Vacation in Pictures

I'm still on vacation hangover.  Going through my pictures tonight for this post didn't really help.  It just makes me wish I was back there even more.

Departure day started with a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings to kick things off right.

We arrived at our house, and the girls immediately found their "hang out".

As did I. 

Oh, don't mind if I do!

She even let brother on the hammock!

I know I mentioned it before, but this vacation really was perfect.  I spent it with awesome family and friends.  I relaxed.  It had been a while.

The view was really breathtaking from our deck.  I don't often get to sit in one spot and just watch the sunset change colors.

It was high class when we wanted it to be.

My two favorite guys in the whole wide world.

We took a few silly self portraits during cuddle time.

The wine was delish.

The covered boat lift was awesome, and the lake water in our bay was bathtub temperature.

Blooming lily pads everywhere.

Boat?  who needs a boat??

The loon family was never far from us all week.  I totally didn't mind when they'd wake me up in the morning.

Silly boy.

We spent LOTS of time in the boat, or on the water in some way.

I love it when my feet are up.  LOVE it.

Knee boarding,

So much fun.

Except this part.  I believe Scott called it the Stairway to Heaven because he knew the cold beer was at the top of it.  119 steps, because I know you were wondering.

The girls wanted to have one fancy dinner night, so we decided to do some pictures on the deck while everyone was lookin' fine.

This is what happens when I tell my children to stand next to each other nicely for a picture.

Pick.  Pick.  Pick.

Uggggh!

"NO ANDY! STOOOOP IIIIT!"

I finally got this one, and didn't even have to bribe them with anything.  I know he loves her to pieces.

Time for fancy dinner, complete with menus!

The girls may or may not have learned a little bit about how to work behind a bar.  Just sayin.

Bartenders?

Nobody would kiss him.  Poor froggie. :(

Back out on the water for tubing fun!

There are about 257 pictures of goofy expressions and kids flying.  I'll spare you and just share a few of my favorites.

Making memories!!

Our house from the lake.

This was where I spent most mornings.  Perfection.  Nothing missing at all.  Even a new project!  And my feet up!

 XOXOX

NH

Things I learned on vacation...

I am back.  Dangit.  I sure wish I wasn't.

Here are some things I learned while on vacation:

1.  It takes my white northern Minnesota skin approximately 27 minutes to turn from white to red at 10 AM.
2.  There isn't enough fuel in the world to propel a boat dragging a tube with my children in it to where they'd be tired of it.
3.  If you are going to rent a house in the middle of a record breaking hot July that doesn't have air conditioning, make sure there are good fans.
4.  Going down 119 steps to get to the lake isn't the hard part.  Going up is.  Make sure you pack a cooler and go to the bathroom before the trip down.
5.  When Nate drives a jet-ski with you on the back and promises not to dump you, he's lying.
6.  I'm not very good at tennis, but I had fun pretending I was.
7.  My daughter is not nearly as afraid of trying new scary things as I thought she was.
8.  Vacationing with BFFs is awesome.
9.  In-laws that let you borrow their boat even when you break a piece on the depth finder, and a prop are a God-send!
10.  Throwing a quick burger on the grill while on vacation is just as good, if not better, than planning a fancy huge meal.
11.  My idea of a perfect vacation is relaxing with your family and friends.  Enjoying the weather, the company, the food, and the drinks.  This was it.
12.  Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez have hit a rocky point in their relationship.  This was discovered during the important "Wine and Magazine Party" that was an essential part of the trip.  Also, Katie had to change her cell number to keep Tom Cruise from pestering her.  It's too bad he turned out to be kindof a weirdo.  I sure loved him in Top Gun.
13.  The bottom side of lily pad leaves are very slimy.
14.  It's best not to put your round tube in the water and try to lean backwards into it from the dock.  I'll just leave this one at that.  Although, I did also learn that my sunglasses will stay firmly planted on my face when doing an impromptu backwards somersault under water.
15.  When your tire has a slow leak, it's best to take a different car to the bar.
16.  It doesn't matter how much planning you do, there will always be too much food.
17.  Boone's Farm DOES explode if you leave it in the freezer for too long.  I can still drink it right from the bottle.
18.  My BFF's teenage son is awesome (though I already knew that) and even hugged me goodbye when the week was over.  That was SO. COOL.  :)
19.  It was the best vacation ever.  It went too fast, and I want to go back right now.

