Tuesday, September 6, 2011

So Long Summer

We spent the weekend with the family at the beach saying good-bye to Summer --

Our last hurrah before school and schedules begin.


Labor Day morning, we went to the boardwalk for our Annual Family Farewell-to-Summer Bike Ride...




When I was little we used to stay at a place on the boardwalk for vacation. One summer when my older sister was 11 and I was 5, she wrote our names in some wet cement outside of a hotel on 26th St.

And every year, we make the kids get off their bikes...


To check out Aunt Sheila's One Act of Vandalism --


Luckily Aunt Sheila was able to overcome her past digression and went on to become an attorney and the quintessential law-abiding citizen; never to vandalize again.

Most everyone rides their own bike except for Jack.

Jack always rents a low-rider. This year he was thrilled that, even at the new height of 6'2", he still fits on the bike...


And so does his cousin Moe...


My oldest niece Carolyn flew in from Milwaukee for the weekend to be with everyone and to get this picture taken with her Dad...


It's great having everyone together.

With all these girls, fashion accessories are taking on more of a prominent role.

Like sunglasses...


And feathers...


Feathers in the hair, feathers in the ears.

It was a great Summer.


And we're sorry to see it end.


We've been lucky to spend it together. And lucky that everyone is healthy and happy.


Time is flying by and I expect that this will be the last Summer that the Littlest rides on her father's bike. Next year I predict she'll be tearing up the boardwalk on her own bike.


On the ride home, I asked Jack what his favorite part of the Summer was...

He said it was flying his new stunt kite. He loves that kite.


And since his school lost electricity for a week due to Hurricane Irene, his first day of school won't be until next Monday, Sept 12.

Today it's raining, Jack is finishing up his Summer reading (It's not his fault. He gets his procrastinating habit from me.), and I'm heading off to stitch.

Goodbye Summer. Hello Fall.

15 comments:

coral-seas said...

It looks like you've had a blast this summer. I love family traditions and they make for great memories. Everytime I see/read about your family adventures I think how lucky Jack and your nieces are. You are always doing fun things together and they look sooooooo happy. They are very fortunate.

Thank you for sharing your summer with us :-)

Catherine said...

Great fun!! You are so lucky to have such a family dynamic!

Rachel said...

It sounds like a perfect day!

Teresa said...

I knew your family would have to end the summer in style. Were are the matching hats or something.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Gosh, you really had a lot of time with your family this summer. Seems like more than usual. Sad to see summer go. But our temps are below normal now so I bought mums for the front deck to celebrate.

We suffered a lightening strike when the storm from Notre Dame blew through. No net, no Xbox, no phone, some other electronics died too and the garage opener is toast.

Well, what's on deck next??

Gerry Krueger said...

In my earlier life I taught 1st grade for years and years that that missing front tooth brings back lots of humorous memories... of lots of gap-tooth grins and "teacher, teacher I lost my tuf" Ger

gracie said...

What a wonderful time...thank you for sharing.

Mouse said...

oooo looks like you had a fab time :) thanks for sharing the photos and enjoy your stitching :) love mouse xxxx

Nancy said...

what a wonderful summer you have had! You have been blessed! Thanks for sharing!

Ingrid Mida said...

It looks like you had a wonderful celebration to end the summer! Every time you show photos of your family get-togethers, the love just spills out of all the happy faces. Now you've got to get back to stitching and I look forward to seeing the results.

allie aller said...

The last photo is my favorite, capturing the friendship between father and son. Very beautiful!
Happy Fall!

Elizabeth said...

What a wonderful end of summer family tradition!!! the girls are all so beautiful!! I hope that they are all doing well.
Fall is here and I for one am very happy about it!! Becca started HS today- Big Day!!!
Hugs!

Judy S. said...

Great photos, Susan, of what looks like the perfect way to wrap up summer vacation. School started here today, but since it doesn't affect anyone in this house and temps. are in the eighties finally we're still celebrating summer....at last. Have a great week.

JoWynn Johns said...

It's been fun watching your summer.

Dolores said...

You have some great family traditions. It's nice to see families get together at least once a year to re-connect with each other. My husband's family reunion is in a couple of weeks. We couldn't go last year so it will be nice to see everyone again.

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