the farm

missed these kids so much it hurt

Bella asked me to take her picture again and again

last bon fire

kids setting off colored smoke bombs

me and kids

nana and kids

riding the tractor with papa

tree house...they are painting the outside as I type

Brennan on the swing

Bella in the garden

In front of the garden

Swinging

It was a big, long trip to get up here, but definitely worth it. I sat next to two kids on the flight to North Dakota. The seventh grade boy sat next to me and kept staring at my ipod. I asked him if he liked music and if he wanted to borrow it. He said, "Yes.". So I asked him what bands or what type of music he liked and in response, He said, "I don't know." I was a little shocked; Brennan, Bella, and maybe even Claire could tell you the kinds of music they like. So I showed him how to use it and handed it over. He had never used an ipod and he loved it. His older sister was 17 and she was really nice as well. They were really excited to get home to the green of North Dakota. They even offered to share their snacks with me.

Brennan met me in the airport. He was so stinkin' cute and looked so big. Papa was in the truck with the tractor and trailer. We started the 3 hour drive to the farm. Brennan was chatty and super excited to see me. He let me hug and kiss on him and he kept saying he missed me so very much. The most amazing thing driving out to the farm, was the sunset (it went on forever) and then the stars. I haven't seen stars like this in forever. The sky was full of them. You so quickly forget the beautiful things in nature that the city makes you forget...like a dark, clear sky full of bright, twinkling stars.

We got in at 1 a.m. I was really tired and we went right to bed. Bella and Brennan came and snuggled me and woke me up in the morning. They were excited to show me the farm. Oh, by the way it is freezing up here. The first night was like 50 degrees and it was colder than the middle of winter in Phoenix. Quite a shock to go from 115 degrees to 50 degrees in the same day.

So I got a full tour of the tree house...they painted the inside really cute with pink and blue trim. They love the tree swing. The chickens are so big, and funny...they cluster together and are quite shy. Bella loves the flowers and gardens and showed me everything there. Brennan took me up the super narrow, tall stairs to the unfinished upstairs. The ceilings and door frames are tiny up there (Jonny would have to duck his head to fit through). But it is cute, kind of like a little gingerbread house up there. Perfect for kids to bunk and stay...once it is all finished. Brennan wanted to show me the spider webs and dead flies...such a boy.

We went to town and ate at the local pizza parlor. The kids love the fried cauliflower. I was surprised. Brennan said, "Mom, you see, if you deep fry vegetables...people will actually eat them!" I laughed and laughed at that one. My mom has been making all kinds of homemade foods, it reminds me of my Grandma McMurray. So far we have had bacon, eggs, homemade bread, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, rhubarb crisp bars and chicken enchiladas. I have eaten the equivallent of probably a weeks worth of calories in the past 24 hours. But it is worth it.

Being up here brings back memories of my teen years. I used to visit my Grandma McMurray up in Burley, Idaho during the summers when I was in high school. She was always baking. She would make me fried zucchini from her gardens, and rhubarb crisp, and cookies, and bread. We would pretty much bake, go for long walks, and talk. She would give me money to go eat at Taco Bandito, a local Mexican food place. We would also get videos to watch at night and get banana creamies at the store. I have so many calm, happy memories with my grandma. Not to mention that the drive from Salt Lake City to Idaho was over 3 hours and the green farmland scenery was beautiful. I am so glad that our kids have someplace special to come visit and spend time outside of the city, outside of their busy lives. It is important to see different parts of the world, to experience small towns, space, nature, fireworks (Brennan loves this part of North Dakota).

I have lots more to say, but this is already to long and Bella is begging me to come play outside with her. How can I say no to that? It is 65 degrees and sunny and by tomorrow night I will be back in 110 degree Phoenix.