Privacy Policy

You know how you are constantly getting those plain envelopes from financial institutions with plain old privacy policies inside?  That's got to be the most boring mail on the face of the earth.  Anyway, I've been feeling very private over the last few months, which makes my blog quite boring.  I believe we all go through these phases when, for whatever reason, we want to keep our thoughts close.  Social media makes this desire feel strange, since we've grown accustomed to sharing, liking, and commenting on every possible idea from here to Timbuktu. Nevertheless, when my gut tells me to shut my mouth and ponder in silence, that is what I must do.

However, one thing I can do--and have neglected miserably--is give simple updates on what is going on with our fam.  I.e. cute kid stories and pictures.  Let's face it, the kids are getting cuter everyday, but B.daddy and I are just getting older.

We have been doing very well.  As the weather has warmed up we've stayed very busy and happy playing hard with friends and working hard around the old homestead.  Both activities include large doses of sunlight, which we were desperate for!

Above you see the hill "behind" our house.  We live on a one way street approaching the back of our house.  Our front yard is our back yard and vice versa.  So the first sight of our house is from behind; it is NOT it's best side.  We can't do anything about the rock facade yet, but we can do something about the landscape.  We had three trees removed.  The kids thought this was awesome.  We literally left the house to make a Target run, and when we came back the trees were gone.  Never even saw the tree guys.   We've (mostly B.daddy) transplanted azaleas, lilacs, and hostas.  Even though everything is in Transplanted Mopey Plant Mode, it looks a thousand times better.  Symmetry people!  Symmetry!

Enjoying a park play date in New Hampshire and meeting our tiniest, newest friend that day.  

The kids were listening to Nancy Drew.  They love the stories, but if there's any mention of a ghost they get all giggly scared.  I believe Li'l Bit is trying to shield Rascal's ears. :)  She usually doesn't listen to them, but I think that has more to do with her not wanting to be still.

Here we are taking our end of the year field trip. (Rain was in the forecast, and my children were prepared.)  We studied flying creatures with two other families.  To celebrate the fact that we actually made it through the whole year together, we visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History.  It is a hidden gem, and worth the visit!

We are trying out some vegetable and herb gardening this year.  Instead of building a raised bed in our limited yard space, we're borrowing some community garden space.  We are very excited to see what comes of it.  I am cautiously excited since I've managed to kill half of the seeds I started indoors.  If I do have a green thumb it is restricted to the great outdoors.

Last weekend was a great one for the kids!  On Saturday we got to take them to a spring carnival to ride rides and play games.  Then Sunday our town was having a Touch-a-Truck.  We were there from opening to close!  They got to climb in all kinds of crazy vehicles, Li'l Bit got to make a free arrangement of flowers--a little out of place, and we got to see a helicopter land.  I also got to see a bunch of selfish parents pushing their kids to the front of lines, but that's a hopeless complaint.  People are selfish.  It happens.

Babydaddy went to California last week.  My kids have learned that that means they get to watch movies at dinner time and sleep in my room all night.  I don't mind it, I mean seriously it's the sweetest thing in the world.  I didn't sleep very well with all those elbows and knees, but I never do when he's gone anyway.

Our school year is winding down.  We've technically finished history and science.  So now I'm just focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic, which is plenty to keep us busy.  But how can I interrupt them when they're doing something this cute?!  They were "doing school" for their animals and dolls.  Gizmo needed to review his addition facts anyway, so I left them to it.  And I'm very surprised to say that plate (their breakfast) never did come tumbling down the back stairs.  I just knew it would.

So, there you have it.  Our little life over the last couple months.  The sun is shining, the kids are thriving, and B.daddy and I are soaking up every second.

Reptilian Behavior

"'Think of it,' said Frog.
   'We will skip through the meadows
   and run through the woods
   and swim in the river.
   In the evenings we will sit
   right here on this front porch
   and count the stars.'
  'You can count them, Frog,'
   said Toad.  'I will be too tired.
   I am going back to bed.'"

Feeling more like a Toad than a Frog tonight.

Good night, all.

Love That Dirty Water

This is why I love Boston; why I've loved it since we moved here as newlyweds in 2003:

You know where you stand.

Yeah, the city is awesome and the food is pretty spectacular. (When you can manage to taste it with three babies to support.  Which is not often.  Which makes it even more spectacular.)  The history is obviously incredible with both physical and dramatic portrayals year-round.  The architecture is to die for, and there's a park to play in every five blocks.

But what I love most is the culture, the people.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The people.  The honk-at-you, scream-at-you, flip-you-off people.  Do I enjoy being screamed at while I'm pulled over after a fender bender?  No, of course not.  Do I enjoy being flipped off? No.  (That's why I keep my eyes on the road--so as to not see that wagging finger.  Goodness knows I send them 'awagging everyday.)

Two weeks ago, when all of the Go Boston! social media stuff was floating around, I came across an article.  25, or some odd, Reasons I Love Boston.  The one about our roads was my favorite.  Look at a map of NYC and it's a grid, "So you can get from point A to point B."  Look at a map of Boston proper, it's a mess of jumbled up roads, "Because F* You."  The conditions here are harsh.  The weather, the traffic, the parking, the cost. of. everything, the truly mean people.  I have found there are two types of people in eastern Mass: those who love living here and would die to protect it, and those who hate living here and can't wait for a transfer back out of this place.  In the end, I know this city owes me nothing, and makes no promises to accommodate my desires.  I know where I stand.

Here's the thing:  When I lug my minivan into the city, I am under no delusion that the 625,000 strangers living there like me or will be nice to me.  Maybe you're wondering why this is a good thing?  Well, let's just be honest.  Not until you and I have three, separate, personal interactions can I decide whether or not you are trustworthy and likable.  Why smile and pretend that's not happening?  And if we know we'll never have those three interactions to begin with, why mess with it?  I know it might sound harsh, but it's true that I cannot be a true friend to everyone I pass on the street.  So you keep your eyes on the goal and walk fast.  (Or you will get run over.)

Let's say we make it past first base....When I'm meeting someone new here, I see two critical eyes examining my motives.  And I'm cool with that, because I'm doing the exact same thing.  New Englanders have high outer walls.  The wall says, "I'm busy, I've got people, who are you?"  I think I came out of the womb with that wall around me! (It's called being an introvert.)  This wall is not insurmountable by any means.  But one must be far more serious about scaling it than in other cultures where it's much lower.  A low outer wall often means the inner wall is very high, which can be shocking when the outer wall was so easy and smiley.  But once you get over the high outer wall, you're in.  The inner wall isn't nearly as imposing as the outer.  And that is where our story has a happy ending.

The friends we have made here, who really live here, are incredibly faithful.  It's as if we've made a conscious decision to plant our feet on this historic soil, we've tested one another in the fires of friendship, and now we're good.  We are loyal, and maybe even a little protective.  Because, you know, it's hard living here.  We've got to look out for one another.