What I did on my summer vacation...

God I have not written an essay like this in a long, long time.

Last week I went to the beach and got a tan. I know, I know, I need to watch my skin so I don't get cancer. And I did put sun screen and sat under the umbrella, and stayed inside one afternoon when I was feeling a little to beaten up by the sun. But, I do love me some nice sun-kissed cheeks! It makes me feel like I am not fast approaching my 30's *gulp*.

The first cool thing I want to share with you is this:

GREEN EGGS! As in Green Eggs and Ham! How incredibly cute is that!

Anyhoo, a lovely time was had by all. And when I mean all, I mean, Tony's entire family (mom, dad and two sisters) and their S.O.s, my mom, my 2 brothers, Tony's aunt and uncle and their daughter. Full House indeed! In most tight quarters situations such as this one, drama and chaos ensues after the second full day. Luckily, we all get a long pretty well, and there was not much drama. (Except when my mom wanted to watch "Cantando Por Un Sueno" while I was watchin "So You Think You Can Dance?". Not a pretty scene.

I brought plenty of books and magazines to entertain me, and Somewhat Cowl as well. Luckily, I have been teaching myself to knit and read at the same time, so much knitting was done. I love knitting in the round from the top down. I especially love that you can try on your garment and see how it fits while you are knitting it so you can make any needed modifications. If only I had actually done that.

See how it is so not fitted in the waist? And how the neckline is too droopy? And how it definetedly does not look like this? This is how far a long I was on Thursday, which is 7 straight days of knitting. I was bummed. I asked everyone in the house, and some passerby's if I should frog it (just kidding - but kinda funny if I had actually gone up to random people at the beach wearing a sweater in 100 degree weather asking them what they thought - hee!). Most people that had seen me knitting it all week suggested I just leave as is (tony's mom), or give it to them (tony's sister), or put it in the wash so it "shrinks a leetle" (my mom), or to "gain some weight so it would fit right" (still too shocked by that one to remember who said it). But Tony's cousin convinced me to undo it. If I kept asking everyone's opinion, it meant I was not happy with it, so just redo!

So I did. I did not take a picture of it undone cause I believe I was crying at the time. But now, a week later, I am at the exact same spot - and it looks terrific! So much more fitted and lovely! I am hoping to finish it this weekend so I can show you guys. (Salina pics first - I promise!)

In other news, I got my mom to start knitting again! This is her in the car ride back home finishing up a pair of slippers like the ones I made before. I had to translate the pattern to Spanish (not easy) because that is how she learned to knit. But she finished the pair. Go MAMA GOOO!

I was supposed to keep the pair to add to my pile of guest slippers, but she was so proud of herself that she must have "accidentally" dropped them in her bag. Sneaky.

I hope she keeps it up so it will all come back to her and she can teach me some new techniques. She used to make us sweaters with no patterns, no nothing! I will have to find some pictures and show them to you so you can see how talented my mom is.

Speaking of talented parents, my dad is showing his paintings in downtown D.C. this weekend in some hoighty toighty gallery. He is very excited about it, so if you are in the D.C. area, stop by! And if you have money, buy one of his paintings! Hee hee..

Finally, this is what Tony, his dad (big Tony we call him) and my brother did on our summer vacation:

They did not fall in. Twice.