He Walks!

It's official, 1 week shy of 16 months, and Gabe finally decided to walk.  Way to go, boy!

Push!

Ellie loves pushing Gabe on the swings.  I enjoy not being on swing-duty.

Photo June 21

"Where You Slept."

Here Ellie is (rather unconvincingly) pretending to fall asleep in my bed.  It's one of her favorite things to do.

Painted Fireplace

So the bricks surrounding our fireplace were already painted, as in this photo...

And, frankly, I never understood why the previous owners painted the bricks the same color as the walls.  To me, it felt like the mantel was just floating in space.  So from the first time I saw pictures of the house I said, "I'll repaint those bricks."  And today I did.

A small change, and one easily accomplished during naptime, but the first official "project" I've accomplished in the new place.  I'll take it.

Photo June 20

Today's prompt is "Fave Photo You've Ever Taken."  Man, that's a hard one.

XOXO

...because there are few things better than gratuitous pictures of toddler smooches.

Photo June 19 (HOUSE!)

So today's photo prompt is "Imperfect."  And nothing is currently more imperfect (other than my driving skills) than our house.  And since some of you have been clamoring for house photos....here goes.  Just have pity.  It's only been 3 weeks, and we have a long, long, long way to go.

Well, hello there.  This is the front garden full of flowers (multiple rose bushes! lilacs! iris!)  My goal is to keep it alive.

Living room.  Eventually we want to make this a sitting room/library and move the tv downstairs.

Here's the other end of the living room.

And the view into the dining room from the living room.  Um, yeah.  We need a dining table.

The view from the kitchen into the dining room.  Hi, Sophie!

Into the kitchen from the dining room.

Other kitchen view.  That door there is to the mudroom/backdoor entrance.  

And now we're upstairs.  Kids' room!  I'm keeping them together until they're old enough to complain about it.

Kids' room, other angle.

The "little room."  No idea.

Master bath.  I skipped pictures of the master bedroom and the guest room.  I would have had to make beds.  :)

And here's the basement.  All potential, no reality.  We hope to make this the tv room/game room/etc.

Backyard patio!  We have no grass - which means no mowing!

So that's it.  That's the tour.  We still have to paint, hang art, organize better, etc.  But so far we're really enjoying it.  And we can't wait for you to come visit.

Photo June 18

I've dropped the ball the last two days on the Photo a Day project.  So, in a lazy effort to make up for it, here's a random shot I sort of love.  It's Elle, watching the band set up before the latest 3rd Friday Festival.  The girl is a born groupie, just like her mom.

The City

Someday, probably soon, hopping the train into the city won't feel like a big deal.  It'll be old hat, no big shakes.  But today?  Today was a big deal.  And I'm proud of us.  I managed not to miss the train, despite reading the schedule backwards.  I managed to get all three of us over "the gap" without dropping a toddler. And I managed to have a great time meeting up with Sara, Baby "Cai," and Paul (who got some serious hugs.)  All in all a very successful city trip.  I remember my first time taking the subway after I moved to New York.  I got on, rode to Washington Square Park, got off, read a book for an hour on a bench, got back on the train, and went home.  And it was exhilarating.  Today felt the same way.

Reunited.

Photo June 16

Out and About.

Actually this picture is "out" but not really "about" since it's in our backyard.  This is me and my oldest, bestest, dearest friend Jeremy.  He and his family came to visit for the weekend, and it's so incredible to have space for house guests!  Yay!  You should all come visit.

Photo June 15

Yellow.

Enjoying the View

Photo June 14

Time.

Time to run in the sun.

Today was a good day.  I drove to the JCC, then got gas by myself (for possibly the first time ever in my life...), then successfully grocery shopped with two toddlers.  Naps.  Then Croton Point Park in the afternoon with Maggie and Baby Will.  I even managed to hit the bank for cash, and buy a Westchester County Parks Pass.  Don't know exactly what it gets me yet, but don't drown me in details.  I felt competent.  Like I can actually handle the car, and the kids, and life in this new town.  Tonight the former owner of the house is coming by to give me a tutorial on the gardens.  Maybe I can handle not killing the flowers too.

