Farmward bound

For one last bit of summer fun, we loaded up the family and traveled to Sweetie's mother's farm in Illinois. Our flights there were on Frontier Air, which I'd never flown before, but I certainly would again. Plenty of legroom, no delays, no baggage charge, and there were mini-TVs built into the seats in case our cheapness was overwhelmed by whiny children. (Thing1 did get to watch Kung-fu Panda on the second leg; Thing2 fell asleep before takeoff.)

Arriving in St. Louis was interesting. We got off the plane, got our luggage and headed out to the pick-up zone. When we got outside, I thought to myself, "What is that? It's some sort of unpleasant heat." And then it struck me. Humidity! What I was feeling was humidity. It had been quite a while since I felt that. Sweetie had the same experience and we shared a chuckle over this. Dinner at Aunt T's house afforded me the opportunity to watch some of the USA vs. Guatemala CONCACAF World Cup qualifier. (I'll provide a link because I'm guessing most of you have no idea what CONCACAF is.) The Things got to jump on the trampoline. Apparently, Aunt T has a squirrel that also enjoys the trampoline. We didn't see it, but she told a very funny story about watching it jump out of the tree and run around on the trampoline.

We had a very nice time a Grandma W's. She has recently purchase a John Deere Gator, and the kids (the Things and their cousins) had a good time riding around in it. I gave Thing1 some driving lessons (terrifying - Dad, I now fully appreciate your efforts in the Caprice Classic). We went to check the mail. We drove to the pond. We even took the Gator to Cousin L's farm to see farm animals. I drove. It was a long drive in the gator, what with the bugs hitting my face, and the rain that started. But we made it, only to realize that Thing 2 hadn't brought shoes with him. Ah well. We saw the goats and the sheep and the chickens and the horse. Thing2 was thrilled.

One day we went up to Springfield to see the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. First we visited the home and the Things earned another Jr. Ranger Badge. It was awesome (not in the seventh grade meaning) to visit the house and think of the conversations that must have taken place there. Some of the Lincoln's original furniture was there, including Abe's writing desk. After a quick lunch, we strolled over to the Museum, which is quite new and very well done. They have excellent multimedia presentations (one with cannon fire!), and a walk-through history of his life. I highly recommend it if you're ever in Springfield.

Besides that it was pretty much just playing with cousins, going fishing (I caught a tree!), a few visits to the hayloft (which is ever emptier of hay and fuller of racoon poop), and playing with the farm kittens, and even shucking some corn. A good time all around. Thing 2 even got so tired one day that he fell asleep sitting up in his chair!

Then it was home again to prepare for the first day of school. A big day in Thing 2's life. But more on that later...