From MV with Love

We are having a wonderful time in Martha's Vineyard. I have a ton of pictures to post when we return but in the meantime here are the Obamas in the MV last summer...
I mean since Michelle and I use the same stylist and we apparently have similar taste in vacations...I might as well just put a link to a slideshow from their time here and skip my pictures altogether. Here are Michelle and the girls in Oak Bluffs where we spent last Sunday morning...

We return Saturday afternoon after a journey that involves planes, boats and buses... Sophia and Olivia are having a great time...and are now sleeping well - ever since Olivia finally adjusted to her bed being in the shower. Those pack n' plays can fit anywhere!

Hello Vineyard, Goodbye Carpet

Two very exciting events are about to transpire in the Familia de Simone.

1. On Friday we return to Martha's Vineyard!

Once again, Travis is speaking for a College Week at the FOCUS Study Center and we are so grateful to be able to stay for the week on this incredible camp amidst this beautiful island.

We had a great time last year but are even more excited this year because the girls are a little older and we know what to expect. Before we had kids trips were all about adventure and seeing things for the first time and spontaneity and the unknown. Now? Oh the relief of knowing where we will sleep and eat and fun places to go and places to skip even though tourbooks rave about them. And most exciting of all? Two words: Camp Food. A whole week of not thinking up meals or feeling guilty because I forgot to think up a meal. We will just find our way to the dining hall and eat what is set before us. And the food is wonderful!

2. Next Exciting Event? (Drumroll please) While we are gone...Our hardwood floors are being refinished!!! Just the thought takes my breath away. If you have ever visited my house, my greeting normally goes like this: "Welcome! Come on in...I'm sorry about the carpet."

Exhibit A:

When we bought this house in 2007, it had been newly remodeled and newly carpeted - a lovely bright cream. After the first 130 people or so had passed through, the color started changing - in the form of huge horrid stains...

Exhibit B

For a while Travis tried to convince me that it was not that bad. And I wanted to believe him. in the beginning steam cleaning would work - for about four days. Then the stains would emerge from underneath more powerful than ever. My shame grew until the climactic day when Uncle Tbone walked through the door and went "Ugh...what happened here?" (Thank you Tbone for reflecting truth to us). I knew we had an issue but what did I do? I decided to try and potty train an 18 month old. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Exhibit C:

Now, thanks to a very kind man at our church, the beautiful hardwoods that have been living under this horrid carpet will come back to life. The carpet will be out of this house on THURSDAY. The crew will come in and refinish the wood over the next week and when we return...It will be like a scene from Extreme Home Makeover - minus Ty Pennington plus even more shrieking. Stay tuned. And have a great week.

Just you wait...

I think this is what the next generation of child car seats will look like... And they will be required until you are 32 years old and/or 200 lbs.

Auntie Ruth

People often call Sophia my "Mini Me". Yet, I'm not so sure that I am the one she most closely resembles...

Backyard Birthday Party

We attended Caroline Cook's 3rd Birthday Party on Saturday. It was a Fairy/Backyard Water Party. Enough Said. Olivia quickly found her way to the beer ice once again.

The Cooks throw such great parties for the kids and adults! It was a gorgeous day. My only regret was that none of the other adults seemed to be getting in the water so I decided to restrain myself. This was hard seeing as the Slip n' Slide has come so far since the 80's. It was incredible!

Foo enjoyed her picnic lunch.

And Caroline had a Princess Cake! Sophia could not get close enough as you can see. I could just see the birthday wheels turning in her mind...

May Days

Our week has passed in blur of heat, popsicles and thinking about everything I have to do to prepare for our vacation next week. Actual preparations have not yet begun - being overwhelmed by thinking about it all is always the first step. In the meantime....some snapshots: We have one pair of amazing blue sunglasses and two feisty little girls. Do the math. Someone off camera is not very happy right now.

Popsicles on the porch are one of life's great pleasures. Enjoying them in your favorite Snow White Costume takes it to a whole new level...

Ugh...I have been exposed. Our porch needs to be painted very badly...This is in the works...

Foo gets contemplative on the horse...

And look who has been riding shotgun with me this week...Sophia is very careful about strapping in Bedtime Bear wherever we go.

We capped off a great week with Sno To Go! First time this season. I love that Sophia chooses her flavor by color - today it was yellow. After all these years, Sno To Go still has it. Bad location, scary parking and inconveniently cash-only. But the tourists still haven't found it and its just good. And what's not to love about saying "I'd like a small Bahama Mama - stuffed"?

A Fine Line

Olivia's newest fashion trend: wearing one pink glove. She gets frustrated when it gets dirty and I make her take it off to eat, but other than that it was a staple the past few days. Keep in mind, it's been in the eighties. Style takes sacrifice.

Ahh, fleece glove and sticky lollipop. Great Combination...

Those of you around in the early days will remember this fixation:

10-month old Sophia's attachment to her spatula ended up getting me a published blurb in the since-cancelled - "Wondertime" Magazine - and earned me 75$. It was an article about children's quirks. Hopefully all of this is quirky - not that awkward second cousin of quirky: weird.