My Dad and John Deere

There has been much tractor talk around here this summer... specifically John Deere tractors.  It started with our little John Deere mower and has become a huge area of interest for Lucas.  He often tells me that he "dreamed about MORE tractors".  Of course the other day he asked, "What does dream mean?"

At fair time we always think of my Dad since he took so much pride in the tractor show.  Nathan remembers visiting him there.  With all the talk about Grandpa and his tractors I sat down with Lucas yesterday and showed him some pictures.  He was SO excited! 

At dinnertime I asked him to pick his plate and silverware.  He discovered this plate, which is not used often, and immediately said, "That is ME, That is ME Mom, and that (pointing at the tractor) is Grandpa's!"  How that warmed my heart!

This morning he told me that he dreamed about "John Deere tractors and Grandpa."

 I printed a couple of Grandpa tractor pictures today and he spent much time just staring at them and grinning.  He's now talking not only about John Deere, but also "A'cormick Deer" (McCormick Deering).  

The kids are familiar with the story about Grandpa's last year at the tractor show and how he won two trophy's... one was for the reverse tractor race- he was SO proud of this!

That particular trophy is a part of our summertime days... it's something we started last year and the kids asked about this year before summer even began.  

Each day they have a chance to earn a turn with what is now the Kindness Trophy (thanks to a little laminating paper and glue).  It is only awarded to one person each evening at dinner so it sometimes becomes a bit of a competition.

It is a much loved item...

Today Grandpa has been on all of our minds as it would've been his 80th birthday.  The kids thought we should have a cake for him, and they ended up settling on some brownies (one of his favorite treats) with blue icing (his favorite color).  We watched a video of pictures of him and the kids all enjoyed seeing various members of our family with Grandpa at different times in his life.  They yelled Happy Birthday Grandpa!  

And we all decided that he could probably hear us.