Sorry the above picture is so small.  It was taken with my cell phone the other night when I was outside watching Nathan have his first lawn mower lesson!  Evidently, the older kids have noticed we’ve been “babying” Nathan.  Josh reminded us that he started driving the riding lawn mower when he was 6.  Nathan just turned 7 so it’s time, I suppose, to start teaching our youngest child about lawn mowing.  Don’t worry he won’t actually “mow” the lawn or even engage the mower just yet.  For now he just drives it around in first gear ALL DAY LONG!  That was the first day.

On the second day he learned how to hook up this little trailer and tie down his load!  He’s been practicing with his “toys” for a number of years so he caught on VERY QUICKLY and now he’s been hauling his equipment all over our property to various job sites.

Here he is up on top of the trailer unstrapping his load so he can unload the tractor.

He even has these little ramps for the trailer so he can drive his tractor up and down.  It’s really great practice for when he’s old enough to start helping Tim and Josh.  Stay tuned for future driving lessons when Nathan learns how to back up this trailer!  Josh set up a practice course for Nathan where he can learn to back up inbetween trucks or trailers. 

Nathan’s not the only getting some driving lessons! 

It was about time Emily learned how to drive a stick shift because the next time we go to Europe (only mentioned because it’s the last time I *had* to drive a stick) hopefully one of the girls will be driving ME around and I’ll be the one sitting back enjoying the countryside!  Ok, so that might not happen anytime soon, but it’s STILL time for Emily to learn how to drive a stick shift.  Look at her enthusiastic smile!  Poor.  Em.  She said her legs were SO SHORT she practically had to stand up to push the clutch in all the way.

Josh doesn’t need to learn how to drive anything as he’s an old pro at driving a stick, backing up trailers, and securing loads, etc.  But, I wanted to include this picture of hin anyway. 

And, just for the fun of it I’ll post this picture of Amanda and since this post in regard to driving I’ll just mention that she’s had her driver’s license long enough now that she had to go in for her first renewal.  Her sweet sister just said, “She’s THAT old!”