Over the Hills and Through the Woods....

There are probably about thirty pictures on this post, but I couldn't leave any of them out, so you get them all!!! :)
Last week, we decided to go to Illinois to see my grandpa. He had been down to see the girls once, but they have grown so much since then, and Mom was ready for a trip back to the farm. The farm holds really special memories for us growing up. We (the kids) would always get a two-week stint to the farm during the summer, and that was the HIGHLIGHT of our year. Grandma would give us quarters for doing chores, and we felt like kings and queens with that kind of money jingling in our pockets. When I think back now, I realize how fair she was with all the grandkids. Heather couldn't do as many chores as the big kids, so she would get a quarter for tying her shoes correctly, while Kurt and I got quarters for chopping down trees. :) That way, she could give us all the exact same amount of money. They had horses, dogs, kittens, and giant fish in the pond. The garden was massive, and we would go out every morning and pick the fresh vegetables that had blossomed overnight. My grandma was the ultimate hostess...it is truly one of my greatest memories. My grandma died two years ago, and my grandpa still lives nearby in Marion, IL. He lives in an apartment in town, but he goes to the farm everyday and then visits my grandma's gravesite. You can see how much he misses her, and it felt so good to be able to see him and do those things with him. I know he was excited to see us, but he was REALLY excited to see Sadie and Rylie. He played and played with them, and I got some really good pictures of them with their GREAT-grandpa. So...here goes the slideshow.....

Arriving at his apartment in Marion after a ten hour drive....
You can see the glee on his face...and the curiosity on Sadie's face...

Out at the farm. We were sitting on the porch in front of the spring-fed well. We have never used the well (that I can recall), but it's a throwback to the olden days.

Mom, Grandpa, and the girls...I CANNOT get them to look at the camera!!!!

Dad in the yard with Rylie...this is before we went exploring on the farm.

My grandpa and my daughter...what a legacy of love!

This is my MOM's tricycle!! We found it in the smokehouse, and we put Sadie on it. I have a picture of my mom riding this when she was 1 1/2!!

The view of the backyard....You can glimpse the barn to the right and the shed to the left. Behind my dad (if you squint), you can see the outhouse that Grandma had built for us grandkids. Kurt, Melissa, Heather, Sarah, David, Sybil Ann, and William Dan....you KNOW you used it. :)

The barn and Rylie on the tricycle...

Etherton was my grandma's maiden name...that's the name on the top of the barn. Do you see the square above the door?? It used to be open. When I was a kid, I would sit up there in the hayloft and play with the kittens. Mom remembers sitting up there as thunderstorms would roll in. EVERYONE should get a chance to experience farm life!

Sadie and Rylie experiencing a little bit of it!

The loft with all the hay.....

The view out....

In front of the pond. This is where I caught my very first catfish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving on my babies...

This is the same place I learned to drive!!! Rylie taking a shot at the wheel...

While Sadie has the gear shift.....

Back at the hotel...the girls were on the luggage cart.

Still on the luggage cart, though they look like they are in prison...

Mom going back to her roots. She will KILL me when she sees this posted. :) Love you, Mom!

Grandpa kissing the girls goodbye.

Our last picture until our next trip to the farm.....

The farm has changed alot since I was a kid. The animals are gone now and so is the garden. It makes me sad, but I look forward to showing my girls where THEIR grandma grew up and reliving so many of the adventures we had as kids.

Thanks for a great visit, my sweet family! Can't wait till next time!