We went North but, not that far North

This weekend went by too fast! Saturday, we headed up to Rivertown Crossings for the afternoon. We paid $5 to rent a car stroller for the little man and we were off to explore. We did pick a good day to go, the temp. on the way home was in the low 90's. Jacob thoroughly enjoyed the stroller which had a little steering wheel for him to spin. He also learned how to drink through a straw on this trip. Jeremy and I stopped for an Orange Julius and of course, had to share with JJ. We had all of the momma and daddy fanfare for learning something new in the middle of the mall. At one point I looked at Jeremy and said, "What dorks we are...all proud cuz our kid can drink from a straw!" We walked the length of the mall and back on both levels before heading back out into the heat.

Jacob has a new obsession with airplanes and he thinks Jeremy and I can make them fly over on command. He has thrown tantrums on the sidewalk after our failure to produce results. After leaving the mall, we decided that security was too tight at the airport in Grand Rapids so we'd try our local airport. Wouldn't you know it, the one day we decide to go up there, not a single airplane, in or out? They did have a very big snowplow though and JJ and daddy gave it the once over. I watched them there, at the airport, and just took my own time to think by myself.

Funny the occasions I think of my father now I'm a parent, now that he's gone - funny the things I thought I had forgotten about him. I remember many afternoons (or after dark to watch them with the lights) heading out, in the green Chevy, to Blacker Airport (it didn't look like that then!!) with my dad to watch a plane take off or land. I don't know how it happened and it amazes me everyday how many things my son loves to do that my dad loved to do. Airplanes, cars, boats, and just watching the river flow. I only hope the kid learns to like the Cardinals, not the Cubs! Sorry, Dad. I don't think I can let you have that one without a fight! There are so so many times, I wish my dad was here with him though. They say one spirit dies so another can be born and either way, I know he's just smiling at his grandson wishing he were here, with him, too.

Somewhere between the mall and the airport, Jeremy and I decided we needed to cook the rack of ribs in our freezer for dinner. We did discuss on the way home from the mall our preferences for ribs. We both like a wet sauce opposed to a dry rub. We both like cooked over flame rather than baked and neither of us like dark, smokey sauce. We also agreed to trying ribs on our trip to St. Louis next year. All the times we have been there, we have never gone for ribs. After the airport, I pulled the ribs from the freezer and pried the frozen meat from the plastic and Styrofoam to get them boiling on the stove. Once Jacob was in bed, Jeremy got them out onto the grill. As much as I hate Jeremy's job and the time he spends away from home, I honestly can say - It is a good thing, to have a husband who can cook steaks to order and knows how to grill up some ribs! They were FAN-freaking-TASTIC! I think it was the quietest meal we've had, no talking -just eating. I fried up some cabbage and boiled some more with milk and butter - just like my mom used to do - and we watched some TV and tried to get the ribs out of our teeth for the rest of the night.