With Labor Day looming and school already started, summer vacation is done for most folks. So the Times Free Press asked readers to send in their vacation photos, the goofy ones, the weird ones, the funny ones, the ones that represent vacation fails.
Here is what they sent:
See ya later : During a trip to St. Petersburg, Fla., Olivia Huff, 2, has little interest in getting up close and personal with what she calls a "wallygator."
Of all the gull!: "This seagull at Elkhorn Slough in California was very vocal in her displeasure at us for getting too close," says Lynda Johnson of Collegedale.
Dog days: Oma Palmer's dog, Pea, finds a great way to chill during the summer heat.
Not a fan: Keely Simmons is not a fan of the Atlantic Ocean during her first time seeing it in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Adult (?) behavior: Steve Wilson's three adult children, from left, Adam, Ryan and Katie, being silly the last day at the beach. Katie is afraid her "backside" is being revealed.
Over a barrel: In July, during their first trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Young family of Cleveland, Tenn., "tried to make it look like we were just about to go over in a barrel," says Samantha Young, far left. The others in the photo are daughter Maggie and husband Ty.
Sunny and stubborn: After forgetting the umbrella extension - and refusing to pay $20 for a rental one - April Connell's dad "settles in under his mushroom cap for a relaxing day at the beach in Key West. He quickly realized, however, that he would need to take stretch breaks "to allow his constricted blood flow 'room to breathe,'" she says.
Best we can do: The family of Ashley Simmons of Ringgold, Ga., was "just trying to do a normal family photo on last year's 'vacation.'" But they just couldn't quite do it. This photo, taken at her mother's house in East Ridge, features family members from California, Alabama and upper Tennessee who came in for a big summer cookout. The family takes a vacation every year so they can all get together. "We kept goofing around and decided this was the best photo we could get," Ashley says.
Golden vacation: Harriet Markham and her extended family headed for California in June. The first part of the trip was spent at a cousin's lake house in Donner Pass. "Then the family traveled to San Francisco, visiting the grave of a fallen solider in Presidio National Cemetery where my father-in-law (Wilbourne Markham) had the honor to escort his body over 50 years ago," she says
Packed and ready: Dr. David Powers and his "wee lad," 4-year-old Gideon, get ready to head for Roanoke, Va.
Generational silliness: Four generations and 12 members of Ronnie Nunley's family make, as he puts it, "silly faces at the Magic Kingdom."
Joyful 'jump': The Downey family took their vacation to St. Lucia this summer to attend their son's wedding. "The photographer wanted a fun shot but we could not all jump at the same time, so this was our pretend jump," says Darleen Downey. From left to right are, Paul and Darleen Downey (groom's parents), Shane and Astin Downey (bride and groom) and Courtney, Libby and Dan Woodard (bride's family).
Protect the cheese: Packed up, Brooks, 2, is making sure the cheese balls weren't left behind in Panama City Beach as the family heads home to Chatsworth, Ga. His sister, Emmie, is just all smiles.
Say what?: Phyllis Owen's 5-year-old grandson, Brenan Cooper Wilson, was not enthused a couple of weeks ago when his family decided to take this hike in Yellowstone National Park.
Mistranslation: During Valerie Prevost's trip to China, she saw a number of bad Chinese-to-English translations on signs. "Choosing one was difficult," she says, "but I finally decided on these directions to get to the restroom."
Parrot face: Well, sure, if you're going to Dollywood's Parrot Mountain, you need to document it with a photo of someone holding a parrot. Here, it's Natalie Tice, granddaughter to Fred Grove, far left. Next to Natalie is grandson Fred Irwin, and grandmother Sharon Grove rounds out the quartet.
Yowza!: During the Thompson family's vacation to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 5-year-old daughter Amori was terrified by animals interactions. As her father, David, says: "Of course, her eyes tell it all."
Gannaway University
The George Gannaway Family decide to spend the last Christmas holiday with daughter Ellen Lail in Atlanta ... note the "large" Christmas tree. And, as a present, all of them got T-shirts that say: "Gannaway University." The front row, from left to right are Ellen Gannaway Lail and George and Ginny Gannaway, while the back row, left to right, are son-in-law Mike Lail, grandsons Cole and Neil Gannaway, and their parents, Sandy and Sam Gannaway.