Labor Day Birthday Celebration

I don't know about anybody else, but it's always hard for me to find any reason to celebrate Labor Day. I'll admit to it being a little better since it no longer means my family going back to school. When Jim was teaching and the girls were in school, I just dreaded Labor Day. Even though the girls were always ready to get back to school, their friends and their routines and Jim's return to teaching meant regular paychecks, I still hated to see it come.

I was one of those Moms who loved my kids being home. I always looked forward to school vacations. It meant sleeping later, leisurely breakfasts and hanging out with the girls and Jim. Of course, after I went to work, that changed a little but thanks to a very flexible schedule (I was after all, the maker of the schedule) I usually managed to have time at home with them. And summer, well summer was just a wonderful time. All during elementary school, we found plenty of ways to fritter away our summer days. Jim usually painted houses and the girls and I, well we had lots of fun.

High school years found the girls working away at Circle C Ranch - that was hard at first. I really missed them. It was easier after I went back to work, but still I missed them. Somehow Jim and I managed to get through those summers and have lots of fun together. Most of their college years found them working around here so we, once again, had lots of leisure time together. We usually managed to have a family vacation during that time. I think one of the best summers was when they both worked around home and we celebrated Christmas in July with totally useless gifts from the Dollar Store. That summer, the girls decided to write a musical, believe it or not, to the music of ABBA. I think theirs was much funnier than Mama Mia.

Okay, so where is all the summer nostalgia leading? Back to my not particularly loving Labor Day. I think in the depths of my soul I see it as a harbinger of WINTER. But this year, I was happy about Labor Day because Shelly was throwing a surprise party for Bruce's 60TH birthday. And did she ever surprise him. It was such fun.

Doesn't he look surprised. Shelly had invited friends, his children and granddaughter, and his sister and hubby for dinner at 5. No problem, so she thought. Except they were in their summer home in the mountains and he was in no hurry to start for home. She finally got him on the road at 12:30 (a 3-1/2 hour ride from home). Luckily, she was driving her own car. She ended up calling his sister to pick up food ordered from Wegman's.

Pat and Jim to the rescue.

Jeremy and Kara and Charlotte stopped by and decorated the house and we all arrived just about the same time and really surprised him. It was loads of fun and the gifts were fun too.

Some were funny - Here is Super Senior Citizen.

Some were fun - and useful. This will go on a wall in the mountain cabin.

Silly grownups forgot about taking pictures of sweet Charlotte until the end of the evening when she was ready for sleep. She is such a darling baby, so good natured and easy going. She was passed from person to person all evening and kept a cheerful spirit through it all.

Yesterday was her first day of school so to speak as Mommy was going back to teaching for the first time since Charlotte's birth. I got a great picture of her back to school shoes.

Aren't they adorable?

Even though we managed to have a good time celebrating Grandpa Bruce's birthday, Kara was struggling with the thought of leaving her baby to go back to work. Full circle. Every Labor Day, there are Moms and Dads feeling sad about the end of summer and special time with their children. As I am praying for Kara and Jeremy, I remind them, "Before you know it, Christmas vacation will be here."

~Hippo Hugs~

If you want an accounting of your worth,

Count your friends.

~Mary Worth