MV: Part 32 Through Sophia's Eyes

I mentioned Sophia's new interest in photography...Enjoy her vacation portfolio...Kicking it off with some amazing self portraits:

Then there is a consistent fixation with feet.

These are Ann's feet. More on Ann to come...

I suppose her feet and her sister are the most accessible subjects to photograph.

In case, you were wondering here's the inside of the fridge:

TV Shows on the internet came in HUGE this week.

We had our own little family church service on Sunday.

It lasted for one song before a major meltdown.

Here is Ann. She connected us with FOCUS and College Week, as she is the FOCUS Alumni Coordinator. Sophia calls her "Ann, who lives on Martha's Vineyard." She doesn't live there but doesn't "Ann of the Vineyard" sound romantic?" And umm, her face doesn't normally look like this but Ann, i'm so sorry! All the pictures I have of you from this year are ones Sophia took!

Elmo slept in a metal rolling cart. He didn't complain. He's always just grateful for a break.

MV Part 2: Flying Horses

The Flying Horses Carousels in Oak Bluffs is a famous landmark - yet incredibly elusive as far as when its open. Last year we kept trying to go but it was always closed so this year it was a priority as soon as we got to the island!

The Carousel is inside a building that has a very Coney Island feel - complete with arcade and its own Zoltar Machine! The added fun of this Carousel is the challenge of grabbing rings as you go around. Whoever gets the "brass ring" wins a free ride! Travis loved this gambling element and kept trying to convince Sophia to take a second ride so he could try again. But of course her second ride she just wanted to sit on the bench - completely out of reach of grabbing rings. Oh parenthood...

Olivia gets nervous on the horses so she and I sat for our ride...

Martha's Vineyard Part 1

We had seamless travel both going and returning on the trip. The plane, bus and ferry were on time and we were on time - a miraculous feat. Here are the girls getting ready to board the ferry. We rode the "Peter Pan" bus from the airport to the ferry - Sophia was very excited to discuss the Disney reference.

Travis and the girls ready to board the ferry. (For those interested in gear minutiae: We opted to bring the "sit and stand stroller" as opposed to the BOB jogger which I love. The S and S was so easy to travel with, get through security lines, load underneath buses etc. It also can serve as a luggage cart:) I felt like Jon and Kate Plus 8 -before the insanity- in the number of in-depth stroller discussions we had before this trip)

The ferry has a great cafe where we ate dinner. I felt sorry for this man, and everyone sitting around us. They had entered hour six and leg three of the journey and were visibly antsy.

Poor Man. Thank you for being kind.

View of Seth's Pond from the back of our cottage. We stayed in the "Brown Cottage" at the Focus Study Center in West Tisbury.

Aquinnah Lighthouse and famous clay cliffs.

Note to self: Pin back bangs for windy lighthouse pictures

Swing Set at Study Center where we spent a bulk of our time. This is why I don't want one in our backyard- I need it to remain a novelty!

Olivia was reading...Elmo was excited to be included in this adventure...

Questions I Answered Today...Vol. 1

Mommy, do Disney characters have ankles?

(I said Yes, because I was thinking of Cinderella...but now looking at Mickey I realize the jury is still out on this one. I avoid the topic of Ariel altogether.)

Mommy, Are you a morning person or a night person?

(My initial thought was that I am a Tired Person...but instead told her that I think I am a late morning person. How could I explain that the question had been irrelevant for years?)

And Questions Laurie Answered Today After Leaving Our House:

Why did they get new floors? Their carpet was so warm...

(Their carpet was really old and dirty.)

Well, don't they have a vacuum?

We're Ba-ack!

We made it! We were on a 7am ferry in Vinyard Haven this morning and standing on our new floors in Williamsburg at 1:45 pm. It was a great week and I have many pictures to share but A certain three year old took an interest in digital photography during the vacation which means I have over 400 images to go through - some artistic, many baffling...

As for the floors - they are amazing, pictures to come. As for the children's impression? Sophia told me, "Oh Mommy...I will miss the sweet, soft smell of the carpet!" Really? You just can't please everyone...

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.