The All American Boy

A friend of ours is moving into a much, much smaller home and is selling off stuff. Lots of stuff. We helped her out by taking some of the stuff off her hands. While we were there making decisions on exactly what we needed and what we could live without, Luke spied a wagon. Not just any wagon, mind you. It was an industrial, king-sized wagon extraordinaire. Truly, a little boy's dream. (Actually, it is a concrete mixing bin on a wagon wheel base, but Luke doesn't care.)

Luke asked our friend how much she wanted for that. Knowing that it wasn't worth a whole lot on the Craigslist market, she said, "how about $5?" Luke was crestfallen. That was just a dollar more than he had with him. Our dear friend thought for a moment and said, "if it's okay with your parents, you can have it for free."

Luke was in little boy wagon owning heaven.

On the ride home he made plans for his wagon. Big plans. Boy plans. Entrepreneurial plans. He would use his free wagon to make money with. That wagon could be commissioned to clean the pony stable, or the dog kennel, or pick up sticks in the yard, or haul rocks. He could make all kinds of money with that free wagon. It would be awesome.


(At risk of interrupting the flow of your train of thought, I love this picture. Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus as the sun shines down from heaven on The Wagon?)

While the thrill of the free wagon and it's potential to make money was still fresh in his mind, I put him to work. I was a slacker and did not clean out the garden at the end of the season last year. We did that together, Luke and I and his wagon.


And then we hauled the dried vegetation to the furnace. That was fun, too. The kids have inherited my love of burning things.



It was truly a win-win. You can never go wrong when your kid is happy to help with chores because of a free new toy.

14 comments:

Krista said...

I need a money making wagon....hmmm....there's an idea for a twisted tale! Nice that it would come in handy for you and your garden.

the planet of janet said...

i love getting free labor out of a thing like this!

Brandie said...

That is a nice wagon. I can see why he'd like it.
I also love the outdoor furnace. Haven't been able to talk my husband into one yet, though. He's probably waiting until we're done having babies so he can put me in charge of it. Hmmm.

Michelle said...

Oh I love it! That's so cool.

So ummm what are you supposed to do to celar out your garden? I haven't done ANYthing. Oops?

justmylife said...

Was it free labor or was it his first paying job? Because free labor rocks, but to make his first real money with his new money making toy....Hum that would be a hard call.

Karen said...

So much adventure to be had with that wagon. I love the pictures.

Cecily R said...

That totally ROCKS! I need a free toy that makes me want to do the dishes and clean the toilets. No? Not going to happen? Darn!!

Oh, I really like the shots you took of this little adventure!!

The Sports Mama said...

Has he figured out yet that it also makes an awesome "How many ways can I embarrass my sister by piling it high with all of her stuff and pulling it around when her friends are over" wagon? Or that it will also make a phenomenal way to take Josh or Micah with him on the very first ever test run of his homemade rollercoaster?

No? Just wait.....

Cheffie-Mom said...

What a wonderful wagon! Love the pictures!

SunflowerStories said...

Cool wagon! Perfect for your terain.

CC said...

Free labor = awesome

caramama said...

A boy and his wagon. That's awesome! And works out great for you!

As a side note, Luke needs to learn how to bargain! Certainly the crestfallen boy's face works now and on that friend, but at other yard sales or flea markets? You've got to negotiate! (I totally can't do it well, so I make my MIL or hubby do it for me!)

HalfAsstic.com said...

It's so sad that a new vacuum cleaner won't get the same reaction! ;-)

KG said...

Wagons are totally hawt. We had to leave Sumo's Down South at Granilla's because it wouldn't fit in the Mad Max Mobile. But I have to get him another one.