Overly Academic

Unlike the most recent couple years, we actually made it to the Renaissance Faire in Bristol this year.  Last year Ilyana wasn’t at a good place to handle noise or crowds, and in years before the heat kept us away with a little one.  Overall, we’re very happy to have gone back.

The only downside of this year is that we didn’t actually get to sit down for a whole show.  We met up with some friends, ate great food, and headed out around 1:00.  If I’d been able to handle the heat better (5.5 mos pregnant + heat + walking = tired mom), we would have stayed longer.  Next year, if Ilyana has shaken her nap needs and the baby will sleep in her stroller, we will go in costume for a much longer day.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures from the Faire!

Ilyana playing in the kids area – with her favorite “rawr” picture pose.

Story time at the pirate ship…..

…where Ilyana decided the sand was much more interesting.

Ren Faire Corn!

Food on the go – the wagon made Ren Faire doable with little legs.

Gotta have the snow cone.  Not quite period, but very refreshing.

Ilyana’s favorite part – Dancing to music!

On the way out, the obligatory kids ride.  She had a great time despite the heat.

We’ve had some fun around the area lately, and had some visitors as well. Baba and Yiayia came to see our new digs, and Grandma Ann is just finishing a visit as well. The summer speed is pretty slow around the college, but there are plenty of things keeping us busy. A trip to Renfaire is in the works, as is a visit from Grandma Sue. Ilyana is in heaven having all her grandmas come within a month’s time!

Below are some pictures from around the area. We went to an art fair at Norskedalen’s Skumsrud Heritage Farm, and also saw the view from Granddad Bluff. The natural beauty of this area is just breathtaking.

Grandma and Ilyana being silly

One of the buildings at the farm…

…where this was the view from the porch.

Lovely farmland as well.

On the way back from the farm.

Our new favorite toy…bubble wrap!

Granddad Bluff

More bluff views.

The view from the top.

The top view of Viterbo.

Playing in the sand at the top of the bluff because, you know, it’s there.

Ilyana’s favorite pose…rar!

So, we’ve been a little busy lately!  The move to Wisconsin is complete, we’re getting closer to work being completed on the house to make it livable (read, new floors, paint, and a dishwasher), and we’re starting to get settled as a family in the area.   The time we spent apart is feeling more and more distant.  In some ways, it feels like I wasn’t really up here without them, and I suppose in some ways, I wasn’t.

Now that all the five hour road trips are done, we decided to relax….with another road trip.  Okay, so I had a meeting up in Ashland, and decided to make a weekend of it up in Superior.  It was really neat to be up in the hometown again, even if only for a few days.

From here out for the summer, we have to finish getting the dishwasher installed, get a new roof and a garage door, and do a minor amount of garden work.  Other than that, we’re just going to hang out and enjoy living in the house.  Oh, and get ready for Bob(by’s) arrival in October!

Here are two sets of pictures, one which Chibi took herself, and one of our time in Superior.  Enjoy!