Sunday, April 24, 2011

Florida Vacation and Easter in Charleston

After a hard month of March, Sohail and I took a week off to go visit Daniel in Miami (after years of promising to visit!), spend some time in the Keys, and see family in Charleston.

Sohail and Daniel on a little Spanish-like street in Miami
At a latino cafe in Miami
There are beautifully groomed ficus tress all over Miami
The Holocaust Memorial in Miami
Lots of cool art deco architecture in Miami.
Spending the afternoon on South Beach. It was great people watching but no really our scene (we're too out of shape an not tan enough!).
South Beach
More South Beach
The Delano Hotel where we went for drinks. This photo really doesn't do it justice. The place is incredible
Driving down to Key West through the Keys.
Watching sunset our first night in Key West.
Watching street performers in Key West.
At the butterfly conservatory in Key West.
The butterfly conservatory had all these cool little birds there to eat the insects (but presumably no the butterflies...).
Having lunch overlooking a beach in Key West.
We wanted to go windsurfing but the conditions were bad so we settled on spending the afternoon in these two chairs.
Snorkeling on Looe Key.
This was 5 miles off shore and the water was still so blue.
Then we had lunch at this cute little spot.
Watching another beautiful sunset from a roof in Key West.
This time, the sun snuck behind a cloud before making another appearance. It was breathtaking.
An awesome view flying out of Key West.
Right as we arrived in Charleston it started hailing like I've never seen before.
A rainbow during the hail storm.
We had aperetif with Becca, Karim, and their new baby, Nathan. He was a perfect baby and so cute!
Before having brunch with my Dad, he took us on a cool walking tour of part of Charleston.
We found these "figs" but found out later that they're actually kumquats.
Today we had Easter brunch at my Dad and Joanne's. Derek and Avea drew for a while.
My Dad played with his rubix cube. He's a pro!
Joanne wrapped things up in the kitchen.
My Mom checked on the kids!
Sohail and I chatted with Sarah and Jonathan.
And then we all had brunch. Melissa's there on the left.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Late Mardi Gras and Norouz Preparations

The best thing about having three cultures in our home (Persian, French, and American) is that there always seems to be a holiday around the corner. Tuesday we missed mardi gras so tonight I made crepes and we had French cider for a belated celebration. And before that we started the preparations for our Sofreh Haft Seen (a table with seven items that start with S in Farsi which brings luck in the new year).

This is the fish we got for our Haft Seen table.
His name is Norouz but we call him Nor for short.
Dying eggs.
Sohail dying eggs for the first time ever!!
Our mostly complete Haft Seen.
This is the first Haft Seen we've ever made.
And we went right on to the French traditions with mardi gras dinner.


Saturday, February 5, 2011

Mt Vernon

Sarah recently found a great deal online for discount tickets to visit Mt Vernon. Last weekend we cashed in out vouchers to go visit George Washington's former home with Sarah, Barney, and their firends Jim and Laura. After the visit, we had lunch at a restaurant there before walking around Old Towne Alexandria.

Mt Vernon
It was a pretty grey day...

Still lots of snow on the ground.

Sarah, Barney, and Sohail

As we were walking around, we saw all these kids, who seemed to be on a school trip, run into the field to start a massive snowball fight!


Thursday, January 27, 2011

Maman's Retirement and 60th Birthday

My Mom just turned 60 and retired in one shot. To celebrate we went to Harper's Ferry for a weekend of hiking, games, good food, and relaxing by the fire place. Then we were lucky enough to have Maman at home for a week. It was great to come home to someone who had had such great adventures every day and now I can't wait to retire.


Sohail and Derek relaxing already
Hiking
Derek making a snow angel
In Harper's Ferry
At the fish market in DC the following weekend
Happy Sohail
Happy Maman