Life looks a little different when I’m on vacation and I’m so grateful for all of the happiness I found this past week. Here’s a glimpse back at what my life looks like on vacation:
Monday | Roger William’s Zoo
My friend Laura was visiting from NYC. She and I met up with Kris, Will and Aila to go to the zoo for the day! The giraffes are by far my favorite animals.
This one in particular was just stunning. Look at those colors!
Aila is just like her Auntie Jen in her love for giraffes! She willingly did about a zillion poses in front of them.
The kids got to go inside the goat enclosure to see them and brush them.
There were lots of great interactive things for the kids. Including “milking” these wooden cows.
The colors on the animals always leaves me in awe.
Monday | Ice Cream at Hornstra Farms
After the zoo it was time for homemade, local ice cream. We tried to go to Hornstra Farms’ new ice cream stand in June but their summer hours hadn’t started and they were closed.
The ice cream was delicious! Worth the wait.
The farm is beautiful. Had to capture this light:
Will’s smile with his one “grown-up” tooth just slays me!
Laura and I enjoyed the ice cream just as much as the kids!!
After we ate, we walked around to see the cows and take in the whole farm experience.
Monday | Kris took the kids home and Laura and I headed to the movies. We saw Boyhood. It was good, not great. A little long, but that’s what knitting is for.
There’s something terribly cliche and fantastic about summer movie watching, curled up in big comfy sweatshirts, digging into buttery popcorn that just makes my heart happy. And sharing that with a good friend makes it all the better!
Tuesday | Running
After all the ice cream it was time to burn a few calories on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday | Laura & I spent the morning being a bit lazy, then did some shopping before she had to leave. I got a cute new dress at TJ Maxx.
Tuesday | Dan and I had date night after Laura headed back to NYC.
It was a perfect night to eat outside on the deck overlooking the ocean.
Love this guy!
Wednesday | Dan had the day off too and we enjoyed a lazy morning. Knitting (her). Crossword puzzles (him). Golden Girls reruns (both)! I spent the TV time finishing my grandmother’s shawl (on her actual 80th birthday). Good timing. Dan and I called Gram shortly after to wish her a Happy Birthday in advance of her big party this weekend.
Thursday | Running at the Track
Learned that running at the track is probably not for me. I found it terribly boring. As it happened, a bunch of sports team started practicing right as I hit the 1 mile mark and I was getting in the way so I bailed. Lousy work out. Good learning experience.
Thursday | iPhone replacement.
My camera was broken. Brought it to the Apple Store. He didn’t even check to what was broken, they replaced it with practically no questions asked! Thank you Apple!
Thursday | We picked up our niece Aila and our nephew Will around 4p for a sleepover. I knit in the car while Uncle Dan drove…
…on the way to a surprise adventure to Pump & Jump for some play time!
They jumped for awhile and ran around giggling their heads off. Priceless. Then Dan bought a card with credits on it to play video games. I think he enjoys playing as much as they do. Though I have to say I did a lot of the heavy lifting, winning 4 stuffed animals in 1 try on the Claw Game! 
Thursday | Dinner
Dinner with kids= color books + tic tac toe competitions. Because they were so good, we let them bring their newly won stuffed animals in with us to play before dinner.
Thursday | Vintage Toy Fun
At home Will finally got to see Uncle Dan’s boyhood Star Wars collection (which he can appreciate now that he too has seen 2 of the movies). Got in some sorting and a little playing before bed.
Aila was only interested in determining who were “good guys” versus “bad guys” and then set about the task of cleaning them because they were “filthy.”
Friday| Playtime
After grocery shopping and breakfast, Aila and Will did some coloring while I cleaned up the kitchen and got ready for our friends to arrive for the weekend.
Friday | Chores
Then it was the kids’ turn to do some work. They don’t particularly like it, but they’re perfectly capable of helping out with the composting. It’s fun to watch them dump it and run!
Friday | Friend Time
My friend Christine, her husband Seamus and their beautiful twin girls Teaghan & Rhiannon came for a visit!
Friday | Swimming
Friday | Playing
Will is 7. Riley is 6. They spent a good hour playing music for each other. They remind me of teenagers already. Scary!
The little ones played in the “sandbox” (my Dad’s horseshoe pits)
Friday | Nighttime cookie making
Christine & Seamus, their twins, and I all stayed at Mom & Dad’s house for the weekend. As it turns out, my brother’s 2 daughters Riley and Millie were sleeping over too! Once Will and Aila went home and the little ones went to bed, Riley made some cookies for Gram’s party the next day. She’s a decorating extraordinare!
Saturday | Baby Shower
Saturday morning I snuck away from my friends and family to go to my good friend Erika’s baby shower. It was great to see friends and celebrate this soon-to-be-baby boy!
Erika loved the blanket I knit for her baby boy. It was a lovely party!
Saturday | Gram’s 80th Birthday Party
On Saturday we celebrated my grandmother’s 80th birthday and also my Aunt Milly’s birthday! It was a great celebration. Swimming, great food, beer + pina coladas. Fun for the whole family.
Kids + Cake + Smiles + Snuggles!
Quality time with my cousins!
Gotta have presents! Gram LOVED her shawl!
And of course there’s the CAKE!
Sunday | Post Party Chaos
My brother’s buck (affectionately called Bucko) lives at my parents’ house now. He was all festive for the party on Saturday…
But this was him come Sunday morning. Guess this means this party was literally off the hook? I don’t know, but I sure had a good time!
Sunday | Pool Day Fun
Sunday was the last day of the visit with our friends. It was the perfect pool day. Finally. Not a cloud in the sky. I swam a whole bunch of times. Will and Aila came back for the day to play with Teaghan and Rhiannon. It was the perfect end to an awesome vacation!
I love your Gram’s shawl. Very pretty.