FINAL DESTINATION: Grandma and Grandpa's house on the farm (AKA the Williams grandparents home)
WHERE: in the country near Van Orin, IL
WHY: because going to the farm is the coolest

When we arrived, the kids jumped out of the van and ran. It was like they had been caged for the winter (maybe it feels like that for them thru the MN winter in a small house with little running space) and they finally were set free. This is a good place to be set free! There is lots of space to move, run, jump, climb and twirl.



If asked, each of the kids would say that driving the gator is the highlight of their trip to the farm. How cool for a seven year old boy to be able to drive a large machine around with his grandpa and favorite friends with him! When I took the picture, Luke was smiling from ear to ear and he gave me the "thumbs up". Then he was off again.

This is the home I grew up in. We had all the space we needed, too much sometimes! Our closes neighbors were 1/2 mile up the road, (my aunt, uncle and cousins). Their house is the one peeking between the two trees in the picture. Now a garden, when I lived here, this spot was where our pool was. For some reason, Dad didn't want to keep it up when we had all moved out! My sister, (AKA Aunt Jen) was married in this spot about 8 years ago. I am so glad that my kids love coming here. For kids raised in the city, it is such a good place to be!

Back to the fun pictures! Here is Charlie. He is saying, "HI DADDY!" Doesn't every 3 year old boy need to have at least one picture looking happy in a dress that his sister and loving 5 year old cousin, Leah, convinced him to dress up in? He wanted it to be his jammies for the night, then he spilled milk on it. Nicholas quickly told him he had to take it off and helped him get into his Elmo jammies. Soon enough, he will not want to play dress up anymore, but we will always have this picture to remind him of when he was three! That is about it for now. The kids are all sleeping, except Emma, she decided to sleep in the basement, I am sure because she will have free reign of the TV. She is more brave that I was when I was a kid. I was scared to be down there by myself at night. In an old (over 120 years old) house, there are too many creaks and groans for me. I am not tired, though. I actually took a nap on the couch this afternoon! Haven't done THAT in a very long time!