Lady Ranger Big Reveal (Pic Heavy!!)

[whfan74 2,066]

Well the big day has come and it really was an exciting time for me and my daughter.

Every Friday in her Kindergarten class they have a show and tell time. They have the students bring in items according to what letter of the alphabet that they have worked on during the week as a theme. My wife wrote the letters out on the calendar and a couple of weeks ago I noticed that we were getting closer to the letter "T" I thought well this might be fun to be able to see your tractor for the first time and share it with all of the kids in your class as well.

Well I took the day off as the babysitter was out of town who normally watches my little boy during the day. I took him to preschool this morning, went and did some errands, stopped out at the barn and did a few quick things, and then headed back to get my little boy. We headed back to the barn and I started working on the tractor some more. Everything is not done on the tractor but it was close enough. It was a mad scramble for the last hour I had before I needed to load it up and head to school. I do not have the ignition switch in yet, along with the wiring for it. I knew 5 and 6 year olds wouldn't know the difference, so it was no big deal.

I was starting to worry as it was spitting rain and snow all morning. I really didn't want to set it outside and have the kids freezing just to see it. So since a Lawn Ranger goes easily through a standard door, I started thinking. I actually unloaded it in the back of the school and rolled it in by the custodial office and my gymnasium. I had it just inside the doors out of sight from the majority of kids at school.

I went in to the office and saw her teacher and said that I was all ready. She was very supportive and excited for the kids to see it. So I walked down and found my wife, she is a teacher in the same building also, and brought her down to see it. We then walked down together to get my little girl, Addison, and brought her down before the rest of the kids so we could enjoy it as a family first. She absolutely loved it and it seemed that it was a little overwhelming to her as she was trying to take it all in. I didn't know how she would react when she saw it. She was happy but like I said........a little overwhelmed and didn't know what to think.

A few minutes later her class came down as well as another kindergarten class. She had the neat opportunity to sit on the tractor as the kids gathered around. The kids had a question/answer time and I was suprised on how much my daughter picked up. She really made her dad proud. When the kids were asking her questions I could see the excitement come out a little more as she soon became a "rock star" with the kids in her class.

We spent probably about 20 minutes gathered around the tractor and the kids asked me questions about it as well. The other teachers really got in to it as well and were very intrigued and asked me plenty of questions about it. It was fun for the whole family and a day I will never forget.

I loaded it back up and made a detour over to our powder coater and showed him and his wife. I thanked them for the huge part they had in making this a great project and how the color came out better than expected.

I headed back to the barn, unloaded it, and attached a little fun accessory to suprise her with when she got there from school. She screamed with delight! This dad had tears in his eyes and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.............wait a minute, I will be as the 500 Special is getting torn down soon for my little boy!

Thanks so much to Gene H. our powder coater, Terry (the Vinylguy) for the custom decals, Gene Simpson (Gene_S) for the awesome seat cover and seat pan, Stephen Jones (Rollerman) for the steering wheel, Vic McNeal for the replacement motor, my wife for putting up with me being gone late nights working on this, and most importantly to my dad who allowed me to do this while giving me little pointers along the way. He knew how important it was to me to do this on my own.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Just a quick reminder of where we started...........

Here is my favorite little girl sitting on her tractor for the first time..........

Sitting on that seat proudly in front of her class ready to answer any question thrown at her.......

Letting her classmates walk around the tractor as she answers some more questions............

A great photo of the belt guard decal..........we all know how talented Terry really is!

Some random shots in the school hallway!

Painted the front letters to match the decals, rims, and motor..........

Back at the barn and added the suprise for my little girl............

Now finally, here is why I did what I did!!!!!

[AMC RULES 37,132]

:text-goodpost: Very sweet story Scott, almost makes me sorry for busting you stones so much.

Ahhh, then again...

[Indy w h 5]

It looks great Scott!!!!!!

[Fun Engineer 859]

Nice job Scott.

[illinilefttackle 399]

Great Story Scott- you certainly have your priorities in life in the right order. Take it from an old guy-these are the memories that color your life in your elder years-Good job!-Al

[Martin 2,132]

awesome pics and story, scott.....

i bet she (and you too...) remembers this day for quite awhile.. :thumbs:

[kpinnc 12,136]

I have been looking forward to this. What a story you have here Scott! This will be something your daughter never forgets, and I'm sure you won't either.

And you've done an awesome job on the restore as well. Tractor AND trailer? How cool is that??? :eusa-clap:

[dclarke 4,032]

That is Soooooo cool. Great job DAD!! :bow-blue:

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

It turned out great Scott! She looks really happy with it. Definately a great way to reveal it. Jake

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,348]

Looks awsome Scott!! That last picture says it all, the way she is hanging onto your arm with a smile!

Nice job .

Mike........

PS...wonder how many kids went home and asked their parents where their tractor is .

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,294]

There is no better feeling then when things come together so perfectly, a well orchestrated plan. But even better is what's shown in the last picture, she's your little girl forever no matter how old she gets. Thanks for sharing, and for the record, I like the Pink tractor!

[kpinnc 12,136]

and for the record, I like the Pink tractor!

Ditto! Never been a fan of different colors, but that one looks GREAT!

[1maidenfan 202]

A lawn ranger rebuild = $$$

Surprise reveal = :)

Father and daughter memories = PRICELESS.

Wow gotta hand it to ya Scott thats one great sight.

John

[Wheel Crazy 23]

Great Job!!!! Neat tractor!! That is one heck of a thing to bring in for show and tell!! :thumbs2:

[Brrly1 1,146]

Scott, Great looking tractor! She has to be the happiest little girl in the world. She is on cloud nine. I also want you to know that I am available for adoption.

[gwgdog66 23]

That looks like one proud little gal right there!

[bowtiebutler956 650]

That's awesome, you did a great thing for your daughter. Good job!!!!!!!!

[Matt71 6]

Ive gotta say this is one of the best posts ive seen in this forum so far!!!!! There's nothing like creating memory's that will last a lifetime with your children, Awesome job on the tractor even better job making your little girl happy!!! Cool dad indeed.

[Paul D. 26]

That's an awesome thing that you did for your little girl. I let my wife read through it and I think she may have gotten a little emotional reading it. Maybe I can convince her to let me do one for each of our kids. Of course. I've got 3. ..Does that mean I get 3 more tractors to play with?

[Wheel-N-It 2,969]

Scott, doing a project like that makes you stand out as a Dad. Most any guy can throw money at his child, but what you have done here takes real character. You will one day be a terrific grandpa.

Van

[dobeleo 7]

Hi Scott, good job! Your a great dad! It brought a tear to my eye reading this!

Dan

Shorewood, IL

[massey 118]

Great story, thanks for sharing it with us. :handgestures-thumbupright:

[wheelhorse656 20]

scott Looks like you and your duaghter will have a special story to tell for years to come..... A+++++ work and an A+++++ smile to go with it! :thumbs:

[caseguy 2]

This was a fantastic journey that you've taken us all on! (read through the rest of the build threads recently) I for one am humbled by the effort that you put into this tractor for your Daughter. Great job and a perfect moment...You don't get too many of those!

[speedyleedy 205]

Great job Dad seems you made a little girl very happy ! :)