Our family tradition on Labor Day weekend for over a decade is to plan a fantastic trip with our dear Georgia family….Sean and Emily and our precious grandsons, Soren and Sebastian.
Unbelievably, Soren is all grown up….and driving. He drove us all to their community swimming pool, so we could watch Sebastian working out in the pool.
Sebastian at his swim team practice with Soren hanging out and giving tips to the coach….
Walking the sweet new puppies, Lucy and Daisy, with Emily….
Sean had to work on Friday, and Soren and Sebastian who are now a freshman and senior in high school couldn’t miss school, so on Thursday Emily and we headed up without them—into northern into Georgia mountains to Unicoi Lodge and State Park for our traditional Labor Day four day weekend family trip. The rest of the family arrived Friday afternoon.
This was our SEVENTH year at Unicoi, where we rent a two story cabin and play together for days on end….we all look forward to this time all year long.
After walking around the lake in the morning, three of us rented boats and paddled water at Unicoi Lake….
Finally, Sean, Soren, and Sebastian arrived at Unicoi, and the real fun began….our time together!
Off for a day in the quaint “Bavarian” village of Helen….just a few miles from Unicoi. We always HAVE to visit all our favorite shops, buy fudge, and eat lunch at the Troll Under the Bridge Restaurant.
This year we had new experiences….Soren and Sebastian wanted to learn how to fly fish and throw tomahawks. This is something that we never knew that we needed to learn, but since Grandma and Grandpa didn’t want to miss out on all the fun, early Sunday morning we waded out into the lake (or at least Grandma did) and caught lots of reeds, but no fish. Maybe next time….
We found out that getting a tomahawk to in-bed its blade into a solid board (and stay there) it took strength, technique, and a lot of luck. But we all succeeded at least one time.
I didn’t even hit the target on my first three throws. I’m clearly not a natural born tomahawk thrower. But I finally (after about ten throws, got the darn tomahawk to stick on the target. I think that I should have gotten “ The Most Improved Tomahawk Thrower” award!
We all agreed, Grandpa was the very best tomahawk thrower on the Borja Graybill Team, but we still lost. Look at this—all three throws on the target for a total of seven points!
It was a blast!
We had an early birthday party for Emily at our Cabin, and celebrated with MoonPies and lots of ice cream bars.
We gave her a book about Francis Perkins, the amazing woman who conceived the idea and implemented the plan for Social Security. President Franklin Roosevelt appointed her Secretary of Labor. She was the first female to be a cabinet member, a well deserved position, as she had been fighting for worker’s rights her entire life. As a Secretary of Labor, she fought to protect workers and children by working tirelessly to pass labor laws that addressed safety issues, shortened the hours of work allowed per week, and improved working conditions.
Francis Perkins, who lived 100 years ago reminds us of Emily. She has also worked tirelessly all her life to protect the vulnerable and help children and families….in addition to being an amazing mother, wife, and daughter.
Sebastian resting on the porch at our traditional stop….Fred’s Famous Peanuts in Helen, Georgia.
We found an old photo in the peanut shop of the original people with their look-a-like dummies. The dummies that are still sitting on the porch at Fred’s decades later, but the original people were nowhere to be found….
The infamous yellow bike at the peanut shop….
Three years ago at Fred’s Famous Peanuts….
Six years ago at our home on Whidbey Island……
My how they’ve grown! But our grandsons, Soren and Sebastian, are just as sweet, caring, and loving as they were when they were little toddlers that we could carry around in our arms .
It is so much fun “grand parenting” together and so very rewarding. We love being grandparents to each of our dear grandchildren. This is what gives our life meaning.
Thank you, Sean, Emily, Soren, and Sebastian for another Labor Day weekend filled with fun, tradition, and memories that we will hold dear forever.
