Steam Show Staycation...

The first weekend in August is the annual Pioneer Steam Show in our town.  We always have a ton of fun as a family.  The last few years we have treated it as our vacation, or staycation.  We have found it exhausting to travel when you have little kids, especially infants.  When we come home we almost need a vacation from our vacation.  So, until our kids get a little older, this will be the vacation spot for us.  We are grateful that our friends who set up camp for the whole weekend let us invade their space!  We cook, eat, visit, and enjoy the sights then head home for the evening to our air conditioned home with comfy beds only to wake up and do it again the next day!  We only live a couple miles from the show! 

During the show I do have to throw in a couple hours of work as the sorority that I am in is in charge of parking cars.  Last year I pulled the pregnancy card.  It was hot last year!  Like 95+ degrees!!!  This year I had to do my part with a little help...

Banner the baby whisperer...

While we were walking around the flea markets Jody lost her pacifier.  Luckily she fell asleep without it!

It was hot in those flea markets so ice cream was a must!

Sleeping baby and ice cream cones, perfect!  Now time for a cruise...

Time for the parade with cousins...

The lineup...

Love these two together...

Trust me, Brad was happy, but it was hot and the parade line seemed to move so slow!!!

Jo did great.  I was prepared to hop off the wagon at any moment with her.  This was post losing the pacifier, so I didn't think she would last.  Give the girl a package of Mum-Mums and she is good to go!

On Friday and Saturday evenings they have a spark show...

What do you do when you forget the keys to the camper?  Stick a 7-year old through the window;)..

These tractors are my favorite!  Always have been.  No, I'm not talking about the color.  They are called High Crop tractors...

I told Brad all I want for Christmas is a High Crop tractor.  He said they are very expensive so I guess I shouldn't hold my breath.

We are already looking forward to next year!!

Wordless Wednesday: A Staycation...

Well this Wordless Wednesday will probably qualify as a Wordful Wednesday.

This past weekend we enjoyed a staycation.

Brad, the girls and I went to our towns annual Pioneer Engineers Club Steam and Tractor Show.

 We go every year.  It is a 4 day event, but for us it turns into a week long event.  People from all over the country come to our small town for the show.  I had to park cars for my sorority on Thursday and Friday morning.  I saw license plates from Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ontario, Texas...and of course Indiana.
It is only about 2 miles from our house.
Our good friends have a campsite at the show, so we load up our RTV with food and head on over to enjoy the four day event.  We are able to "camp" yet come home and sleep in our own beds and take a hot shower.

 Shoes are optional...

 This tractor belonged to Brad's great grandfather...

 Brad would love to have a collection of toys like this one...

 Grading...

Chopping silage...

 Threshing which separates the grain from the stalk.  Today combines perform this task...

 Plowing...

 They have a working saw mill...

 Brad's friend Dylan works in the saw mill.  He and his wife have the camp site.
Hi Dylan!...

 They had kid's games including tug-of-war...

 B helping the girls stop the tractor..

 Another game was Coins In the Straw...

 It's pretty simple.  Find coins in the straw and you get to keep them.

B found 2 quarters and a dime...

In the evening we enjoyed food and fun with friends.

 When my dad used to take me to take me to the show they used to have a tractor like this.  I'm not sure if it is the same one.  My dad could probably tell you if it is or isn't.  I was always so amazed by it.  It seemed huge.  While it is still big, it doesn't seem as big as it used to.

 When the sun went down, the crowd was entertained by a sparks show...

 Back in the day, after a long day of threshing people would do this to celebrate the end of the threshing season.

This could have been one of the most relaxing vacations I have taken.  No extensive packing.  Just what you need for the day.  You get to sleep in your own bed.  And you get to see people that you may only see once a year!

I also ran into my bloggy pal Liz which was an added bonus for the weekend.  She and her hubby came to our little old town to camp and enjoy the show.  I hope you guys had a good time!

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