Stay-cation

A week "away", but not leaving home brought us a....

...Trip to a swimming pool (one of the most exhausting endeavours we had all week)

...Trip to a museum
(the highlight was the bug room - even the bug-phobic ones in our family, ie. me, found it fascinating)

....Trip to the dentist, specialist, and other health-care professionals (can't be all fun all the time, right?)

...Trip to a local festival I haven't been to in years (a least 4 1/2 years, the same age as the Punk). We even took in a play that I could relate too personally.

....A birthday party (I am married to a very old man....cute, but old)

It also brought some good knitting.

New Socks

A Scarf - finishing this makes me a Ravlete

A Hat

I'm exhausted. I think I need a week off.

The Princess is a Dancing Queen

Everyone loves a wedding, especially if you're the Bride's neice.

See? Three neices all looking delightful and in need of a snack.

My Princess was the star of the dance floor. She danced with her Uncle D and her Great Baba (that's my Mother's Mother, just to clarify).

She danced with her Uncle Mark who is also her Godfather and her legal counsel.

She danced with other pretty little Princesses.

She danced with the Bride. A lot.

And she danced by herself when she had tired everyone else out.

And sure we're happy for the Happy Couple but my Princess stole the show.

Olympic Coverage

I love the Olympics. I'll watch anything. Sometimes I know the rules of the sport and sometimes I don't but I love seeing people doing their best. I cheer for the underdogs and scowl at cocky winners.

In my own pursuit of excellence, I have completed one of my events. This little hat was knit up for the Baby Dressage and will be much worn by the little person in waiting.

I used some cotton/silk I had bought months ago and it's very soft and cozy.

In the Sockput, I have completed one sock and am picking away at the second. Due to family events and a busy schedule, this project is taking longer than I had hoped but I'm making progress none the less.

I'm looking forward to watching some track and field events this week. There might even be some diving. (Those divers know how to work a Speedo, don't you think?)

And we're off....T's version

I'm am officially off for a week. As is my love.

People keep asking us where we're going. I always feel like it's a cop out to say nowhere.

We aren't going anywhere this year. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which is having a rather precocious 2-year old, we're vacationing from home.

We have a list of 4 or 5 destinations in and around our city that we want to get to over our week off. Places we always say we're going to go to because they're so close, but we never get there.

My goal is to get a few things done around home before the insanity of the fall which includes new schedules, and new schools, and new activities. My other, and more important goal, is to spend time with my family. We may not be able to give the boys an exciting vacation this year, but we have the time to spend with them and do things they'll love to do. And that's the most important thing. Time together as a family.

So having said that, I'm going to computer-free for the next week or so. I'll be back to tell you tales of trips to historic villages and escapades of museum visits with rambunctious children. I know you're shaking with anticipation!!

The Eye of the Storm

It is so rare that the Dude and I can take the Princess and escape our lives for a few days. Work and life seem to intervene and it just never happens. That's why the last few days were so precious.

We swam.

We rode on gandolas

to the top of mountains.

We looked at waterfalls

and threw rocks.

We visited a lake

and threw rocks.

Every year I would travel to the mountains with my family and I have pictures of myself at this age riding in a gondola, walking in the mountains, being a kid. I'm glad we can make time to share this with our daughter.

We even went to a zoo and met a baby elephant

and a baby giraffe.

Someone rode a train all by herself.

We ate ice cream and Greek food. We snuggled by a fire and roasted marshmallows.

I even knit a bit.

These are my Ravelympics project. I am designing and knitting a pair of men's socks. I think I might be nuts.

Now I have a couple of days of respite to relax, do laundry, get a pediacure (thank goodness) and pack my bags again. My sister is getting married this weekend and there is much to do