Harvest Time

Andrew watching Matt unload the wheat into the wheat truck.

We timed our visit just right and got to ride to the Co-op in the big, loud, un-air-conditioned truck. Andrew said the truck was too loud, but he thought it was really cool to watch the dump truck action and the wheat dumping down the grate. And Jonathan didn't move or make a sound the whole two miles there and back. So, I guess he liked it too.

Now this is what it's all about! A little shade, a little cold water and ice cream bars!

Andrew getting a ride in the combine with Grandpa. He wasn't sure he wanted to at first, thanks to the movie "Cars." When he saw the combine, he said, "Oh, Mommy! That's the machine that tried to eat Lightning." Leave it to Disney to ruin Harvest for my 3-year-old. But he quickly recovered after a ride in the wheat truck and the tractor.

The wheat was rusty and dusty thanks to all the rain we've had lately and so the inside of the combine was very dirty. Andrew was very worried about his dirty hands after he touched the windows. But Grandpa told him he could wipe them on his pants, and all was right with the world again. And he discovered the CB. He was in HEAVEN! He could talk to Matt and I in the tractor and Grandpa all at the same time, and he was riding in a giant machine that was eating wheat! He told Grandpa that he was "going to stay here forever!" (in the combine) But alas, all good things must come to an end and Jonathan desperately needed a nap and I needed air-conditioning!

Jonathan and Matt waiting for me to deliver Andrew to Grandpa in the combine.

Andrew and Matt

Matt let Andrew steer when we were all in the tractor. Can I just tell you how scary that was to watch my 3-year-old drive and then ask which way he should turn? I kept trying to help him turn away from the large grove of trees, but at 3.5 mph, we were never in any danger, and he was having the time of his life!

"What are you trying to do to me? Don't you know it's a 110 out here, and I'm hot and tired? I will not cooperate and stand in this field for you! Are you crazy?"

Our one attempt at taking a picture with the wheat. The kids were all done for the day and Buster wanted some love, which we did not want to give in the oppressive heat.

On Tuesday, we went to "help" with harvest. I told Andrew that we were going to the field, forgetting he is a city boy and that he didn't understand farming lingo. He was very confused by the idea of going into a field. And on the 40-minute drive to grandpa's house, as we passed many fields and farms, I was asked if this was the field we were going. *sigh* Next time I will be more specific.

We have been experiencing a tremendous heat wave this week. Every day we top 100 degrees with a heat index that I don't even want to talk about. And did I mention the humidity?! Oh, it has been awful. No outside playtime. No outside anything! But it is harvest time, and all the excitement it brings still happened, and we couldn't miss it even if it was ridiculously hot!

Andrew loved every minute of it, and declared it, "The Best Day Ever!" Jonathan wasn't too sure what to think. It was his nap time and it was hot, but he soaked it all up and I'm sure next year is going to be fighting his brother for combine-driving time!