Fall clean up

Cleaning out the storage barn - 10-8-21

Marvin embarked on the huge task of cleaning out the storage barn.  Whew!  We had piled a lot of stuff in there over the last several years!  He got it all done and wow, it looks nice in there now!  The gravel was also reworked.  Jackson used the tractor to grade and level out the surface then added new gravel where needed.  The ground level was two different grades because we had to dig some out back when we first put the Jayco in the storage barn.  (the Jayco was a little bit too tall and we discovered that after we have purchased it! ha!)  Side note - here is a link to the 'famous' video I took the very first time we backed that camper into the storage barn.  You can tell from my exclamations that I really didn't believe it could work out well!  ha!  (and I had no idea I was exclaiming so much while taking that video until I heard it myself!)  :D 

At one point I looked out and spotted Marvin pretending to be a horse with the spring wagon.  ;)  Actually, he was moving it from the storage barn to our front yard - and of course didn't ask for any help.  The boys were both gone so I ran out there and pushed from behind.  

We are going to leave it in the front yard as decoration.  It is kind of like pulling out the fine china... no sense saving this for some future date.  We don't have the full Haflinger team anymore (since Bob died) and we really don't hitch horses anymore.  So why not put it on display?  I have always loved this spring wagon, especially.  It was on display for both Anna & Matthew's and Jackson & Brianna's weddings and has taken part in other special events.  So it has meaning and is so pretty.  I like it in the front yard and am so glad Marvin decided to do this. 

This was actually mid-way through the process... Marvin had the inside cleaned out and piles of items that were not going back in.  But Jackson had not yet done the gravel work.  I guess I didn't document that.  :D  Now it is all complete and the two campers are back inside where they belong.  With a lot more room everywhere in the barn.  

This old paddle boat holds a lot of memories, too.  :) 

Nicely done, Marvin!

Maverick - first week of October

Babysitting Maverick that first week of October... 

October 5, 6 and 9

I love the way Maverick twirls hair when he is sleepy.  Either his hair or your hair - he is okay with either.  :D 

There he is twirling hair again - a sure fire sign he is ready for a nap.  :)

Getting his boots on...

Ready to go!  

We had a couple surprises for Maverick on this day... kind of a Christmas in October, really.  We decided to give him some big presents now while he could really get good use out of them.  No sense in waiting until Christmas and weather that wouldn't cooperate with using these toys outside as much.  

The first gift was this trike that is actually a 3 in 1.  It is a tricycle that can be pushed by us - steered by us and him.  Then it can be a stand alone trike that he controls fully.  Then it can be adjusted to have the back wheels come together and the pedals (and foot rests) folded up - so it becomes a balance bike.  Pretty neat deal...

I think he liked it!

Hey Goose!  :D 

Then came the really exciting gift... a tractor of his very own!  This boy LOVES tractors and we knew he would enjoy having his own tractor to drive around.  :)  It is the entry level version - only a 6 volt battery - but he loves it!

His Dad was giving him the tour of the tractor and its features.  It took a bit to get the hang of how to make it 'go' with the foot pedal.  But he did eventually catch on!  And boy, was that exciting!  :) 

What a good Daddy... he is pressing the foot pedal with his hand to show Mav how to operate it.

Mav says "do I have to press it with my hand?"  ha!

Mav working the front end loader - making it go up and down.  

such a cutie!

A towel behind his back gives him just a bit more access to the 'gas' pedal.  Worked well!

By this point he was pretty tired and in need of a nap - and was just going back and forth between the two new toys.  :D 

I chuckled at his hat pulled down so low over his eyes... how could he see?  Jackson assured me that Mav prefers it that way sometimes.  Sure enough, Jackson raised it up and Mav immediately pulled it back down.  So there, Grandma!  :D  

We watched him on the 9th, as well.  He wasn't feeling up to par on this day, so we took things a bit quieter.  He and Goose were watching each other through the sliding glass door.  :) 

Maverick had gotten a 'good attitude haircut' between Wednesday and Saturday.  :)  His daddy just shaved it all in a buzz cut.  He looks cute but it took a minute to get used to him without all his hair!  :D 

Mav's tummy was bothering him so I made him a bowl of cream of wheat.  He liked it - that is always comfort food. 

You can see all the photos of Maverick from the month of October at this link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157720180384493