Redneck Paradise

We live in rural country.  I pass a person in a buggy pulled by a horse daily.  There are some definitely some drawbacks to this life.... fewer concerts, fewer opportunities for culture, fewer clubs, fewer dating opportunities, - let's just say this is not the happening place for a single 20 something.

But, I'm not 20.  I'm in my early 30's, and I have a family now.  This is a cool place to raise a family.   There are quiet streets.  There are families who offer food and shelter to other people in need.  We have hometown fireworks.  Kids can still ride their bike in the street.  Mom and pop restaurants still exist, and you can still get 2 eggs over easy with toast for $2.99.

You can still go to a little campground and see a tractor show.  My kids thought it was awesome.  We saw animals, tractors, steam engines, and played in a sandbox. What more could a person ask for?

Welcome to Redneck Paradise.....

 Twins
~ I love that that they love to be together ~

Riding the Tractor together.

We put on our ball hats for the occasion.

Yes, Addison's is Dora and pink and sparkles

Yes, Andrew's is a Car's hat... and he fits right in at the tractor show.

Andrew "driving" the tractor. 

My parents divorced when I was 11.  I remember really driving a tractor for years before their divorce.

In our place of rural America... People still let their 5 or 6 or 7 year olds drive tractors.  No kidding. 

 This look says it all, "Look at ME Mommy!"
"I want to be BIG..."

"I want to Do it Myself!"

This girl ~ She wants to do everything Andrew does. 

The problem is, she doesn't really like the same things Andrew does.

More often than not - she will get up to do something and immediately whine to get down. 

But she tries.  What more can you ask for?

Even Alexander tries.

Heading over to the Steam Engine... My cousin owns one.

This currently makes him the coolest cousin on the block.

If my kids run away - first place I'm looking is his house.

My cousin's wife showing Andrew all the parts of the Steam Engine.

He was so in awe of everything.  And she was so patient - to teach all the kids.

 Then she went through the entire thing again for Addison. 

Unbelievably sweet....

My dad made sure Alexander got a chance to "drive" the steam engine too.

When he is older, he will be able to tell everyone, "I've been doing it since..."

By the way, I LOVE that my dad is a proud Pappy.  

Addison is always the one.  This is the face you never can really tell...

Is she going to go dump sand on someone's head?

Is she going to run away?

Is she going to tell me, "No?"

Or... is she going to go hug her brother?



Hug her brother it is. 

And away she runs, before I can even get a shot of it.

She just wanted to make sure "little buddy" was included.

The final awesome event of the day - sand.  What did kids do before sandboxes were invented?

Daddy's girl.

The end of  a long day.

Paradise

Redneck Paradise