I shook hands with Miss Maple Syrup 2008!!!

Written by OHmommy

Sunday, 13 April 2008 19:00

We sat around Sunday morning, at home, wondering how to spend the day. The kids offered their usual suggestions of Chuck E Cheese and Burger King. My husband, on the computer, checked the weather, "Cloudy and 38 degrees."

"No rain? No snow?" I asked him. "Are you sure?

"Just cloudy and cold." He mumbled.

"Sweet. Let's find our winter jackets. We are going to the 2008 Maple Syrup Festival." I exclaimed with excitement. I gathered up the gang and started layering them. "Remember how awesome the Port Clinton Walleye Festival was last year?" I asked my husband. "And how much fun to do we have at the Feast of the Assumption every year?" I smiled. "Remember the Wisconsin State Fair 1999 and how we found our wedding band?" As I remember all of the wonderful festivals and fairs we have attended I get giddy.

"I know you love your off-the-beaten-path festivals. BUT it is less than 40 degrees outside. And the festival is 40 miles away." My husband mumbled again.

"Come on, let's go. If we hurry we will be able to catch the parade, wave to Miss Maple Syrup 2008, watch the lumber jack competition, and observe the maple syrup demos." I was giddy and it was infectious. The kids asked a million questions in the car before completely passing out.

I forgot my Nikon at home and was forced to use a point and shoot. UGH! I hated the 5 second shutter delay. Nevertheless, I documented their first taste of pure maple syrup, their first bites of corn dogs, and Jay's first views of a lumber jack competition. It was a good thing he picked out a camo sweatshirt. He blended in perfectly. We learned so much about maple syrup and lumber jacks. Memories were made.

We had such a wonderful time at the 2008 Maple Syrup Festival, although it was cold and it did actually snow and we were one of 10 families there. We plan on making this our summer of festivals and fairs. The kiddos are too young to appreciate going camping. Furthermore, we don't have enough money to summer at the Hamptons. Therefore, this will be our summer of festivals.