Albert City/ Hobo Days and the following week

Friend Cindy came to visit with daughter Nora.


Sweater knit for Leah.  Laina is bigger than Leah was at this age. 


In Grandma's Durango on the way to Albert City.  Watching Alvin and the Chipmunks.









Hazel met us there and so did my old friends Susan and Jonette.  Sadly I didn't get a picture with them.


Leah in her overalls at Hobo Day parade.



Erik sitting with Kaylor and Kennadie Patras at the parade.  He was eating his candy during the whole parade.



Grandma beth came for lunch after the parade at Grandma Jills.


Erik LOVED playing in the rocks with Al's dumptruck.





Leah bit erik.  He was hiding toys from her or taking something away or pushing her, you pick.  This is like the dog shaming photos. except leah isn't shamed, she's triumphant!

Moline trip part 2

I like this picture.

You can see Leah did not want to get off the zero turn lawnmower. 


Buttons! I love buttons!

Saturday we drove to Dixon, Ill to the John Deere historic home.  Mr. Deere built the first successful plow here.

There were lots of bees behind erik in the wildflowers.  I didn't tell erik...

They were having a festival at the historic site.  It was Green Steel Days. It was basically a tractor show.



Leah got a new chair.  We found out how valuable a high chair is when you are out and about.  We had a picnic at a park in dyersville on Friday and leah fell off the picnic bench 2 times (in like 3 minutes).  She ended up with a bloody nose and a bruised lip.  She was holding a can opener and I think that is what hurt her lip/nose.  Anyway we finally bought this portable high chair that clips on the table or straps to a chair when she gets older. 


Can you spot erik?  We got up before the kids did and went to check to see how erik was doing.  Luke didn't see him in the bed until he moved the covers.  His head and shoulders are under the pillow on the right.  Legs and midsection under the covers on the right.



John Deere everything-

Stopped in LeClaire- home of American Pickers! They were closed and we didn't have time to burn to wait for them to open.  LeClaire was just a few miles away from moline and we couldn't afford to stop our trip home so soon after starting it.

We did get someone to take our picture while the kids stayed in the car.

Was this their favorite John Deere?  Thanks for the ride Grandpa!

First 'vacation' since Erik was born- Moline, IL

The car is all packed.  We are still in the driveway.  4.5 hours to go.  Left Rochester at 930 ish and arrived to the hotel at about 5.

Stopped in Calmar near Decorah for a pee stop for Erik and milk for Laina.


The next stop was Dyersville Farm Toy Museum.  They had a play room and LOTS of toys.  Saw a Lindeman crawler tractor that was about 5 feet long by 3 feet tall and MADE of WOOD.  I didn't believe it, it looked like painted steel. It was in glass, that was my favorite I think.


Leah was there too, she got out when we were on the second floor and walked around a bit.



Here is our hotel.  There were 2 rooms in our suite (thankgoodness).  A huge couch/dining area and then through french doors a bed/closet/bathroom.  The kids played in the cupboards together. 


Here is the John Deere Pavillion.  It was free, I'd compare it to an expo/ kids museum.  They had huge and unusual vehicles that the kids can all play in safely. 

There were 2 fellerbunchers. One was a concept vehicle that had legs like a spider or a mars rover vehicle.






Here is the concept vehicle.  They had audio and video descriptions about it.  Very cool.


Luke and Erik are in a simulator of a back hoe.  Luke did a good job, but still caused damage to the vehicle.


Erik playing side by side with some fellow john deere fans.


Laina was there also, she was a good girl and slept.

Leah got out and LOVED the tractors too- we were surprised.  She really fussed when we took her out, she kept fussing until we went in another vehicle.