life she has lived?  She didn't have a crystal ball, but she did know that in the future, this family would be important! And we would all need eachother. ( If everyone else could grasp this concept-the world would be an amazing place and the government would be much smaller!) It's because of this emphasis on family that the Wife wanted a large family.  Grandma always says, "It's hard work, but so worth it!"
This past weekend Grandma asked the Wife, "So, you never wanted to marry a farmer?  What do you think of it now?"  The Wife's answer was: "No, I didn't want to marry a farmer.  I knew how much work it would be.  Now...I wouldn't trade it for a million dollars, now."  Why wouldn't the Wife trade it?  Because she's learned the value of it.  Because Grandma came along side her and showed her all the wonderful parts of being a farmer's wife.
Hail to Grandma!  She's one Amazing Farm-Wife!

Off to the Races!

Farm children do play.  They play really really hard!  Favorite past-times of the Hausfrau Farmer's Daughter and the Whiz-Bang! Farmer's Daughter is bicycling.  The joy of cycling away from the farm and down the road, the wind blowing in their hair, and the sun on their backs is great relaxation from the daily chores.  The Hausfrau was given a new bike this year.  She had been without for a couple years, so the new bike was quite a delight!  Within the first week the bike wheezed and whimpered to her that it hadn't been ridden in quite some time.  The second week the bike gave out...off to the Bike Doctor it went!  Thankfully we have an amazing Uncle in our family -the Bike Doctor!  If you're ever in his neighborhood in Dixon, IL you can check out Green River Cyclery , he is absolutely the best(especially if you're a serious cyclist).
While the bike was at the doctor's the Wife questioned the Hausfrau(who was moaning that there was no bike to ride), "Couldn't you run the distance?"  The Hausfrau replied, "Run four miles?????!"  Apparently, that was not in her option list.  During all this, the Whiz-Bang! Farmer's Daughter had been riding an aged bike(previously owned by the Wife)...the Hausfrau confiscated the bike-claiming imminent domain. But that bike was not ready for the four mile ride either, and it ka-pooped.  Now both Farmer's Daughters are without bikes.  Not Daughters to be held down-they turned their disappointment around and into a game for all the siblings to enjoy.  Everyone strapped on roller blades and skates and began racing up and down the driveway.  The Hausfrau procured a silver cup from her treasure trove(also known as "messy room") and it became the "WINNER'S CUP".  The garden hose is the official finish line, the lawn chairs are set up along the drive for the spectators.  Any chance the children can-they are watching or racing!  The Hausfrau and Whiz-Bang! Farmer's Daughters are missing their cycling route to area farms and friends, but they have made another special memory with their siblings right at home-driveway races!