I think summer had it out for me this year… In that I didn’t really get one.
I spent the majority of the season waiting… So even though we squeezed in a few summery things (see: Maine-cation) I was distracted completely by pregnancy discomforts, baby-prep, and in the later stages, sheer frustration.
No beach, no camping, no volleyball, (almost) no fires, but most importantly… Minimal amounts of summer beers. Okay, maybe that shouldn’t be listed as most important, but after nine months of sobriety I earned myself a cold brew or two!! I missed out on Sam summer, the whole Leinenkugel season, UFO big squeezes and shandys galore. Such a sad face and pouty pout pouts. Whine whine whine.
In an effort to soak up some end-of-summer sun, get outdoors for even the hottest second and maybe, just maybe, find the remnants of any summery beer still available… We were going on our first real family outing to the Valley Brew Fest in downtown Springfield. I showered (you’re welcome world), got all ready, pumped so I could indulge while remaining a responsible parent… The whole nine yards. Even captured this photographic evidence of the exciting occasion!
One minor major issue. We brought a baby. I’ll give myself this– I did question the appropriateness of bringing a newborn to a brew fest. But we went to the daytime session and it felt to me like a nice summer outdoor activity, laid back, not crazy, music, food, all the makings of a fun family day with the perk of having beer readily available. What I did not question was the legality illegality of bringing a newborn to a brew fest. Babies are, after all, under 21 years of age. Thank you captain DUH.
I get it… Where do they draw the line… Obviously the baby wasn’t going to be drinking. Not even via my drinking since I had planned ahead/accordingly and wasn’t even going to come close to getting my money’s worth for the event. But if you let in a newborn in a baby carrier, why not a toddler in a carriage, a five year old on a leash, a ten year old with parental supervision, and all of a sudden there’s 18 year olds admitted pretending to be of age getting drunky drunk in the middle of downtown…
Unfortunately, I didn’t fully mull that over until I was at the gate being turned away with the little one all slinged up and cozy, ready for an afternoon of NOT being on the couch. The worst part was having to wake her-royal-cuteness to put her back in the car seat. Blood curdling screams ensued. Nope actually, the worst part was going back home to the couch. But only after some retail therapy. We purchased clothes for baby, clothes for mommy, and a smile for my face.
I went back a little later to pick up the hubby and FIL who had stayed at the festivus (after my very adamant request that they stay lest the tickets ALL go to waste – they were very sweet about offering to go home in solidarity…) But the pick up turned into a ‘bring the baby into the bar and have a beer’ kind of thing. So the day was not without it’s share of inappropriate. #parentingwin #lydiesfirsttriptothefort #babyatabar
The brightest of sides: The weekend’s not over and I made a mental promise to myself at that stupid baby-hating gate to get outside today and play in the sunshine… So that’s what we shall do. We are headed to the Quabbin reservoir to walk and sit and enjoy the views and all that this summer still has left to offer. This time baby included. I am real happy that we checked the website before bringing the dog with us, though… That could’ve been a hysterical let down if we drove there to be turned away at the doggy-hating gate because another/different family member was excluded from admission.
Off to picnic and swelter because I still can. Byes.
