And the winner is....

Well, we are home. I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting our return. We got back Tuesday night after 3 straight days of driving (farm to Omaha, Omaha to Nashville, Nashville to home). Then we proceeded to recover for the next 4 days. Today we went to church and made our official re-entrance into civilization. Tonight we will go to Sweet Dreams (homemade ice cream) for dinner. (Yes, ice cream for dinner. Why not?) It is "crazy flavors night."

So, some of you have been anxiously awaiting not only our return, but the results of our cd contest. We have an overall winner, and some honorable mentions. Here goes:

Best Overall (and t-shirt winner): Chris James (we hope to post the playlist soon)
Best poker playing cd: Jeremy Scheer
Best cd all about one state: Angie "I heart California" Lokkesmoe
Best sing along cd (and best cover art): Tara Griffin
Most entertaining liner notes: Sarah Huffines (of course)

We would also like to thank Melissa Beard and the r.o.b. for their non contest, just for fun cd's. We decided that upon cd submission next year, Angie, Tara, and r.o.b will get shirts just for their sheer dedication to our listening pleasure 3 years in a row.

So, how was the trip, you ask? Well, here are some highlights...
We were the first to arrive at the farm, so we had the honor of opening up the house. It was about 95 degrees when we got there (thank goodness we got out of that Florida heat) and there is no a/c. We managed to get things going and were pretty well settled by bedtime. The kids wanted to sleep in our room on the floor, and we let them (you know, first night in a strange place after a week of sleeping in beds with us...) Well, of course we had the windows open because ND is nice and cool at night, and there was a refreshing breeze (and by breeze I mean gale force wind). I woke up to Henry crying, something (a lamp and a fan) crashing to the floor out in the living room, blinding lightning (no trees = very bright lightning), and the curtains blowing out the now screenless window located directly above Henry's head. (These windows are close to the floor, and I'll admit this was a little scary being that we were on the second floor...) So, I wake up my soundly sleeping husband so he can go close the windows in the living room, and the kids promptly join me in bed. Patrick is watching the tv for what seems like hours waiting for storm info, and we are watching the few trees in the yard bend in half with what we later find out are 70 mph winds. The windows are rattling, and Patrick and I are, unbeknown to each other, contemplating moving this party to the basement. Eventually the storm dies down, but in the morning we see numerous shingles have been blown off the roof, most likely by a little funnel cloud formation over the house. Welcome to the farm.



Patrick's dad and brother arrived the next day, and his mom followed a few days later. She and I kicked off the summer with the 100 mile "rummage sale" (that's what the North Dakotans call a garage sale) in which I found numerous treasures including some green glass dish ware, various Melmac pieces, and this FABULOUS lamp for our bedroom. Yes, I brought it all the way back to Florida with me. Hello, that is why we drive.

(that wall hanging was one of my finds from last year)

While we were shopping, the mens and the kids went out for the inaugural day of fishing. They quickly decided kids and fishing don't mix. Henry climbed all over everything and everyone the whole time, although he did catch a perch, and Ceci was seasick, miserable, and eventually fell asleep. So much for teaching the kids how to reel in walleye. Oh well, maybe next year.

The next few weeks were basically uneventful, restful, and by some standards, mundane, though we like it that way. A lot of reading, some cooking, thrifting, (all by me)...

(another fabulous lamp for our bedroom)

Also fishing, golfing, more reading, poker (by Patrick), eating and watching Ballykiss Angel (by all of us). The kids got to feed a calf with a bottle, go for a ride on "Lightning Larry," learn to drive, and see a movie in town. The last week we were there, a lot of Patrick's family came out and we had a surprise 60th b-day blowout for Patrick's parents, complete with special musical guest Chuck Suchey, a North Dakota folk singer.



I am tired of typing, so here are some pics...

Our visit to Chattanooga

a really cool kids fountain down by the river

Henry posing for his magazine spread

Ceci smelling the flowers?


the family

********

The Farm

catching the limit

out on the driveway


small children and a very large horse



driving lessons

standing in the wheat


Henry and Grandpa


Lightning Larry lives up to his name



Henry got some cowboy boots

the card sharks kept trying to get me to play


Ceci is delighted with Uncle Ryan.

what we do


Uncle Diego and Aunt Barb hard at work on empanadas for the 4th.

We spent July 4th sitting around, eating empanadas, listening to music and watching the kids dance while Diego hosed off the concrete pad to cool us all off, Paraguayan-style.

playing in the water


notice the wet patio

Happy 4th!

Well, there are a few highlights from our trip this summer. I forgot to mention that the weather was amazing. It barely got above 73 degrees until that last week we were there. (Other than that first night.) Just right for a preggo.

The End