Hobbit boy!

My sister knitted Skyler this great sweater. It's a little big, (which is really good) but he loves to wear it around the house! Thanks so much Karen!

A quick plow session.

My friend Ken emailed me that he was going to do some more plowing yesterday afternoon.  My original intention was to take Skyler along so he could see the tractor.  The problem was, he fell asleep at my Dad's yesterday right as I was headed over there to pick him up and go plow.  Skyler really needed a nap and my Dad was gracious enough to keep an eye on him while I went over to see Ken.  Here's a quick video of the JD 2640 plowing along.  The tractor wasn't under near as much load as a few weeks ago when he was breaking essentially new ground.

Happy today!

So far. He's been a real Jekyll and Hyde this week. This afternoon we are going to do some plowing at Ken's farm. That will make us both happy. :)

Drivin'!

My sister came over for some car maintenance this past weekend. Skyler took advantage of the open door of her car and climbed up in the driver's seat and pretended to drive. Maybe he'll be the next Michael Schumacher...

Tractor boy!

Skyler has been wearing my JD beanie lately. Note he's carrying a tiny tractor cutout. He holds it and screams "tractor!" He'll even offer the tractor cutout to the kitty!

Haircut.

Someone got their first haircut last night. I cut mine too!

Drink up, it's the weekend!

Skyler enjoying a juice last night.

Riding his tub!

We had a nice Thanksgiving. It's always way more work than I remember. A big thanks to my parents for hosting. Here's Skyler this morning pretending to ride his infant tub.

Thanksgiving.

I'm mostly thankful for this little guy.

But I'm also thankful for Altair working her ass off.  I know I bitch enough about her not being home or coming home, but it allows me to stay home and raise Skyler.  I'm glad that I have the opportunity to see him grow up.  (So fast!)

We're going to my parent's house for dinner today.  I'm cooking the turkey at our house and some cornbread stuffing.  Altair made a pecan pie that I'm tempted to eat already.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Remember the farmers that made today's meal and every days meals possible!

Sleepy....

This sums up our house as of late. Thank God we have a 4 day weekend to rest.

Mittens!

Skyler wearing his Thomas mittens in the house today. It's so fun to have me put them on and then he tries to take them off!

Corn and a hat.

Altair was off yesterday. I got some corn ground for cornbread stuffing. Skyler thought my JD bomber hat was the greatest! We're getting ready for Thanksgiving and some well deserved time off.

Hiding out.

In his room yesterday.

18 month checkup.

Skyler had his 18 month checkup yesterday. He's doing great! 90th percentile for height, (wonder where he gets that?) 50th for weight and head circumference. (Which is average). He weighs 26 pounds 4 ounces, and is 34.25" tall. No autism either. The doc said he's a model of perfect health. He really enjoyed the salt water aquarium in the lobby too.

Lights at City Creek.

Last night we took Skyler and Maizey down to see them turn the lights on at the City Creek mall.  It was pretty cool!  We were opposite of the big Santa crowd by the food court and it was like we had the place to ourselves!  The candy windows from the old ZCMI days are back.  The magical iPhone 5 didn't capture them too well through the glass though.  You'll just have to go downtown and see them for yourselves if you're in Utah.

A video that shows the FIRE in the fountain at City Creek.  (I didn't edit this and at the end Maizey dog jerks the leash resulting in unwanted motion, Sorry...)

iPhone didn't like the dark last night.  Altair and Skyler enjoying the candy windows.

All of what you see is candy!

This had candied lemon all over the beehive.  Real original, a beehive in Utah, the beehive state...

Looking down on the fountain.  Skyler was enthralled to see it!

The fountain is made by the same company that did the Belagio's in Las Vegas.  Notice the water is shooting as high as we are?

Ready...

For winter! I have 2 blades, 2 snowblowers, a front end loader, and a big rotary broom for the tractors. Can you tell I like to move snow? If for any reason those fail, I also have a shovel. Lets hope I don't have to use the shovel! :)

Thanks Grandma!

My Mom has had a shitty week. First, she was sick, then her car slid into a curb requiring a new wheel. To top it off, she hasn't been able to see Skyler because we didn't want him to get sick too. She did get him a new pair of monkey pajamas shown here. Thanks Mom!

Jumping!

On the bed!

This was last week when the weather was still nice.  Sigh...

Scooping Kix.

Skyler has figured out what to do with a skid steer.  Scoop up material!  In this case, it's Kix cereal.  His new favorite "finger food".

Sledding!

Skyler got to sled and I got to plow snow yesterday. No pics of plowing snow, sorry. Here's some of sledding though.

What we did yesterday...

And most likely today!
Still snowing. It's piling up pretty good now. Maybe Skyler and I will get some snowplow seat time today!

Waitin' for the storm.

Skyler sitting by the snowplow blade. He got to ride in the tractor cab when I drove out from the garage to attach the plow. It's currently snowing so my theory of having the plow on and it not snowing didn't pan out.

Cutting the maze and seeing a dry farm.

Note: I was going to post this yesterday but the previous night's excitement got the best of me.  Tuesday, Skyler and I went over to the corn maze here in West Jordan to combine it along with my good friend Ken.  Ken has the only combine around with a corn head and he cuts the maze every year.  Skyler was super excited and shouted "combine" the minute he saw the machine.  Sorry, no pics of us actually combining, I was too busy holding on to Skyler so he wouldn't go overboard.

He was so excited, he jumped out of the truck to see the combine!

"Let's go!"

The best part of the day was when I ran Ken out to a dry farm to get a grain truck.  This dry farm has been around for quite a while and the family that owns it leases the ground to another friend.  That friend has a TON of JD equipment!  It's kind of mind boggling to see so much vintage machinery that is still used!  The good news, I think I found a tire for Skyler's sandbox while we were out looking around. 

This is all I want for Christmas this year.  A JD 7020 in really great condition.  Even has the factory A/C!

JD 4320.  First turbocharged from the factory Deere.

JD 5020 with cab.  Not very many had cabs.

A second 5020!

JD 8430.

Notice all the machinery in the background.

Can you spot what's wrong with this picture?

I can remember this tractor being parked not too far from my parent's house when I was younger.

Wooo!! Hooo!!

Skyler may have a chance in this great nation after all! 

Look what I can do!

Skyler got my flip flops on the correct feet with socks on!

Shelling corn!

Yesterday, Altair got out the corn sheller to shell our dent corn we grew in the garden.  We'll grind it into corn flour to make tortillas, corn bread and other delicious items.  Skyler got in on the action and actually figured out how to make it work.  Such a smartie!

Just starting to turn the handle.

"This is easy!"

"The corn goes in here."

I cut his head off, but you can see how he's turning the handle.

Such concentration!

End result, shelled yellow corn!