Wheat Harvest

 

Going with Uncle Matt and Grandpa to take the last load of wheat to the Whiteside Elevator.
 

Wheat harvest was late and short this year. We almost missed it completely. But we made it just in time for the boys to help take the last load of wheat to the grain elevator. They didn't seem to be too disappointed in not getting any combine rides. Riding in the big grain truck with Uncle Matt and Grandpa seemed to make them happy. Hannah wanted nothing to do with the giant truck and chose to stay at home with Grandma. Someday she might be in a wheat picture or two.

Wheat Harvest

Hannah doesn't remember wheat harvest and contrary to this picture, she wasn't very interested this year either. After about 10 minutes in the field, she was whining and pointing to the house. Little city girl.

Jonathan - ever the protector of his little sister

Trying to get a picture of the three of them in the wheat. Not as easy as it sounds!

Jonathan helping Grandpa park the combine for the night. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Andrew in the combine. Oh, well. There's always next year!

Wheat harvest came very early this year. The earliest anyone can remember in a very long time. Dad started cutting on Memorial Day, so we loaded up and went to "help." Mom had to work, so we made a little lunch for Grandpa to eat while he cut. Sondra picked up Papa Murphy's for the rest of us and I brought food and a salad. Less work and mess than a barbecue and just as tasty!

More Harvest Pics

Sondra took some pictures of the boys in the field, so here are some more harvest pictures...

Jonathan and Luke in the big wheat truck with Uncle Matt.

Grandma explaining the action to Jonathan and Luke.

Luke, Uncle Matt and Jonathan in the tractor.

Andrew in the combine with grandpa. He looks likes he's doing some sort of crazy dance, but I think he's just trying to get the best view of the wheat being "eaten" by the combine.

Andrew posing in the wheat truck.

Jonathan in the combine with Grandpa.

Harvest

Jonathan giving Adam a little love.

Luke wanted to hold Hannah, but she's not really into that anymore so he agreed to sit next to her instead.

My view out the side mirror as we dumped wheat at the co-op.

Luke and Andrew watching the wheat dump at the co-op.

Andrew and Jonathan in the tractor with Matt.

If you look closely, you can see Jonathan pretending to talk on the CB radio.

Why are the best photos always blurry?!

Hannah slept through most of the experience. It was way past her nap time. But she woke up right before we left and took a little picture in the field to show she was helping with harvest too!


Harvest came early this year thanks to the incredible heat and wind we've been experiencing. We loaded up and went to "help" with harvest last Friday. To say the boys LOVE harvest is an understatement. And what's not to love - big trucks, tractors and combines, Uncle Matt and Grandpa. What more could a boy ask for?

Harvest!

Jonathan wasn't too sure about harvest and being in the wheat field.

Andrew, on the other hand, was all about it and stuck to Uncle Matt like glue!

Driving in the wheat truck to the elevator. Jonathan didn't move the whole drive.

Andrew pretending to drive the wheat truck.

Calling strangers on the CB

Riding out with Matt on the 4-wheeler to get the tractor and grain cart.
(I was later informed that the 4-wheeler was much cooler than the Ranger we usually ride on and that Matt went super fast! I asked why the 4-wheeler was cooler and was told because it doesn't have a steering wheel or a roof! And did I mention that Matt went super fast?!)

Andrew with Grandpa in the combine

This year we had an extra combine help cut the wheat. After a weeks of rain and battling mud, dad was ready to cut the wheat as fast as possible.

On Tuesday, we went to Hutch to "help" with harvest. Jonathan wasn't sure about the big machines or the loud noises. We did get him to ride in the wheat truck, but only because we all went for a ride. I held him and the whole ride I never felt him move. He was scared to death when I tried to lift him to watch the wheat dump out the back window, even though he was still safe in my arms inside the truck. I think he's still a little young to appreciate harvest. Maybe next year!

Andrew was the opposite! He ran for Matt as soon as we got to the field and I finally had to drag him to the house at 1:30 to eat lunch. He rode in the tractor, wheat truck and the combine and was asking to go back out as soon as he ate. But it was very hot and they had moved to a different field, so we packed up and headed for home.

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!