Another post will be coming with pictures soon.  My mother told me my post better be up to "Tricia quality" so I need to take some time to prepare it.  There are 400 pictures and videos to sort through.  I'd hate to be replaced in the family by a new daughter...

;)

XOXOX

NH

There is a problem.

I am about to leave for a vacation for a whole week.  No, that is not the problem.  There is zero wrong with that.  I'm very very very much looking forward to it.

The problem is that I'm a mere ten rows away from the finish line of my Queen's Garden, which is turning out beautifully, but here is the problem.  I don't have another project lined up.  Nothing.  I've been searching and searching for the next thing to make, and nothing is floating my boat.  I've got NINE glorious days off work, and not enough knitting to keep me busy.  I can't find just the right pattern.  This is a big problem.

I kind of want to make a sweater for myself, but I can't find just the right pattern.  I'd like to make something out of the yarn I have in my stash, which also kind of limits what to make.  But at this point, if I find the right thing that screams to me, I'll go buy a bunch of new yarn to make it just right.  I just can't find anything screaming.

I can tell you one thing though, in all my searching through patterns online, I have come up with a list of things I will not be knitting on my trip, nor do I ever need to knit.  Ever. 

Would you like to see them?  Of course you do.

Before I show them to you, I must make the following statement.  I understand the work and effort that goes into designing a knitted item.  I can't even attempt a scarf without a pattern sitting in front of me (unless it's something like plain old stockinette stitch, but that doesn't count).  So by posting these pictures, I mean absolutely no disrespect to the designers, or to you for that matter, if you think something here is gorgeous and would love to be the owner.  These are just items that are not really my cup of tea.

1.  A knit steering wheel cover.  It has been hot here, and my steering wheel is black.  I still cannot bring myself to think this looks appealing.

2.  A knit bathing suit.  I am cheap.  I tend to use cheap yarn when I make things.  But, I've spent lots and lots of time in the yarn store feeling and dreaming about making things with "the good stuff".  HOWEVER, I cannot think of a single kind of yarn that I'd like sitting in my nethers while I bathe in a pool, and even worse, after I get out of the pool and it starts to dry.  *shivers*

3.  A pair of knit trousers.  Especially made from camoflage looking yarn, or to wear hiking near a river.

4.  A knit cat sweater.  I consider myself to be more of a dog person than a cat person, but I don't hate cats either.  I don't find it necessary to wear them on a sweater.

5.  The pattern for this hat is called "Cat Corpse".  Maybe this would look cute on a child?  But I think the name kind of ruins it for me.

6.  Newborn nipple hat.  Ok, I'll admit this is a little funny, but also wrong on so many levels.  I wonder where this mom is nursing in public in front of a brick wall with absolutely no shirt on.  Good for her, I suppose?

7.  Nose warmer.  I don't even really know what to say about this.

8.  Sweaters from 1980 with humungous shoulder pads.  It never fails to make me giggle when looking through sweater patterns and some of these old old patterns are still out there.  I get that this was probably very fashionable back in the day, but this is a trend that I hope doesn't come back!  (since I couldn't figure out how to get rid of the logo from the Drops Design Studio, I do have to mention that the website really does have a ton of awesome free patterns that are very lovely, but they also have some of the funniest 80's sweaters I've seen!)

9.  A sweater with built in glove pockets that extend down past the bottom hem.  This might not be quite as silly if the sweater were longer and covered the gloves?

10.  Weird zebra sweater.  Now, I like animal print as much as the next girl, but... but...  this makes me thing that this woman has stuck her entire arm down the throat of that poor zebra.

11.  A knit beard.  Nope, can't see me ever needing one of these.  I think if I ever need a fake beard, one from the store might look a little better, and probably actually cost less.

12.  A knit hamburger.  Come on!  Make it the real deal or nothing.  I do like the plate this one is sitting on though!

13.  A crocheted granny square dress.  Even if I had that kind of body, I'm just thinking that this isn't very flattering.  No, I don't need to make one of these.  Or wear my hair in monkey ear buns.

14.  Ok.  Now really?  I can't believe something like this even exists!  I wonder what is so important and private that couldn't be done later on her laptop. 

Well, there are many many more things out there that I don't need to knit, but now I just need to find something that I DO need to knit, and fast.  I leave in four days!

Any ideas for me?  Any orders?  I'm not kidding.  Just preferably not one of the above listed patterns.  Go search for some patterns for me.  You might run into some funnies like I always do.  It makes me laugh, anyway...

XOXOX

NH