Rough and Tumble

On Mother's Day weekend we caught wind of an antique tractor and train show happening not far from our house.  The boys were definitely going, and after much consideration the girls decided we'd tag along, too.  And aren't we glad we did, because otherwise Aunt Jeanne would have missed the Monkey Ward garden tractor winning the garden tractor pull.  And that's a once in a lifetime thing, right there.

Seriously, though, it was pretty cool and we'll definitely go back for some of the other events they have throughout the year.  Dex was happy so long as he had his ear muffs and he liked all the tractors and the tractor parade.  Because, c'mon - who doesn't love a parade?

What could be better than a huge line of John Deere Tractors?

Maybe some kick-ass big old steam tractors

Dexter discovered the sawdust pile and was instantly in love.

Itty bitty steam tractor in the parade

Watching the parade.  With ear muffs, of course.

Small-ish steam tractor (click for video)

Tractor with tracks, not wheels (click for video)

Nuther big old tractor

Chillin with Grandma

Dex suckered Grandpa in to watching the sawdust with him.

Here's what is actually making all the sawdust (click for video)

Pure wonder and delight.  This kid is weird.

TWO kick-ass old tractors.  Dex liked these kind because they steered funny - they steered with chains so the wheels moved all over the place and wobbled like crazy, and the steering wheels had to spin like 20 times to make the wheels actually turn somewhere.

Funny-steering tractor (click for video)

Old steam machines DO make for some fairly cool pictures.

Watching some big cool steam machine.  I can't remember what it did, besides make lots of steam.

Steam machine wheels

Trio of Cowans

The boys watched this (admittedly cool) HUGE steam powered wheel thingy for a very long time

The big train that Dexter refused to ride, no matter how much Grandpa pouted. (click for video)

Stoking the fire in the little train

Dex is intrigued

John and Dex and some kid who wouldn't shut up, enjoying the little steam engine.

Little train video

The engineer let Dex sit in the driver's seat, with the warning that it'd be kind of hot there.  Dex was... not so sure.

Pleased, he is.

Don't look at the fire.  Don't look at the fire.  Don't look at the fire.  Don't look at the fire... (click for video)

More cool tractor wheels

We had a fun day.  Mildly less fun when Grandpa's car stopped running mid-way home, but it was a fun challenge for the boys.  They needed something to do that afternoon, anyway...