"the best field trip ever"

Trent is such a lucky kid!

Last Friday was the Wheeler Cat open house

and one of our favorite neighbors (Kevin) happens to work there,

and happens to be awesome,

and invited Trent & I.

Trent was pretty excited, nearly couldn't sleep, & came into my room at 8:00 and said

"hurry mom, we only have 2 hours to get there!"

We went straight into the machine shop & saw some HUGe engines!
this isn't even the biggest engine they make... amazing


I couldn't help but think my brother & dad would love this place-
both of them have a lot of machine shop experience.


We were so lucky to get a personal grand tour.


There was all kinds of stuff being worked on or refurbished in the shop.


Trent was fascinated & paid attention so intently.


The wheels on these big trucks are HUGE.


Look at this, this big black thing - it's a radiator- can you believe that?


This photo is for my brother- cool machine shop stuff- huh!?


We saw this big boy from a distance & were lucky enough to get a closer look.


This is a 24,000 ton bed of a dump truck.

Trent loved it.

Here is the type of scoop that dumps dirt in a big ol' dump truck like that one.

I wish I could remember more of the information we got from Kevin.

He was full of facts & knowledge- I can't even begin to tell you how great he was!

This machine keeps the dirt roads smooth so that the big tires don't wear out faster than they need to- those tires are big bucks. $$$

this was an inside & outside tour.

Climbing on things-- and even a rides were aloud!

Trent was in big, boy, yellow, iron heaven....

then...

they told him he could have a ride in a dump truck!

and sit in a highway paver

Plus-- turn it on & play with the controls...

I think it was this-

a new Hat- that got him off the machinery, barely.

not to mention a backpack of goodies!

and lunch too!

Before we left we took a tour of the wearhouse

and a big ol' room of tool boxes.

all of these rows of shelves are parts- & tools

amazingly organized!

Trent asked- what would happen if you rode on the conveyer belt-

kevin said- I'd get fired...

It was a GREAT day

thanks for the best field trip ever Kevin!

You made this kids - day- week, maybe even summer!