... before summer *unofficially* comes to an end. Here on the Cape (and probably pretty much everywhere else, I guess), Labor Day weekend signals the "end" of summer, although there are still plenty of beach-worthy days through the end of the month (right, Shurk??). The kiddos are all back in school, the mornings are a bit crisper, traffic changes from *nightmarish* to "Dammit! I forgot this is a bus route at 7:45am!!".
Every Labor Day weekend, we try to get in a visit with my grandparents. We were lucky to have been able to make the 2 hour trip this year with time to spare before the babe arrives (I think if the trip would have come in two weeks, I would have been wayyyyyyyyyyy grumpy and uncomfortable).
After a quick stop at the pediatrician to check out Griffin's ears (diagnosis: double ear infections...) and my 36-week visit at the doctor on Friday, we headed out bright and early Saturday morning. Our first stop? The Spencer Fair.
My Uncle Ken (who is really my father's uncle) is the "chicken guy" at the fair. He raises chickens and pigeons and some other birds, but we are always super happy to see him at the fair with his crate of baby chicks and incubator full of hatchlings. Griff is a *huge* fan and quickly made friends with this little guy. The chicks were a few days older than they usually are during fair season, so their wing feathers were begining to take shape, which was SO stinkin' cute ;)
... and of course my son HAD to partake in some insanely ridiculous ride....
Bumper cars with Bobio...
and a few other rides thrown in for good measure :)
We also played a few games....
... and watched a bit of the tractor pulls (which is THE reason my dad goes to the fair).
This tractor is OLD. My father is 62 years old, and remembers being about 17 when he was engaging in some roadside shenanigans on a Friday night when his car got stuck in a ditch ;) The next day, it was THIS tractor that pulled his car out of said ditch. On Saturday, it was still able to pull 14,000 pounds of concrete blocks during the pull. Isn't that cool?!?!
By the end of our fair-going, I was pretty wiped out, and forgot about my camera for the rest of the day. Although there's no pictures to help illustrate the story, we were still able to hit up Brookfield Orchard, where the apple-picking is not yet in full swing. We did score a delicious apple pie and fresh cheddar cheese, though... and Bobio brought home some sweet onion relish.
In the evening we had dinner with my grandparents' at my Uncle Bill's house with his fiancee, Debbie. Don't tell Deb, but Uncle Bill is throwing her a surprise birthday party next weekend ;) Deb was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago and is pretty much confined to her wheelchair now. Even through all the adversity, you couldn't imagine an happier person than her. Why waste time feeling sorry for yourself, when there is still plenty of life to live?? She amazes me, as does my Uncle Bill's devotion and dedication to caring for her in every possible way. Their love for one another is unlike any I have seen, given the adversity they have faced. While at some points it completely tears me up inside to watch them and know that their days together are numbered fewer than they should be, it gives me unbelievable hope for my own future. Knowing that I have someone to share my life with who has promised to stick with me through thick and thin makes me look forward to every day :)
Sunday morning we headed home, with a pit stop at KP and Natasha's to do a little preparation and grocery shopping for them before they returned from their "adventure" in Yellowstone. Yes, it was certainly an "adventure", and I can't wait to see them. Here's to hoping your travels went well, and that you are able to relax a little bit now that you are finally home!!!
So now it is Monday. Bobio has headed out for a day of RC car driving with his brother. Griff is in the shower, I'm on my second load of laundry then headed for a shower myself. Griff and I are going out for some shopping with my mom, as I've begun (again) to panic a little and think that there are a million things to do before the Bean arrives. Off to Target we go for batteries, tank tops, and dryer sheets ;)
Happy Monday, everyone! I hope your "last hoorah" is a good one, too!
yea yea yea... plenty of beach days left blah blah blah ;) is it summer 2010 yet?? ;)
Posted by: jenn shurkus | September 07, 2009 at 10:32 PM