Do you want to build a snowman?

Winter wonderland...

Hello all! We are slowly digging out from under record snowfall. Take a look...

The front yard...

 View from kitchen sink....makes doing dishes enjoyable. almost.

 Desi's morning dove friend not happy with the birdfeeder situation...

Don't tell the locals I said so, but this has been a truly beautiful winter. There have been so many amazing icicle formations and clingy, snow-covered trees you can't help but notice the beauty.
Too many snow days and too much shoveling, true, but spring is coming and the days are lengthening and we already feel the pull. For now, we will enjoy the snow while it lasts...and keep those wood stoves burning!

Still here! Clearing out old posts and getting ready for new (still having a push-pull relationship with the great social experiment that is the internet). Studio is slammed, kids are huge, home is making the annual transition to 'summer beach house.'
All is well.
Pics soon.
love.

Ben's Summer Highlights.

This summer kept us home for the 4th (Ben's #1 wish for 2010) with manageable fireworks. It's been all about jellyfish for Ben this year - a new exhibit at Mystic dedicated to jellies was well-timed as we had checked out every library book available on the subject.
Occasional naps (look like anyone you know?) and playing in the rain keep things cool.

Desi's Summer Highlights.

We are as busy as ever going wherever the wind takes us this summer. Our stay-cationing has offered daily ocean/pond/pool swims, a few visits to Mystic Aquarium, and (thanks to Desi's driving force) daily yoga/ bike rides/ scootering/ walks/ gardening fill in the gaps and keep us all in motion (our own personal trainer... Jillian Michaels has nothing on Des).
Life around here is pretty full, I guess, and that's how we like it.

Who, me?

What? Me in a blog picture?! Rare, I know. Favorite spot, favorite kids, favorite kind of day.

Doozie Dances

That's our girl - rockin' out to Joan Baez and Bob Marley wearing a dress Deanna sent her with her basketball shorts (not showing but a must with EVERY outfit) and Michigan State shirt.

The girl's got style.

Wa-hoo!!!!

You guys HAVE to check out Karen and Joel's blog for the big news. We are so excited we can hardly stand it!!!
They are going to be the most awesome, loving, funny, brilliant biologist parents ever! Congratulations you two - we can't wait for this new addition to the family! Benny and Des are asking all sorts of interesting questions (who's belly will the baby grow in? will my cousin have hair like mine? ...can't imagine there's a chance of that...). We couldn't be happier for you guys! Lots of love to you!

Happy Birthday Desaroo!

Our sweet, funny, not-so-little girl turned 3 last week (2/20)! Unfortunately, we were all demolished by the flu and completely out of commission the whole week. On Saturday we were finally able to sit up at the table and have a little celebration! We are still moving slowly and sleeping a lot...this one was a doozy!
In spite of recent illness, Desi makes sure her animals are dressed to the nines...especially Cleo (a present from Grandma and Grandpa). The girl has style!

Happy Birthday Benny!

Our sweet boy is 7!!! Ben, you are such a blessing and have helped us grow so much right along with you! Thank you for making us a family!
You continue to amaze us with your humor, enthusiasm, compassion and love.
We are so lucky to be your parents, and so excited to see what a truly beautiful person you are. Happy, happy birthday!
(The last picture was taken on Ben's birthday (2/5) but my internet connection was down and I couldn't post until tonight)

Yeeeee-haaaa!

Our first snow was followed by rain and is now solid ice. Word to the wise: although it looks like good sledding out back, it is not for the faint of heart. Ben pulled 3-Gs sliding down the driveway, up the mulch pile, airborne on the back side and flew into the brush. I won't even tell you how my ride ended, let's just say she who laughs hardest, falls hardest.

Oh, and Erin, a canoe is not the same thing.

give thanks.

Another wonderful Thanksgiving weekend was had by all. This beautiful tradition gets better every year - lots of good food, napping, bonfires, creativity, laughter, beach walks and did I mention napping? Erin and I were on duelling sewing machings making a bunch of reusable, reversable gift bags out of fabric scraps from our endless scrap drawers. Evan holds the record for longest naps amidst the chaos of our living room. He also was our in-house IT guy, once again, hooking up my web-cam so we can talk to Grandma and Grandpa with video - awesome for the kids to see them regularly and have a bedtime story from Grandma! Paul and Desi get this year's cutest couch napping picture award! Thank you, friends, for being such an important part of our family!

gross.

Yes, that is a worm-infested, vomiting jack-o-lantern.
My personal crusade to counter-act the Disney-princess, mass-marketing, nauseating plastic spectacle that I still believe can be the wonderful Dia de los Muertos.

here we go again...

Well, it was Peace Fair weekend again and, true to form, the boys are passed out on the couch. Evan, Benny and cousin Leon all passed out after one of Paul's famous breakfasts. What is it about the boys and this couch?!?

summer favorites...

I was just recording some of our summer favorites in the kid's journals and thought I'd share a few. We'd love to hear your fav's from this season!

music: anything from Michael Franti, 'Sons and Daughers' -M. Ward (thanks Annie!), 'Why Can't We Be Friends'

kids' books: Owen & Mzee (awesome!), Frog and Toad, Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, the books Ben made in school, any firefigher/rescue book (Ben), Very Hungry Caterpiller (Desi), I could go on forever...

movie: Bridge to Terrabithia (gave Desi this summer's catch phrase*) and the movie David made on his visit this summer "Train Ride to Boston"

catch phrase:
Desi: "Free the Pee! Free the Pee!"* (great potty training mantra)
Ben: "Rock on." (seems to apply to almost anything)

food: blueberries (picked ourselves at URI's farm!) and Del's lemonade

activities: beach, of course (includes beachcombing, boogie boarding, sandcastles, rock climbing...) and backyard bonfires

obsessions:
Ben: firefighters
Desi: dogs

My favorite thing about this summer was watching Benny and Des get even closer (and making brother/sister day official on June 28th!). It's not always easy around here, but at the end of the day, there's nothing better and no place I'd rather be.

Dude.

Ben has become quite the boogie boarder this year. He could spend all day, every day in the water...I love it! We are in the surf every chance we get!

Doesn't this beach look so New England?

This is our summer...

Ben...you can see he likes order in his world.

Desi and her friend/kindred spirit/sitter, Devon...the girls love to play sea monster, covering themselves with mud and roaring at the top of their lungs!


We've spent a LOT of time at the beach this year - the CA transplants have found an awesome beach: easy to get to, a stones throw from home, decent surf, clean water and parking so close it's embarassing. Even Paul gets to the beach more than he did in SD! Who'da thought?!

Desi goofing with Mike

Having a hard time turning this one right side up...eeesh.

More fun at camp!

Is that Minnie Mouse?