We went for a hike not too far from home. We tried to go to the Sihlsprung – it’s a narrow gorge part of the Sihl River – but the path was closed due to water and storm damage. So we hiked near it and still enjoyed the beautiful scenery and a nice picnic.
This weekend we had a friends party for Claire’s Birthday. She invited a bunch of girlfriends for cupcakes and then we went swimming. Then a few of the girls came to our house for a sleepover. That’s a lot of party time!
Here’s Claire putting up decorations.
I made vanilla cupcakes from the King Arthur Flour blog and this yummy chocolate frosting from Joy the Baker. Claire did all the piping and added some beautiful sprinkles that Grandma J. gave us. We love sprinkles!!!
No more sad cold tortillas for us – nope. Today I made a tortilla warmer out of an IKEA dish towel. Yes, I do such important work!
And then Bea tried it on her head.
And then we saw a big rainbow.
I left my heart hat in Sicily. Ha.
I somehow forgot my beloved bucket hat when we were hiking in Sicily. Summer’s coming and I must have something to shade my eyes so I found a good free pattern here.
This one coordinates with the quilt that I recently finished. I think I’ll make another in a plain color.
And here’s a photo of my cute nine-year old eating a pretzel.
Claire’s birthday is so close to Mother’s Day it makes me think of motherhood and childhood and growing and time. Lately I’m always asking Claire to speak up. I think it’s a combination of my hearing being bad and of Claire being a quiet mumbler. My girls are turning from little kids to big kids and it feels strange to me. But it’s also good times because they are more independent and they say smart funny things. Claire is into her friends and stuffed animals and peel off face masks and washi tape and an app called Tiny Tower. She likes to eat tortellini and nectarines. Brian calls her Clarence, but she doesn’t like that nickname. She also doesn’t like the Simpsons. She likes the color purple and she gives me great hugs at night that I suspect are just a tactic to stall her bedtime. She is a sweatheart.
For her birthday she requested a trip to the trampoline place. And chocolate cake. She wanted a big panda from IKEA. And I made her a little cardboard slice of watermelon because she is also into all things watermelon at the moment.
Nine!
Here are some photos from our last bit of the girls’ spring break.
I still haven’t seen a hedgehog (Igel) but I did see this particularly dramatic poster.
Claire wanted to make a watermelon bag – so we added a watermelon pocket to a canvas bag that we had around.
The girls and I went to an animal park (the same one that we took Jennifer and Jenna and Grandma to). I love the maps that are on the train line we took. They’re on the little tables between the seats.
Super windy day!
Bea is a goat whisperer.
The girls think it’s funny to open every drawer and cupboard after they empty the dishwasher. Rolling my eyes.
Brian completed his 16th marathon today!
And I also completed a sort of marathon today. A marathon of sewing. I finished my quilt! Yay for Brian. Yay for me. Yay for cozy quilts.
I used cotton batting so the quilting was a little easier and the light weight makes it a summer quilt. The white fabric was a thick old sheet that I got at the brocki. It has the nicest floppy drape to it. The backing is by Rifle Paper Company and Cotton and Steel.
Now time to get serious about Claire’s birthday – she turns nine next weekend.
Just few more photos of the last day of our trip to Sicily. It was a good vacation – mostly because the girls were fun and up for lots of walking.
On our last day, before we had to fly out, we went to a park near our hotel in Taormina and then took a walk down to the sea. You can see Mount Etna in the distance below.
And two final photos that Brian took on his runs. Usually around 3:00 pm when we’re on vacation I’m tired from walking and being out so I take a nice nap. I’m on vacation after all. But Brian never naps – he goes for a run – usually up a mountain and he ends up seeing more beautiful views than the rest of us.
Thanks Sicily – you were lovely!
feel nice!
Laowai 