27 Jul Family, Tradition and Memories

Matheson, Colorado –
They showed up at the field shortly after noon on Thursday and left again shortly before noon on Sunday. The anticipation of having them here with us was almost more than I could stand. And then, just like the other visits, it was over. And…just like the other visits, this mama’s heart was heavy. The whole time they were with us we were in the field. The day they left, it rained late in the afternoon – just figures!

Both Eli and Nora loved hanging out at the field with us while they could. Had we been on our own, they may have stayed a little longer. As it was, because we are helping Ryan and Casey, we have a grain cart. Having a grain cart makes it much more difficult to get back to the trucks. Unless we could time it a bit more perfectly, the combine would be on the other end of the field when the kids had had enough. Eli spent the entire afternoon with me the first day – even found the ledge behind the seat made for a perfect napping place (I remember crawling up on the ledge of the old Massey’s and taking a nap while riding with my Grandpa). I’m certain my Grandpa and Grandma were looking down from Heaven with smiles on their faces. When Nora came with Jamie and Callie, I even let her sit on my lap and do a little cutting. It wasn’t straight, but who cares?! She was loving it and that’s all that mattered. 

On Saturday afternoon when they showed up, the combine was nowhere close to the trucks, so they opted to hang out with Jim in the truck. The kids all piled in the sleeper and rode to the grain bins with him. The little ones even got to experience a nap in the sleeper…just like their mama used to do. 

That’s what it’s all about, right? Family, tradition and memories. The years go by so very quickly! Having the grandkids in the field with us just verified that. Three generations in the cab of a combine or truck…can’t get much better than that!

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Sharing my chips with my little buddy. Speaking of buddy…when the ride was over, Eli climbed up in my lap, hugged me and told me I was HIS BEST BUDDY. Made my heart just hurt with love!

Eli was in 7th Heaven getting to play with Wes’ combine and tractor on the farm.

The Beast has friends to play with here.

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Three generations in the same cab of a combine.

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A HarvestHER in the making!

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Leaving the field for the day.

Callie and Nora playing outside the trailer house (in the farmer’s yard).

One last picture before we head to the field and they head home.

Storm clouds beginning to roll in late afternoon – every. single. day! (Pikes Peak on the horizon)

The day the kids left, this angry looking storm left rain as it marched east. Why couldn’t this have happened while they were here?

The road was muddy and we needed to get the service truck out of the field. Jim decided to drive it through the stubble of the field we had finished earlier in the day.

Made it!