Turning point
When the kids and I arrived at the farm the day of the wedding, I got out of the car and the farmer said, “You’re wearing black?”
My son went to the hen house to collect eggs. The farm cats love eating raw eggs, but on a farm, you only feed the cats scraps. My son saw a chance for an exception. He said to the farmer, “Since it’s your wedding day, can we give the cats an egg to celebrate?”
We dressed the boys.
My son said, “People don’t dress up on farms.”
I said, “They do for weddings.”
And then I tucked his shirt in for the twenty-sixth time.
The four of us were more than half of the guests at the wedding. My youngest son said: “Where is everyone?”
I said, “The important thing is that I have the three people here who I love the most.”
And he said, “Who?”
When the boys noticed the free-form nature of the ceremony, they spontaneously added their own touch: A lively rendition of the Sh’ma and a tear-jerker rendition of “You are My Sunshine.” Then the boys gave us the rings.
The after-party was kisses, a rope swing, and mattresses left over from moving out the farmer’s stuff to make room for all of us.
It took only twenty minutes for the farmer to lose his wedding ring. But it seemed okay: I love this picture because one thing I love about him is that he’s always looking for something.
And I think I am that way, too.
Congrats to you all! Thanks for sharing. Love the pics!
So lovely! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Your wedding looks great and it sounds like your family will be really happy on the farm. This is the first time (that I’ve seen) where you’ve put up a picture of your family. It’s nice to see their faces instead of just imagining them from your descriptions :)
Congratulations! Wishing you all lots of happiness!
Your whole family looks so happy. Congratulations! I know that you will be blessed with many more happy days to come.
Congrats! I too would wear black…
Good luck P, and good luck farmer. Be kind to each other. It’s nice to see some faces in the pictures. Must be a turning point for the farmer too. I thought he was totally against pictures.
Congratulations! A very lovely family you have there. And so great to see pictures of you all.
BTW: OMG! Pics of the farmer. Next thing you know, we’ll learn his name.
I thought the exact same thing as Jennifer! :)
And I totally appreciate the way you built the pictures up, Penelope. At first I thought, “Sure, we’ll get to see the top of a head, someone’s back…” But then all of a sudden there was the whole happy family, with faces and all. So sweet.
Congratulations!!! Thanks for letting us attend your wedding. I wish you a long and happy life together.
Mazel-tov!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing!
All the best for a happy future, and yay for pictures!
In you energetic
Please spend it happily indefinitely.
Congratulations to you both. Marriage is definitely a journey :-)
Go n-éirà on bóthar libh ar bhúr saol nua le chéile
Congratulations Penelope!
I like your choice of category for this post – Starting a new job.
It’s funny that you wore black and the boys wore white. Very good picture of the four of you.
Also noticed it was a bad hair day … and you didn’t even mention it! I think that says a lot.
I thought you said there would never be a picture of the farmer on your blog?
I’m glad we’ve had a chance to see him. He doesn’t look at all how I thought he would. Seeing the four of you, it’s clear how happy you all are. Was it ever decided, though, if your ceremony is actually legal? Will the state of Wisconsin recognize that you’re married?
Why would the state of Wisconsin not recognize the marriage? Did I miss something important?
And thank you to the Farmer for allowing us to see photos. Mazel Tov!!!
(May we assume that his family was not present? Or is that too personal?)
Congratulations to the four of you!
i wish you two (four) so much happiness!
Wow, I wish you and your family the best of luck! May you always be happy. After reading your blog for a long time, you truly deserve it, Penelope!
…and if you aren’t happy at times then you at least have a lovely family that is supporting you.
Again, have a wonderful life! :)
So happy for you! Felicitations! :)
Best of luck in a long, happy marriage.
I also love seeing your family. Your blogs are intimate, so I feel I know you… I live near too in Wisconsin, so that adds to it.
Seeing your family, the farm, THE Farmer…it’s fantastic.
And a great reminder that your blog’s purpose and the professional-careerist element of your work is necessarily invaded by life… everything in work is invaded by so-called “real” life and I wish more people would remember that! ;)
Congratulations and all the best…
Agreed. Work Life balance. Work Life IN balance. Easier when the ratios are favorable…2 adults, 2 kids. Now you are nuclear!
Best post ever! Mazel tov!
Congrats to you all! thanks for sharing this Penelope, all the best, from our family to yours!
It’s really heart-warming to see your family pictures on your special day. You both radiate joy … it’s very touching to see.
Beautiful! Congratulations.
wow, pictures of your kids AND the farmer – you’ve crossed some sort of line, but it’s a good thing. The look of pure joy on all of your faces tells the story. Mazel tov!
Congratulations to all of you! What a wonderful post to read.
I’m so happy for you. We were all there in spirit. i know thats kind of scary. : )
Mazel Tov!
I love the pictures of all of you! Thank you for sharing with us. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Beautiful! I’m so happy for you and wish you all of God’s blessings.
Congratulations!
I am very happy for you. And I have also realized lately that I too want to marry a farmer because I am a city mouse and a country mouse. And the farmer let you post photos of him??? What changed?
It’s an interesting question — what changed that made him let me post pictures. I think it begins to feel weird that we are a family in our offline world. That everyone sees us there. And then he hides in my online world. It doesn’t really make sense. So we are trying this out.
And, so far so good — the comments here are so nice.
Penelope
I would have worn light blue rather than black, I’m with the farmer on this one. But the event looks private and lovely. Best wishes to you and your happy family. Welcome to Wisconsin Pen.
I love how you tucked your son’s shirt in “26 times” and in the photo where they’re giving you the rings, it’s untucked. Priceless.
Congratulations! Great to see the pictures, thank you for sharing, best to all of you.
Congrats…What a wonderful gift to give yourselves the commitment of love. I hope it reinforces your boys relationship with the farmer. My own commitment ceremony helped my son build that bond with my husband.
~Sage
Can we NOT criticize Penelope on her wedding day?!
Congrats! You are now entering a new world. And you’re doing fine – he even let you publish a photo of him! Off to a good start. ;)
I’m so very happy for you all, my sincerest congratulations.
I read somewhere that among marriages destined to last, the partners resemble each other. I think you and the farmer look alike.
Happy life Mrs. Farmer
Mazel-tov!
Thank you for sharing with your readers. :-)
Congratulations!
And, may I ask a duh! question: Who officiated?
Was the farmer’s permission to post a pic of him on your blog at last his wedding gift? If so, that’s sweet. Best of luck to both of you.
Wonderful! Much happiness to you all.
How great is this!?
And blue shirt and khaki slacks: the classic look that’s always a winner.
Not to mention the little black dress.
Mazel and nachas, Pen, Farmer and Kids!
Congrats! I loved seeing your family. And, since the farmer has not wanted his photo on your blog, I assume we won’t be seeing him again. Tell him thanks for allowing this exception!
I’m stunned! And happy for you. Congratulations!
Congrats, Penelope. You all look so happy in the pictures!
Wishing you all God’s very best! Thank you for allow us in on such an intimate moment. hugs
Erika