The right decision

Sometimes it's so hard to know if you made the right decision, but other times it's so clear.  When I see my girls playing with our new neighbors, making friends, and trying new things, I'm so positive that the house and location we chose were the right ones.


Playing with our 7-year-old neighbor and her friend.  Sophie & Sienna love big girls!



Sienna going for a ride with her new friend Gracen.



The girls at a nearby playground.



Boring works for me

Deciding on an exterior paint color isn't as simple as looks.  I did everything right: visited the paint store multiple times, bought samples, painted blocks of my house, looked at them at all different times of the day, asked the opinion of anyone and everyone who would listen, however when the painter started priming with tinted primer my husband and I knew it was a big uh-oh.  Deep Silver was actually kind of purple. 

The wrong color: Benjamin Moore Deep Silver

After many, many arguments and agreeing that we'd get marriage counseling, my husband and I decided to change it before the real painting commenced.  It took my husband saying, "I just don't want to live in the whimsical house" that actually made sense.  I think I might have wanted to live in the "whimsical house" but for how long?

The right color: Benjamin Moore Platinum Gray



My house (not quite finished with plastic over the windows and doors) in Platinum Gray

Platinum Gray has brought peace back to our little house (for an additional fee, of course).  It's a little boring and safe but I really like it anyway.

The dogs days aren't quite over

When one of the twins turned 2.5 I thought there must be something physically wrong with her.  She had begun crying (and excessively drooling) for long periods of time, sometimes for up to 45 minutes, refusing to get dressed and brush her hair, or taking over an hour to do so, and generally making me nuts.  So I made an appointment with the pediatrician under the guise of a weight check.  He looked her over thoroughly, and explained to me that her only problem was that she was 2.5.  He warned that around every six month I might see a major personality change.  Great.

Recently, the other twin has started the same cuckoo behavior.  Now I've started yelling.  I had quasi-patience with one child behaving like a lunatic, I mean, 2.5-year-old, but two at once means there's very little peaceful time.

Waiting for the train on my birthday.  Busy girls are pleasant girls.

I keep reminding myself that they'll be starting school in September, but it doesn't seem soon enough so  I started looking for jobs, so that I would have a reason to send them to daycare full time.  I've heard there's a good one just down the street.



Sometimes, just sometimes, they make their own fun, and no one gets hurt.
 Is this an ad for Calypso for Target?


I understand why someone would act nutty when they're tired or hungry, but I can't understand flipping out for no reason (the twins refer to it as flipping out too).  If they're totally occupied with things they want to do they're pretty great, but the second it's not about them having fun, all hell breaks loose. 

I realize it's hard to tell from these pictures.

Summer fun: Essex

With the help of my mum, we were able to take a mid-week trip to a Gloucester beach (the twins max out at 2 hours on the beach so it was more like a jaunt) and made a stop at J.T. Farnham's in adorable Essex for fried clams. 

The view from Farnham's.



Fried clam plate & Sam Adams Summer - the perfect combo.

 The staff at Farnham's couldn't have been sweeter, and the cashier made the phenomenal Sam Adams recommendation. 

J.T. Farnham's, 88 Eastern Ave Essex, MA (978) 768-6643

House Colors

We're still mid-renovation on our new/century old house.  Walls (most) have been painted, floors installed or refinished, heating upgrade and central A/C is nearly complete, kitchen cabinets are in, but the punch list is huge!  The latest project is painting the house, and it's been quite the challenge choosing a color.  Initially I thought "cottage" colors, pale yellows, blues, or grays, but after turning the front-side of our house into a giant patchwork quilt, we've decided to go darker (ooooooh scaaaary).

From left, down and across: Marlboro Blue, Platinum Gray, Dior Gray, Wolf Gray, Galveston Gray, Deep Silver, Buff, Ozark Gray, and Weston Flax.  All by Benjamin Moore.

The color samples on the front of the house solicited a lot of interest, comments & curiosity, from neighbors and passers-by.  What we eventually realized is we just wanted to see the difference in color....we wanted a change.  Additionally, there are already two yellow houses on our street.

Inspiration came from this house which is also in our town. 

Finally, I saw a house of about the same age as ours (late 1800s) that I loved.  I chased down the owner, and he offered to let me come and try and match the color, and I think we've come close.  The painter has started, and the color we chose is Deep Silver.  Now to tackle that door, the garage, roof,shed, etc. The list never ends!

Happy Birthday America!

Photos from the pre-July 4th Parade organized by our local library. 

Sienna (left) and Sophie (right) making friends.

Since these pics are from a library event, I  should note that we have the sweetest children's room librarians in America!  They remember every child,  plan story hours + craft three days a week during the school year, host musicians and various other events, not to mention have the patience of saints.  Many thanks to them and to children's room librarians everywhere.

Today we are not at the library, we're grilling, playing, swimming, and enjoying our independence.  Have a safe and happy holiday!