Remember the many dog conversations in the movie UP! interrupted with, “Squirrel!” ? I laughed so hard because we have dogs and a plethora of squirrels here on the farm. Just the other day our dog jumped out of the back of a moving truck as my husband drove across the creek bridge. Why? There was a squirrel.

One dog we had dug a hole reaching halfway under our driveway trying to catch a burrowing squirrel. My in-laws have had vehicles torn apart when a squirrel seeking refuge from a dog climbed up into the engine.

What does all this have to do with tractors? I was outside talking with my boys when a tractor drove by. Immediately, as in mid-sentence, my three-year-old said, “Tractor!” All three boys’ heads pivoted toward the sound.

This obsession starts early.

Here my youngest is covering his eyes because if he doesn’t see Mom, he won’t have to leave the tractor.

I was only there to bring the boys some lunch, but the littlest cowboy sat  the furthest from me and wouldn’t leave his Dad’s side lest I take him away from the tractor.

I’m sure he was greatly relieved when Mom left so he and his brother could get back to work inside the tractor.