Gobble 'Till You Wobble!

It seems like just yesterday it was summer. Two blinks and here it is... Thanksgiving time! Crazy how time flies. 

Seeing as my family and Dan's family are three hours apart, we decided when we first got married that alternating holidays was the best way to have our cake and eat it too. Family is extremely important to us both so the holidays can be a bit tricky. This go around, Thanksgiving was celebrated in good ol' Illinois.

Due to our life on the farm, Dan and I drove up to Illinois Thanksgiving morning so all of the animals could be fed. The three hour drive is a breeze but a few key elements of Thanksgiving were missed.

My mom makes her famous Lima beans every year. You would think that after hearing my brother, dad, and myself complain every single year for about 20 years the Lima beans would be a goner....but no. For those that don't already know, Lima beans STINK terribly while cooking. I'm not sure if it was the simple fact that we weren't greeted with the smell of bacon and eggs on Thanksgiving morning but Lima beans instead. 

I can remember mom begging us to come downstairs and watch the Macy's Day Parade with her while she made her beans but who wanted to get any closer to the icky beans? At least while in bed our pillows could block some of the smell if the nose was buried just perfectly. When we couldn't take any more, downstairs we went to watch the Parade with mom then off to church we would go.

It just so happens that one year fire trucks and police cars greeted us as we got home from church. Those Lima beans caused the ruckus...or so we like to think. I guess the real reason why the fire alarm went off was due to the awful smell of the beans. Poor mother will never live this down!

Dad says Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without the awful smell of the Lima beans, the watching of the Macy's Day Parade, and the driveway full of fire trucks and police cars!

Mom, if you are reading this.....your Lima beans are fantastic and Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without them! I should have taken some beans home with me...Gunner would have loved them!

The newlyweds

Happy Grandparents

A trip home wouldn't be complete without Dan helping Dad with something. This time......the Pennsylvania Panzer!!

Growing up, Dad had a Pennsylvania Panzer. I believe it was just used for yard work but what a handy piece of machinery it was! For those of you that don't know my Dad, he NEEDS projects! This man just loves to fix up machinery rather it be an airplane, a big tractor, or a little tractor such as this. Either way, these projects keep him busy but most importantly...happy! 

One happy guy

Dan had it give it a go

The funniest thing was watching Dan run this tractor around the block. I am so used to seeing him on such large tractors that he looked funny on this little go cart of a tractor.

Following some major gobblin 'till we were wobblin, off to the Bluegrass State we went. Unfortunately for Dan he was put to work immediately! The entire Saturday was spent putting lights up and the tree!

Dan slacking or maybe just trying to get better reception

It has been one heck of a week. I was able to spend some much needed time with the family and knocked out a bunch on the to-do list. Now if only Christmas gifts would by themselves!

The joys of being a farmer's wife!