Vermont- Day 4: Party People

We started out the day with a trip to JC Penney. Just a quick little trip to the closest shopping center around. 45 minutes later we got there. Not because of a traffic jam or anything. That's just how far out in the country Michael's family lives.

On the way to the shopping mecca that is St.Albans, VT, we stopped at the house where Michael grew up. He lived here from age 3 days until 18 years 2 months. I've been by here 3 times and have yet to see the inside. The people who bought it from Michael's parents have never been home to let us in.

Little Michael grew up playing in this yard, mowing its grass and shoveling snow here in the winter. It's all so Norman Rockwell. Michael's dad built this garbage can. After the longest trip to JC Penney of my life we attended a 9 hour party at Michael's aunt and uncle's house.

Michael's cousin Tammy and her grandson Brayden. We figured out that Brayden and Spencer are 4th cousins.We took a bunch of family pictures at the party. We don't know when all of us will be back together again. I gave my camera to Michael's cousin's wife, Heather. She took 22 shots of us in this pose. I am including 1 for your viewing pleasure.All the boys
All the grown-up boys (in age, not necessarily maturity)
4 generations
The other 4 generations
The individual families Saturday was the 1st day that it was really hot. Sandi and Ruggie set up a little pool for the kids. I saw quite a few adults take dips as well. There was a trampoline, and musical acts. The little girl in the bikini is Julia. She is Spencer's 3rd cousin. Michael has 2 cousins that work for Ben and Jerry's. They were kind enough to bring ice cream to share. Spencer enjoyed his. But not as much as Alyssa enjoyed hers. Uncle Raymond was on clean-up duty. Spencer was obsessed with the grass. Every day he could be found laying on it, rolling around in it and pulling fistfuls out and throwing it up in the air. Kickball was played as well as double ping pong. Once the sun went down and a teeny tiny chill was in the air we had a big campfire. Marshmallows were roasted. Brothers chatted. And 3 year olds squirmed in their mother's laps. Spencer had his own little chair until we meanly made him go to bed at, get this, 11:45 pm.

I forgot to tell you an incredibly adorable story in yesterday's post. When we were getting ready to leave the farm Spencer threw a fit when we put him in the carseat. He wanted to go back into the barn to say goodnight to the cows. We decided it would be faster to just let him than to fight him the entire way home and during the going to bed process. I carried him into the barn while Michael's parents shined their headlights in there. Spencer waved at all the cows and in the tiniest, quietest voice said, "goodnight cows. I love you.”

Awwww.