Labor Day Traditions

Historically the long Labor Day weekend is spent at the beach with the whole FamDamnLy. We walk, talk, eat, drink and be merry. We take time to be lazy and lay around (or is it lie around?) and we put effort into finishing up the fun projects and must-do maintenance that should be completed before winter.

I don't have a good digital photo library before 2011 (that is a personal winter project of mine) but here are some random Labor Day photos I have:

From 2007

That little bear on the stump has lived in all sorts of nooks and crannies at the beach. Currently he is on top of the old wood stove - he was inside but he scared Henry too much so Grandma moved him on top. Grandma loves all animals :)

Always put together and looking good!

Love the hair - wish it were mine!!

The two most photogenic people in the family.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. What can I say but funny :)

Look at all the changes in this picture! I can find 4 right off the bat. How many can you find?

Some things never change - here we see papa and grandpa enjoying a beer, some late afternoon sunshine and I'm sure a lie or two :) 
Take note of where the chairs are located!

Have you ever eaten dinner at this table without candles or flowers. Nope. Never!

The clock is telling a true story. 10 or even 11 (!) was our normal, every single night dinner time. We've moved it closer to 8:00 and we are even trying to get closer to 7:00. Who ever would have thought :)

From 2008
(Slim pickings. Only these two from Labor Day weekend)

Grandma and Grandpa at their happy place

Grandma trying on my glasses. They looked waaaaaaay better on her than me. I detested those glasses :)

From 2009
Holy Moly. Not one pic from Labor Day.

I have tons of photos but they are all from July and August. So here are a couple from just before Labor Day in 2009 :)

Family Photo July 2009 (only missing Shannon)

Walking to Wilson Creek August 2009

Our Favorite Aunt Jody visiting in August of 2009

Grandpa relaxing in his favorite chair August 2009

Grandma making breakfast August 2009

From 2010

Grandma's Moon Over Vashon

Grandma and Grandpa - once again - at their happy place! 

Looks like a cold September night so the girls huddled around the fire for warmth!

Looking at the tide table to plan the morning walk

I think Shannon has spent more birthdays at the beach than not. It is also her happy place so all is good - plus she could get Aunt Glenna's famous ice cream cake - everybody's favorite! I see we are having salmon for dinner - any chance one of us caught it? Not :)

Labor Day weekend 2010 is when the wood stove fell apart. We couldn't have a fire so Shannon lined what was left of the wood stove with foil and filled it with candles to make us fell toasty warm...even if we really weren't warm the ambiance was perfect.

Please note what Grandpa is doing in this photo. He really wanted to watch the news this particular night. We had WiFi access courtesy of our neighbors (gosh, I miss that a LOT) so Shannon set Grandpa up with a nightly news program on her laptop along with her earphones. He enjoyed a couple hours of TV and we all chuckled at how far we had come since the days of rabbit ears and 4 channels! 

From 2011

This Labor Day was different from past years. The usual attendees were not there - but some new ones took their place. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jody, Glenna, Tyler, Jocelyn, Hailey, John, me - and of course Henry and Drake (the Bowen dogs) enjoyed 5 days of fabulous food, fun and games, family time, camp fire time and lots of ongoing projects.

The biggest difference this year was in the focus. It wasn't so much about preparing the place for the winter to come - but more about living in the moment, enjoying the company and glorious sunshine, and making time to visit, talk and listen.

I'll tell that story (with lots of great pictures!) in my next post.