The kids and I brought Chad lunch at the lot today, and after lunch Chad asked Jamison if he would like to learn to drive the skidsteer. Unlike Joshua, Jay has never had much interest in machines. While he is truly not a "motorhead", he is a kid who likes to do things really, really well. Since his Dad runs equipment really, really well (and has been known to tell stories about the trials of new employees learning to run equipment) - attempting to run a skidsteer has been a little intimidating for Jamison.
However, when Joshua heard Chad ask Jay to run skidder, he decided it was time to "take his big brother under his wing" and show him exactly how to run the machine. Joshua scrambled out of my van with Jamison in tow. He instructed his big brother on how to start the skidder and exactly which joy stick did what. (I am not exaggerating here! Chad stood next to the van and watched with the funniest combination of pride and fear written all over his face. On one hand he was THRILLED! On the other, he was TERRIFIED! Our 4-year-old was teaching our 14-year-old how to operate a nearly new skidsteer!)
It was certainly a moment I will never forget!
Anyway, Chad let Joshua boss his big bro around for a while, and then he had mercy on Jay and got the little guy out of the skidsteer. Joshua totally knows how to operate it, but because he is 4, his motor skills are really jerky and it is a rough ride!
Joshua's tutorial totally broke the ice though! Jay was off and running in no time. In fact he spent about 4.5 hours helping Chad move dirt today!
He even confessed that it is pretty easy and fun to operate!
Joshua was not impressed when he was kicked out of the skidsteer, so Chad decided that our little man should teach his momma how to drive the packer. Oh MY! It was funny!
We will leave it at that!
It did not take long before Joshua and Brenna were both riding in the backhoe with their daddy. He is a much more entertaining driver than I am!
I had a moment of sheer gratitude today.
I have had doubts about this build. I am worried about the country location and having to play momma-taxi more. I have worried about the finances. I have worried about the time we will live in the camper. Don't get me wrong, I am excited too!
But today, I was completely totally grateful for the opportunities this build will allow our family.
Chad LOVES construction.
He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES operating equipment.
The commercial job sites we usually work at do not allow for opportunities for him to teach our kids much about what he loves. But THIS JOB SITE, does!
He was so thrilled today to have Jamison moving dirt alongside of him.
It was a precious time.
Jay in the skidder.
Chad in the 'hoe with Brenna and Joshua riding shotgun.
A precious time!
For some people, this would be a stressful interruption to that precious time -
Jay got the skidsteer stuck!
But it did not interrupt Chad's day.
He quite frankly LOVED it!
(Because when you play in the dirt, sooner or later you are gonna get stuck!)
Pictured above, Chad is pushing Jay out with a BIG grin on his face.
This is how Chad is hauling dirt in -
one
load
at
a
time!
He is up to 53 loads.
And this is how it looks!
The house and garage floors are pretty much completely filled.
However, since we raised the house,
we also have to raise the yard.
Which means, he has about 50 loads of dirt yet to haul.
Guess I know where my husband will be for the next few evenings!
