House Preview

We have not yet moved into our new house that we have had for almost a month because we are doing some work.  I am not decided on how well I will document the process and whether there will be a separate home renovation blog, but as a little teaser preview, here's a fun before and after pic of what is happening so far:  Ceilings were smoothed from prickly plaster to smooth and (gasp wood-lovers!) we painted the wood wainscoting...

Living Room Before Paimt

Living Room after paint

Looks like I need to work on recreating the same shot (I was not planning on doing this) and there is so much more to come, given that I love my new house, but really don't like many of the finishes and fixtures in it.  Hello?  Who has fireplace makeover ideas for me?

Tooling Around

Sam and Benjamin, one of her many boyfriends

 Look who is awake and playing!  Both of us, for once...

Julia and Elliot ... one recovering from goopy eye.

Sam on a mission.

Samantha's missions often include plumber bum, but she gets the job done.

Happy St. Pat's & Kassi's Birthday

Top of the Cookie to You!

Oh, she is a tasty morsel!

Just hanging out in my 3mos - 6mos sweater.  It's too  big, but too cute to resist.

Happy Birthday Kassi!  Look at that cake!  It is from the Bobby Flay Throwdown with Bread & Chocolate in Newton and is their version of Boston Cream Pie.  I am sad to say I did not make this beautiful creation, but was very happy that we could buy it less than a mile from our house.  And, as Elliot said, "Why didn't Bobby Flay tell us he was coming to Newton.  You should text him, Mom, and tell him to tell us when he is here!"  

Julia is 1 Month

Happy 1 month to Julia.  And happy downloading pictures finally to me!

Julia all suited up to go to her 1 month appointment.

The watchful big sisters are never far from Julia.

last week, she started to "wake up" a bit more.

Adapting to life in her bouncy chair chaos (not chaotic at moment)

"Mom, enough with flash already!"

And lest anyone think life is always staged and perfect, here is a realistic view of our current temporary headquarters.  This is my bedroom, office, den, storage unit, nursery, changing station, etc.  We closed on our new house last week.  Our contractors are starting today, and alleleuia, we should be moving in the next couple of weeks.  I can blame the state of this room on our temporary situation, but who knows, maybe I won't be any neater in our new digs! 

There is a baby lying among that mess of cookbooks and paint samples...

Don't let this picture fool you either.  It is the first time I have been dressed in a month - with hair and make-up done too.  And only because we had 2 doctor appointments and a trip to OMG, register Elliot for Kindergarten ... and because Kassi is around to help out again.  

Auntie Wendy found matching Puma outfits for Sam & Julia.  Don't tell adidas we are cheating on them.

Samantha always comes in our room and says, "Can I have some appetizer?"  And by this she means "sanitizer" because she wants to hold Julia.

Look at that gorgeous profile!