2009 Great Iowa Tractor Ride
Our annual family vacation has begun! But, not without a rain storm at home this morning. The farm truck that I got cleaned on Wednesday looked a little muddy. Jeff tried to touch it up this morning while he was washing the John Deere 435 for the ride. The puddles left behind from both the rain and the car/tractor wash were just too inviting for Virginia.
Once we arrived in Waterloo, Iowa, at the John Deere plant, Henry was in awe of the trucks and trailers rolling in. He watched what was happening around us while Jeff was busy taking the chains off the tractor.
Jeff drove the tractor to the front parking lot and Henry watched the parade from the back of our trailer. (The girls and I were inside the truck.)
Waves to fellow tractor friends and hand-shakes with many friends. We have spent the evening catching up with other riders and friends from past rides. Henry has never met a stranger and quickly made friends with a young man whose mother has worked on the tractor ride in the past.
The next few days ahead promise beautiful Iowa scenery, good Iowa food, and hearty Iowa conversations with friends. But for now, we're kicking back and hitting the hay....
It was a long day for the girls, so I laid in the bedroom until they were sound a sleep. But, before that happened there was rolling and squirming and more rolling. Goldie was on top of her quilt and said something (twin talk) and as she was working the quilt out from underneath her, Virginia reached over and helped her get covered up. My heart melted for the special relationship these two will always have.
Once we arrived in Waterloo, Iowa, at the John Deere plant, Henry was in awe of the trucks and trailers rolling in. He watched what was happening around us while Jeff was busy taking the chains off the tractor.
Jeff drove the tractor to the front parking lot and Henry watched the parade from the back of our trailer. (The girls and I were inside the truck.)
Waves to fellow tractor friends and hand-shakes with many friends. We have spent the evening catching up with other riders and friends from past rides. Henry has never met a stranger and quickly made friends with a young man whose mother has worked on the tractor ride in the past.
The next few days ahead promise beautiful Iowa scenery, good Iowa food, and hearty Iowa conversations with friends. But for now, we're kicking back and hitting the hay....
It was a long day for the girls, so I laid in the bedroom until they were sound a sleep. But, before that happened there was rolling and squirming and more rolling. Goldie was on top of her quilt and said something (twin talk) and as she was working the quilt out from underneath her, Virginia reached over and helped her get covered up. My heart melted for the special relationship these two will always have.
Love the pictures Heidi! Especially the one of Virginia stomping in the mud! I have a similar one of my grandson Noah stomping in the mud in his CAR boots! And the one of Henry in the wheel of the John Deere! Our good friend worked for John Deere, and we have all sorts of JD stuff. Blankets, hats, coffee mugs, beach bags, etc. Looks like fun times are being had in your neck of the woods!
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Farm/ranch life is soooooo good for kids. That's why we chose to live in the country when our kids were growing up. At times they were less than enthusiastic back then (as all the baby calves needed to be fed before the school bus arrived at 6:00am and again at 6:00 pm even in cold rainy weather and the big red rooster was always trying to get you when you weren't looking). They have great memories of those times now as adults. So glad we did it. Worth all the sacrifices. Who needed fancy clothes, new cars or restaurant food anyway (grin).
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What a great picture of the two boys. Wyatt loved playing with Henry as well. Hopefully we can get them together again! It was a fun day and thanks for letting us hang out with you! I always love seeing you and Jeff and your family!
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Jody...bring Wyatt and Dalton to the farm for an afternoon of fishing...and if Lee can come we could have a bbq on the porch and a ride on the pontoon boat. It would be so much fun.
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We would love to do that! We are the city mice always wanting to visit the country. Let's get something on the calendar for some Saturday!!!
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