This weekend I...

• Watched cousins play together
• Drank wine with my Dad
• Took a long walk with my Mom
• Ate my weight in Dunkin' Donut muffins
• Watched Anna as she split her lip falling off a recumbent bike
• Watched Anna get a bloody nose falling down the stairs
• Drove 13 hours
• Swam in a hotel pool
• Visited Buttermilk Falls 
• Actually got nostalgic about high school 
• Played in the snow
• Cried, laughed, and celebrated my Aunt Sue

 

D.C. doesn't get a lot of snow each winter, at least not while I have lived here.  So, when we got a couple of inches yesterday, I was very excited to take Anna outside.  She was not as excited.  She kept complaining she was cold and wanted to go inside, even though I told her playing in the snow was fun.  And, for the record, it was not even cold outside.  I kept taking pictures, hoping she would have some fun.

 

Then, she fell and was totally over it.

 

Later in the afternoon, with much of the snow already melted, she ventured out again.  

 

She crushed that snowball and then wanted to go back inside again. 

Apple Picking

We headed back to Winchester, Virginia for our third annual apple picking adventure.  We went a bit earlier this year, so it was super hot, but as usual, it was super fun. 

We had a great weekend, so great that I am just getting around to talking about it.  Kyle's parents came to visit and we kept busy at the zoo, at the outlet mall, and, of course, at the pool. 

 

Kyle and I even had a date night at a fancy (at least to us) restaurant to celebrate our anniversary, and I managed to get in a 2.82 mile run with my sister, even though it was 85 degrees out, with 289% humidity, at 8am.  

Very successful weekend.

Dear Detroit - 

Detroit, oh Detroit.  Poor you.  You have such a bad reputation and you sort of bring the whole state of Michigan down with you.  I think it is undeserving.  Yes, you are going through a rough time, but I think good things are coming your way.  Here are some things to keep in mind, Detroit, as you work through some things.

If you are going to host a zoo, you should probably make sure the animals are actually available to live at the zoo, especially the big animals.  We visited your zoo, and while we did have fun (and the polar bear exhibit probably made up for it), many of your exhibits were empty without any explanation.  And, due to recent events where I live, I am pretty sure a lion, a grizzly bear, and a few black and brown bears are walking around Royal Oak in search of a good time. 

 

You might want to step up your stadium tours.  I appreciate that your Comerica Park tour is only $6 but it could have been a bit more lively.  Also, you might ask the folks at Ford Field to not take off from work with little notice.  You have a lot of die hard sports fans, Detroit.  Tigers shirts are everywhere right now, so you should pay back your fans with good tours (and a championship or two).

Keep in mind that your surrounding cities and villages are really cute, so maybe you could play up their appeal a bit more?  I spent 15 years in Rochester, and this past week in Oxford, and I could move to either.  Oxford is unique.  It is a mix of rural landscape and lake tourist town.  I love the ice cream shops and my brother-in-law loves the Tim Hortons.

 

Remember that you are hosting my parents now and you provided me the best place to grow-up.  I appreciate that, no matter what you are doing with your finances, and I always will.  Keep working hard, Detroit, I am rooting for you!

 

Love, Katy 

Note:  More pictures from our week in Michigan here.

Good Things

 

• I got to visit one of my favorite cities, Chicago!
• Even better?  I took myself out for a night and saw Second City.  It was so so good and every one of the actors was super talented and funny.  I hope they all become big stars soon.

• I get to see my niece almost everyday.
• Even better?  Anna gets to see her cousin almost everyday.  She interacts with her a bit and is working on saying her name.  "Laide?"

  Thanks, Sean, for the pic.

• Only 1 month until we are on the beach!
• Even better?  Only 6 months until I get to check off visiting a new state.  Two actually - Maine and New Hampshire. 

• My mood is significantly improving with our wonderful weather.
• Even better?  It's going to continue - 70 and sunny all weekend.

• We are on our second month of Insanity
• Even better?  This is the last month.

More pictures of Chicago here.

Day Date

Every now and then Kyle and I take Anna to day care on our Friday's off and enjoy the day just the two of us.  Sometimes that means work around the house but this past Friday it meant a day out on the town.  

After a quick side trip to the doctor for some antibiotics, we went to the movies.  (Note to doctors:  If I say I do not want Penicillin because it makes me nauseous, do not judge me for claiming an allergy, just prescribe something else.)  We saw Mud (a bit slow but still very good) in the most comfortable theater seats ever!  We probably should have paid another $7 just to take a nap.

   

After, we had lunch at Circa.  I have always wanted to try this place and it was good.  Although, I only got garden salad, so my recommendation might not mean anything.  (The scale at the Dr. was really off, but I ate salad just in case.)
 

After our late lunch it was already time to head back to Census to pick Anna up.  I do feel a little bit guilty about our days off but not guilty enough to keep from enjoying them.