Christmas Letter

Warmest greetings from our family to yours. Once again I am humbled by the abundant blessings that this year has brought.  In hopes that you have much to be thankful for this holiday season, we wanted to share with you a few things we are grateful for…

We started off the year by finding a buyer for our home in Muskego. After having moved over 2 years ago, and trying to sell for almost 3 years, we closed and made the sale final in February of 2011. That called for a celebratory lunch at Subway. $5 Footlongs, baby (I mean, what’d you expect, we’d been paying 2 mortgages for the past 2.5 years)! All kidding aside, we were so glad that our prayers had been answered and that the final details came together and we could make some first-time homeowners very happy!

February also brought an addition to the farm. After many not-so-subtle hints from the farmer (Donny) I surprised him with a new zip line for his birthday. With a little help from his apprehensive siblings, we gave Donny the best birthday present to date. Now you can see the treefort-esque platform from I-43 and if you’re lucky, in summer you may even catch a glimpse of Donny flying across the pond at lightning speed.

We had a couple “firsts” on the farm this spring. The first “first” was that we successfully incubated and hatched our own chicks. That was a trip. After 21 days of faithfully turning and rotating and monitoring the eggs (not me, Donny!) three little chicks emerged from their shells. They now dwell among the flocks doing their job to provide eggs for my breakfast! The second “first” was the addition of ducks to our flock. “Scott” and “Walker” were beautiful white Peking ducks that I’m pretty sure thought they were chickens. But can you blame them? They grew up with 2 dozen baby chicks and followed them around day and night.

Sometime in early summer a baby kitten found his way to our farm. “Olive IV” is now the latest addition to our menagerie of animals. Reggie, Lola and Amos now have something else to bark at and chase, and Olive is one affectionate, loveable little cat-he will also help cut down on the rodent population at the farm: win-win! Summer also brought a plethora of fresh veggies right from our ground. Donny labored for what seemed to be an endless amount of hours in his garden, and it paid off. We had fresh squash, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, sunflowers, eggplant, Swiss chard, strawberries, green and yellow beans-which all make delicious side dishes for farm raised, corn-fed, free-range chicken! Mmm mmm. I, personally, will never have any part in butchering those chickens, but let me tell you-that is GOOD chicken. I will never be opposed to eating it!

Most recently, the farmer—and self-proclaimed venture capitalist—decided that it was time to dive into the world of Coin Laundry. What?!? Yep, we bought a Laundromat. We are now the proud owners of Mukwonago Coin Laundry. So, if you’re ever out on Hwy 83 in Mukwonago and have a load of laundry that you need to get cleaned, pop on over to Mukwonago Coin Laundry.  Jack has been a big help, he thinks going to the Laundromat is like the most fun thing ever – and it’s provided a great conversation starter over the past month…I mean how many people can end that awkward silence at a dinner party with … “So…I bought a Laundromat!”?

Jack is 2 now and growing like a weed. He knows all his letters and has been working on his counting-right now we’re focusing on the fact that “eleven-teen” is not actually a number. Jack always gives us a reason to smile; he’s making us laugh non-stop. He loves a good bed-time story –on his reading list right now: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  He prays almost daily for Lightning McQueen and is always thankful for Macaroni and Cheese. His favorite Green Bay Packer is Jermichael Finley and we’re hoping for another Super Bowl victory in 2012!

Reflecting on the year always helps me realize how blessed I really am. This Christmas we’re focusing on the manger and the greatest gift of all, the birth of our Savior –Jesus Christ.  The message from our farm to your home this year is “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”- hoping the light of Christ shines brightly in your homes this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas, from the farm!

Love,

Angela (for Donny and Jack, Reggie, Lola, Amos & Olive IV)

Bah Humbug.

So the other day I was at the mall-just minding my own business, shopping with my son. When I encountered one of those old ladies who decides it's within her rights to offer very rude and inappropriate parenting tips. Until now, all I have is read about these people in magazines and on blogs-never had I actually crossed paths with one of these people. I seriously can't imagine someone seriously being that rude, seriously! Well folks. It's true, they are really out there. There really are old ladies that really think they really know more than you, really! It's un-be-lieve-able!

So I'm strolling Jack along in Kohl's minding my own business and Jack decides he's going to put his finger down and touch the wheels of his stroller. So I stopped and asked him to stop-and he looked at me, kind of smiled and kept doing it. So (this creepy old lady watching on) I said "No, no buddy, I don't want you to hurt your fingers! Please stop" and Jack looked up at me ready to sit back in his stroller when the old creep chimmed in "Not to mention how dirty those are! He almost put his finger in his mouth!"

Now up until this point I had watched her the whole time out of the corner of my eye, thinking 'Lady, there's nothing to see here...keep moving!' And when she spoke up I half thought she was kidding. But here comes the kicker. I said "Ok Jack that's enough, sit back." And he listened and just as we started to stroll on our way she had the audacity to say "I would strap him in, that's for sure."

OH snap! (Note: you have to imagine this lady sounding snarly and grumpy otherwise this really doesn't seem that bad, but seriously she thought she was like taking me to school on how to parent) I cheerfully replied "Thank you, but I DON'T need your parenting advice." OH but my blood was boiling. I kept going but every fiber in my being wanted to turn around, hunt that lady down and ask her why for heaven's sake it mattered to her! I mean for real? Why does she care. Why do people find it necessary to impose their thoughts about what is right and wrong. I mean I'm not gonna lie, I've seen many a parent in the store that I wanted to give the low-down on how to be a better parent. But do I? NO!

All I have to say is I bet that lady was a democrat.

She ruined my already ridiculous day, and Jack and I headed home, defeated and crabby. Praise the Lord for mercy and new days. We woke up on Wednesday refreshed and ready to conquer the world. And we did. Christmas shopping done, cookies and candies baked, bulletins printed and now on to the festivities!

Apologies to my friends and family, they will be getting their Christmas cards after Christmas this year-but definitely before New Years! After I mail everything off, I will post our picture and my letter on my blog. I want to give everyone a chance to get it in the mail before I post.

Merry Christmas everyone. Blessings to you and yours as you celebrate this joyful season!