Labo(u)r Day!

Another summer has come to an end, and we're back to school and daycare. The start of this year had its transitions, but has a much different feel than last year. For starters, Brendan sleeps through the night this year! We have a whole year of working and parenting under our belts, so we've learned lessons like which bags can go into the car the night before.

Brendan has settled into his new daycare very well. One of his main caregivers is a former student of mine, which was an unexpected but nice happening. Brendan loves fingerpainting, and it's so cute to see him in a room of well, toddling toddlers.

Although we both started school before Labor Day, we took the holiday weekend to go to Canada (the 6th was Labour Day in Canada also). For the past couple of years, we've gone to the Harrow Fair, and this year was no exception. Brendan was so young last year, and it was fun to see him even more engaged in what he saw this year. He loved looking at the cows and calves, and was intrigued by the tractors (is he Nick's son or what?). After the fair, we went with Brendan's Grandma Kator and Great-Grandma Gaspard to Viewpointe Winery on Lake Erie. We had a nice tasting, then enjoyed a glass on the patio overlooking the lake. Brendan had a lovely sippy cup of water, then enjoyed toddling around the patio.

One of the best parts of the weekend for me was seeing Brendan with his peach tree. We read a book last year called Leo's Tree. One of the phrases repeated in this book is "Grow little Leo, grow little tree." In comparing this year's picture to last year's one, it's amazing to see how our little baby from last year looks like a little boy this year. Grow little Brendan, grow little tree.

Brendan checking out displays in the Ag building at the Harrow Fair


Nick and Brendan at Lake Erie


Brendan and his peach tree - Labor Day 2010