The John Deere Pavilion

On our way to Ohio we took a side trip to Moline, Illinois to visit the John Deere Pavilion.  The Pavilion is kid oriented and age appropriate, unlike the factory and museum in Waterloo Iowa.   We got a hotel across the street overlooking the Mississippi.

Timmy sat on every JD at least twice.

While we were there ducklings were being hatched.

There was a simulator for an excavator and a backhoe.

The kids got to hold the older ducklings.

Next door to the Pavilion is the store.  We spent gobs of Christmas money!

Lake Michigan

After Moline we skirted the southern portion of Chicago and stopped at Lake Michigan.  

The kids were excited to see the Great Lakes, a product of living so far from the ocean.

Industry down the beach.  We had the place pretty much to ourselves.

Ohio part I

While in Ohio we stayed with Dale and Liz, one of the things the kids were looking forward to was fishing.

We went fishing almost every day.

They decorated eggs in the basement and ...

...drove golf carts.

Notice anything missing?  An adult perhaps?  No one was injured.

And tractors, tractors had to be driven.

Ohio part II

While visiting Chad's brother we took a side trip to visit the Belgian horses.

There were 6 new colts to ooo and awww over.

Some needed some assistance in looking into the stalls.

The trophy room at Barhorst Belgians.

We enjoyed looking at the antique wagons.

Back at Jack and Annette's we visited with the goats and donkey.

Cuteness abounded.

This guy was begging for attention.  He is Aubrey's fair goat for this year.

Ohio part III

Jared, Nora and myself driving the golf cart.

Nora and her great-grandpa, Jr.

Chad and Tim driving the Gator.

That is the smile of a boy being allowed to steer a John Deere Gator.

I taught the kids how to play tennis with a quonset hut as a net.  

Jr. and his great-grand kids.

Living the dream, more and more tractors.

Nora visiting the ponies at Great-grandpa's.