G'pa's New Ride

Last fall at the end of harvest, Dad got a new combine.  The kids have been excited for harvest season ever since because they had their own seat in the new combine.  They have spent hours climbing in and out of the combine as it sat in the shed throughout the year waiting for a chance to ride on it with G'pa.

Finally, harvest season came around.  G'pa started with beans.  One Saturday night, we all ran over to the farm to help jockey vehicles between Dad and Ronnie.  G'pa was still running some beans.  I asked if the kids wanted to go and see if they could ride with G'pa.  Without missing a beat, X jumped on that suggestion.  So, I walked him and E to the edge of the field.  Dad was dumping in the bins and I walked X over.  He tensed up as I took him up the ladder, but as soon as G'pa had him inside the cab, he was grinning from ear-to-ear.  I walk back to the edge of the field and E was in tears because she wanted to go to.  G'pa noticed and waved her over.  She scampered up the ladder and jumped in right beside X in 'their' special seat.  Away they went down the field.

They came back just chattering as fast as they could.  They were so impressed.  They can't wait for corn harvest so that they can ride it again!

C loves the combine when it is off.  He loves playing with our toy combine.  He loves climbing around the cab and ladder of the real combine when it is not running.  But, with the engine running, he has no desire to be anywhere near that noisy piece of equipment.  So, he was very content to play on the tractor while the 'big 'ns' went for their ride.

Watching the combine come down the field