Down in the country...where we LOVE to be!

Spring Break was officially last week, or so claimed Charlie's preschool! We decided to take FULL advantage of his entire school-free week and visit Grandma and Grandpa in the country! Trent was able to take off Thursday and Friday and we made a long weekend of it!

I had the clothes packed, the cooler stocked, craft projects organized, bedding bagged, lovies and binks in a secure place (God FORBID they didn't make the journey!!), boys fed, list of projects to accomplish, Sammie fed and watered, house picked up and car almost packed when Trent pulled in the drive around 5:15pm. With a quick change of clothes and the suitcase dragged and hauled into the back of the van, we were out the door and our journey began by 5:35pm! A new record for our gang!!

Of course we stopped at Swensons and devoured their deliciously greasy cheesburgers, the secret ingredient is brown sugar!, crispy fries that Trent just confessed he doesn't like...WHAT!!?, and extra thick, extra smooth chocolate shakes! This is our tradition, it breaks up the 2 hour drive, fills our tummies for under $15 and the gives the boys a little snack of fries and milkshakes, which they ADORE!!


Grandma and Grandpa are truly gracious hosts! They are SO considerate and welcoming and we just LOVE spending time with them!! They always have our rooms ready, comfy beds fluffed high with pillows and extra blankets, baskets of toys in the kids room, John Deere tractors patiently awaiting pudgy little hands, and a fridge stocked with yummies!! They actually go to lengths to make sure that their house is childproofed, comfortable and accomdating for a family that just happens to have 2 little boys!

Grandma does not squirm (or at least outwardly squirm!) at her kitchen floor that is covered in muddy dirt within minutes, or complain about the extra load/s of laundry that accumulates each day, nor does she hesitate to watch the kiddos so we can shower in peace or spend some quality time plinking cans over the hill! She welcomes the little faces and not so little voices that wake her up each morning, far earlier then she would normally arise! The best part is that she participates in all activities, from baking cookies with Tommy to climbing to the top of the sawdust piles with Charlie. And I just love the conversations that she and I have about keeping our homes, the kids, and our relationships with our honeys! She has taught me a lot! And she has a way of getting Trent to really relax, to open up in conversation and she praises us both for our ways and accomplishments....she is always lifting us up!

And Granpa, well he is just the kids FAVORITE of all times!! Tommy is borderlined obsessed and Charlie is always talking about things that "Grandpa taught him". He always prepares for our arrival with fun outings planned such as a trip to Unusual Junction for lunch (an old train depot and train cars that have been renovated into a diner and shops)....hmmmm who do you think just LOVED that!?
I truly believe that the boys have softened him a bit. I see it in his smile,
when he holds his boys close on the tractor,
when he takes Charlie for his first solo drive on the loader, when Tommy runs full force into his arms. It was amazing to watch him on Saturday transform from a shooting a match, 19 out of 20 actually, that's my Dad!, to eating a lunch of plastic celery and white cardboard milk that Charlie had made for him. Who is this man?! It doesn't matter, because you can't have him back, he is a keeper!! And he has completely adopted Trent not as his son in law, but as his son. A relationship that they both need, that I think is so beneficial for each of them, to all of us!!

The country air always does us good! Tommy and I stood for many moments watching a cow chew its cud, eating the soft wet grass, hearing nothing but the sounds of nature, feeling nothing but the warmth of a Spring day and a gentle breeze!

We LOVE to pack up our small family, to head South to the spaghetti roads, the lush vegetation, the black buggies. To Grandma and Grandpa's house we go!

Thanks, we had a great time! Can we come back again soon!!!!???