We had a very full and happy weekend. In fact, I didn't get around to doing my meal planning post this week because we were so busy. On Friday evening, we left for a basketball tournament in Burlington, Ontario, which is just minutes away from our hometown of Hamilton, where my in-laws live.
We asked them to watch Jolene the dog while we stayed at the hotel with my son's teammates. Of course, Nonna fed us dinner when we dropped off the dog. That can't hurt, can it?
Here's my boy hard at work. His team didn't end up making the finals, but they had a great time anyway, partying hard in the hotel pool after the games. I pity the poor girls who tried to sit peacefully in the hot tub.
Basketball knees.
We had some friends in our room for sushi and drinks. My daughter hung out with a friend as well. This is her a few minutes after her friend left.
Tournament over, my son returned home with a friend. The rest of us headed back to Nonna and Papa's house to get the dog. While Nonna was heating up some lasagna, we went to show our girl the escarpment steps that her father and I used to climb regularly when we were teens. See Jolene the beagle mix in the photo above? She was eager to climb those steps. She practically pulled me up.
Once we reached the top, Jolene wasn't as eager to go back down.
Neither was my daughter, as you can see.
These are some of the Hamilton houses that my husband and I used to admire. We always wanted an orange brick Victorian home. Instead we live in the suburbs. Life is funny like that.
After our climb, it was back to Nonna's lasagna and Papa's wine. It only takes one glass of it to feel woozy. My daughter took some photos of her dear Papa:
If you haven't seen them already, take a look at these pictures of Papa's 75th birthday party, taken at my sister-in-law's beautiful rural home last summer.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too.
I have some pics from when we returned home to share soon.
Bye for now.
What a great weekend!!! Those steps... How cool that they are part of your past! And, I can only imagine how good your in laws home must have smelled... Lasagna, yummm.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, Yes, it was a wonderful weekend. I miss those steps. I feel like I would get more exercise with those steps to motivate me. But I guess I'm just making excuses. ;) The lasagna was scrumptious! :) Jo
DeleteBurlington is my old stomping grounds, and Hamilton was my mom's :) I've never seen the steps before. I love those old red brick homes in Hamilton too. My great-grandfather helped build many of them along Aberdeen St! Looks like your in-laws are a very sweet and welcoming couple who love to spoil everyone! Wendy
ReplyDeleteYou should give the steps a try! :) Cool that your gg helped build those homes. They are so pretty. I always wanted to live near Aberdeen. My in-laws are exactly as you describe them. :) Jo
DeleteLove your Posts! Great Family!
ReplyDeleteThe last 2 Pictures are my Favorites ,don´t know why .. but it is so :)
Lovely Greetings :)
Thanks! Probably because my little girl took those pics! :) Jo
DeleteThose are A LOT of steps. That looks so fun!!!
ReplyDeleteYes...a LOT. One man was doing it four times. Definitely a good workout!
DeleteI bet your legs were burning by the time you got to the top!!!
ReplyDeleteMostly I was out of breath. But my legs did wobble going down. ;)
DeleteAll those steps, but what a great workout,
ReplyDeleteI would be up for the challenge.
Nice family photos and meal :-)
Thanks Kym!
DeleteI need to go back wearing sneakers and see if I can do it twice! :)
What lovely pictures - and those steps are just amazing, I will have to make sure we head down that way whilst we are still in Canada.
ReplyDeleteKate x
Kate at Home
You should Kate. Just come in through west Hamilton, rather than the Burlington skyway. If you come that way, you will think it's all factories. ;)
DeleteThose houses are amazingly gorgeous. I'd love to own a house like that someday. Those stairs are killer-but would be a great workout!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love houses like that Laurie, but old houses are hard to come by (and expensive) where I live now.
DeleteI really want to do those stairs again. Too bad I don't live close. :)
Your dad was really proud of his grandson's look of determination on the basketball court.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly was determined that day, Mom. :)
DeleteOkay. Lasagna is my food weakness. I can eat more lasagna than it is fit for humans to consume. Am I the only one to fixate on the food? Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so with your daughter-- stairs are much harder when coming down...
Oh, I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm all about the food, wherever we go! :) Jo
DeleteThat place looks familiar, bringing back some memories, Glad to se everyone is well.
ReplyDeletePete Stampone
Hi Pete, Hopefully we can all get together now that we are out of hibernation! :)
DeleteLove those houses! And especially love the photo of Papa at the end there :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. :)
DeleteThey are great houses indeed. So full of character. I imagine they would be quite expensive to update though. That's the thought I comfort myself with! ;)
What a full and lovely weekend! It can be so refreshing to get out of town, and then to spend time with family? Perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to get away isn't it? Somewhere you can't see the laundry and the cleaning that needs to be done. ;)
DeleteGreat family Jo. I'm glad you had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Jo
DeleteThank yo so much for sharing these photos with us. Your family is precious. I want some of Nonna's cooking. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the old bricks homes. They look very much like the ones here in Troy
Thanks! You are very kind! :)
DeleteI have never been to Troy. We stopped in Albany last year. I will have to check it out next time! :)