Photo June 13

Art. (Bound.)

I don't know why exactly this is supposed to be art.  It just felt lonely and matched my mood.  It's down at the riverfront...When you sit there you can see the city and I feel it pulling me.  So close, but out of reach.  

Tomorrow's prompt is "Time."  Tick tock.  That should be interesting.

Photo June 12

From a Low Angle.

Playground

The perpetual emptiness of the local playgrounds is something that just weirds me out.  Coming from Brooklyn, where everyone feels the compulsive need to get out of their tiny apartments as soon as the kids wake up, I'm just used to seeing more...people.  I know there are moms and dads here, I'm just not quite sure how to meet them yet.  I did go to a couple of library events, and met some people there, but storytime is on hiatus for a few weeks, and I guess everyone else is staying home, playing in their massive yards and air conditioned houses.  I signed the kids up for a music class at the JCC, and I'm sure I'll meet people there, but that doesn't start until after the Fourth.  So till then, I keep bringing the kids to the park, hoping to bump into people we've already met, or maybe mommy-flirt with someone new.  But time and time again, we're the only people there.

Oh well.  I'm a bit lonely, but there's a silver lining.  A practically empty playground on a cloudy day is a great place to have some fun with the camera.

Peekaboo!

I'm such a dork, but doesn't it look like she's summoning her Patronus?

Poor Gabe is still practicing.

No other kids means it's okay to go down the slide backwards.

And checking out the view from the tunnel.

Photo June 11

Door.

This is actually an image painted on the back door of the new house.  While not something I would have done myself, it's growing on me.  I like the connection to the previous owners, and the acknowledgment that the house had a life, and a family, before us.

A Quiet Moment

Photo June 10

Best Bit of Your Weekend.

This would be the beach on the Hudson, at Croton Point Park.  Uncle Rob spent last night with us (running away from Brooklyn Pride and his awesome-lesbian-bar-adjacent apartment).  Today we explored a little bit, and yes, this is as awesome as it looks.  It's been two weeks in the suburbs, and honestly, I'm having a hard time adjusting...but this helps.

Trouble

You just know this isn't going to end well...

Photo June 9

Your View Today.

That's the local farmer's market in Patriot Park, just a short walk from the new house.  The park also has a playground the kids and I have visited almost every day, where I awkwardly try to chat up the few other moms. Today is rainy, so the visit was short, but I'm glad we hit it.  Our bounty:  garlic scapes, asparagus, some outrageously expensive pork chops, and eggs.  Oh, and these STRAWBERRIES that taste like strawberries.  Awesome.

Photo June 8

Six o'clock

Not Perfect

Oops.

So this is the new scratch I put on the car today when I couldn't figure out how to navigate around the dumpster that had magically appeared and pinned me in my parking spot.  I don't have a picture of the lovely young man who miraculously ended up actually taking over the wheel for me.  (and who thought of MOVING THE DUMPSTER.  DUH). I just kept going back and forth and got flustered and couldn't figure out which way to turn the steering wheel, and contemplated what it would mean if I could NEVER get out of the parking spot, and if I would have to raise my children in an SUV in the parking lot of the JCC.  And how on earth I would do my laundry.  It wasn't exactly a good moment.  So, while I'm making leaps and bounds with the whole driving thing, I am still far from perfect.  My goal is to be able to drive to Brooklyn and visit.  Soon, grasshopper.  Soon.

Photo June 7

Drink.

This is from the Mark Morris balcony in Brooklyn...drinking wine with Lucy at an alumni gathering for our MFA program.  You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but she'll still go visit sometimes.

(and yes, I missed a day.  June 6.  The prompt was "hat."  I'll have to make it up.)

Photo June 5

Sign.  (Taken with my iPhone.)

The exciting thing about this picture (and this sign) is that they're in Cold Spring...about a 45 minute drive away.  And yep, I drove.  And it took me 90 minutes because I got lost.  But let's not dwell on that part.  I drove!  Put the kids in the car, and headed north to visit Maggie and this ridiculously cute tot playground.  And I even got us home safe too.  (And in the appropriate amount of time.)  Suburbs, you will be my bitch.

Photo June 4

Up Close.