The Fair ~ Fun, Food and Friendship

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Thanks to a menacing sky and a torrential downpour (that lasted just long enough for us to change our plans) we missed our opportunity to visit the local county fair this summer.  I was eager to take C. through the barns and to sink my still-craving-sweets-like-crazy teeth into the soft, sugary goodness of a fresh elephant ear. 

So, I was beyond thrilled when we arrived in the U.P. for the holiday weekend when we were invited to the fair by my mother-in-law and niece.  With Seneca in the sling and Calder in the stroller we made our rounds.

First the “birds” – but only from a distance.  He sure tried climbing out of his stroller when Grandma wheeled him a tad too close!

Hey Chick!

Then the cows…which he really liked

Moo Cow

The sheep were cute and many came up to the gates to get some lovin’.

Sheep

There were a couple pig barns, and surprisingly they really weren’t that stinky!  I stuck my camera over the side of the pen for this shot.  Is it just me, or do they look like they’re smiling?  I figured this image was better than the other one I took of a pig – **wink, wink, Mom!**

Snuggly Piggies

After a short stop for a hot dog, we made it to the rides.  They sure look like a lot of fun, but we were pushing our luck as it was nap time.  Factor in the snuggling newborn and a very vivid memory of nearly losing my brother from a high-flying fair ride many moons ago and I wasn’t about to purchase any tickets.  Maybe some kiddie rides next year…maybe.

Loop Plane

As if I thought he’d turn down fried dough topped with cinnamon and sugar.  He was working his “more” sign to the bone for a few minutes.  The three of us enjoyed sharing the monstrous confection.  That is, until the wind caught the paper plate and sent the last bits of it showering over Calder. 

Elephant Ears

As Mom and I headed home with the kids, K. left with her friends to hang out for an hour or so.  I can’t believe that she’s already in middle school.  It seriously feels like yesterday that my friends and I were walking arm in arm around the fair, running down the halls and hanging out at bonfires. 

Buddies

Wander over to Stacey’s to see more Theme Thursday!

Just like Dad

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I’ve always been a pack rat, saving ticket stubs, boarding passes and other momentos that tell “my story” – even if they end up packed in storage tubs or tucked away in dresser drawers and jewlery boxes.  When Garth’s folks came to visit Seneca, they brought alone a large portfolio envelope that housed several works of art from Garth’s childhood.  (I’ll try to snap a few pics of my favorites from the collection!)

Then, a couple weeks later, we made our way northward to visit them in the U.P. and Mom excitedly said she had a shirt for Calder, and she pulled out this…

Daddy's Shirt

Perfectly frayed along the bottom and somewhat thin, my heirloom-loving heart soared at the sight.  Here’s the story as I understand it.  Sometime when Garth himself was a wee one, he was given the nickname of Garfo Q. Tucket (I believe by Grandpa) and it stuck enough that he was given his own special shirt.  Now, it’s not something that he’s called on a daily basis…but it does have a nice ring to it, don’t ya think?

Watching Calder toddle away in his daddy’s shirt gave me that little lump in my throat and made my eyes tingle.  It also challenged me to keep track of a few treasured items (blankie?) as the years fly by…

BSM ~ Chicken Phone

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So we survived our first week of Dad being back to work.  Honestly, it went far better than I anticipated, except that they were extremely l-o-n-g days!  It didn’t help that Garth had late practice last week, so he wasn’t home until after 7 each night. 

With more time at home, and less time spent engaged in conversation with other adults, I’m finding that I have just as many (if not more) pictures I have taken, but far less (read: zip, zero, zilch) time to actually process and post them.

Here’s a series from a couple weeks ago that makes me laugh every time!  For months now, Calder has used anything and everything as a phone – shoes, tub toys, plastic utensils…and yes…food!  In fact, food has become one of his all-time favorite mediums for this fascination.  We’ve had pancake phones, spaghetti phones…you name it!

The hilarious part is that he always starts his “conversations” on his “phones” with some version of “ummm,” followed by gibberish I wouldn’t begin to know how to type!

Here he is enjoying lunch as usual…

Chicken Phone 3

When he suddenly feels the need to employ the use of his “phone”…

Chicken Phone 2

Oops, it’s slipping…

Chicken Phone 1

This one, is definitely my best shot for today.  Not necessarily because it’s a great image, but because of the adorable smirk on his face.  Apparently his “chicken phone” is the best one yet…because it looks to be bluetooth capable!

Chicken Phone 4

While I can attest to the fact that it is indeed chicken in his ear, when I showed my cousin Jessie these pictures, she thought it looked like cauliflower.  Now that would have been too classic – “cauliflower ear.”

Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Mom C

It seems perfectly fitting that your birthday falls right at the beginning of the school year.  Your years spent as a teacher, elementary principal, and now school board member have taught you so much, and as I’m in the early stages of my teaching career, I love “talking shop” with you.

Yet, your teaching didn’t begin or end in the classroom.  Each day I spend with your son, I’m amazed by his kindness, thoughtfulness, attention to detail and his integrity to name a few of his exceptional qualities.  As part of your family, I’ve come to know that these are traits that are highly valued and that you (and Dad) have instilled in him over the years.

I’m so thankful to have been blessed to become part of such an amazing family, and to be able to call such a fabulous woman “Mom.”  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow as you come to visit!  I wish you a very happy birthday and a terrific year ahead!