DIY tv stand

Since moving into our new place, I've been inspired to add some creativity to our decor. The living room is nice, but quite boring. There isnt much in it and not much room for "extras" so I wanted to add more character to what little bit we have in there. We dont like big, in-your-face entertainment centers, so we've always had a simple tv stand. I looked into buying a new one, but I was dissuaded by the prices. So I decided to see what I could do with some paint and a few accessories. It was easier than I thought! I was able to get it done during the time the girls took a nap (and that included a trip to Home Depot). I'm pretty sure I'll be DIY-ing more often now.

Before:
After:

A Day at the Museum

This weekend we decided to finally renew our Philadelphia Museum of Art membership, now that the girls are old enough to understand what they are seeing to some degree, as well as cooperate...to some degree.

They were very excited to go (even though they were not sure, exactly, what they were in for) and when we walked into the first gallery they were so quiet and focused.

One of the first things we saw was Degas' "Little Dancer" statue--one of my favorites. The girls were very interested in it.
Of course, as soon as we got there we got several people standing in front of the statue, looking at the girls, asking questions about them so that the girls could not look at the statue. Guess they assumed the girls were more interested in answering the same old twins questions rather than looking at beautiful art. Eventually we were left to explore--alone!

Here is a picture of Nora showing off her visitor badge. So proud.
The girls are always obsessed with water and fountains and this fountain was no exception. They had no interest in the Monet or the Van Gogh. They wanted to throw pennies!

In the modern art wing...
On weekends the museum has family activities. This weekend was a drawing activity. Children are given paper and colored pencils to try and recreate some of the art in the galleries. Or just scribble, of course.


Notice a difference?




One last shot--at the CA Book Fair.

A Weekend in San Francisco

So a couple of times a year Andrew & I get a chance to spend time together without the girls. Book fairs are usually that time, so although Andrew is working, we get to have fun with our fellow "young" bookseller friends.

While Grandpa and Gigi watched the girls for the weekend, we got to hang out in the big city. On Saturday, Andrew was at the fair all day, so I got to walk all around with Sally Wingard (my mom's, cousin's wife--I think of her as my second cousin-in-law). I realized I had very few photos of the day, but probably because I also took my 35mm camera and took photos with that as well.

Here is a street shot during my walk:

That evening was our big dinner with fellow book friends. Someone came up with the brilliant idea of renting the "Disco Taxi" to take us to the restaurant. It's really just a regular taxi with flashing lights inside. That's it.
(I would add a disco ball and some party music, but hey that's just me)

Here is Sunday and me.
Janine and Susan
Here is our group (plus one guy who just got stuck sitting amongst us!) waiting to be seated at the Slanted Door
So at this fancy, schmancy restaurant they actually served cotton candy after dinner--on slate slabs, of course (here Katie, Kent, and Sunday partake)
The group photo
(front: Kent, Josh; middle: Sunday, me, Susan; back: Katie, Matt, Andrew, Alex, Francis, Teri)
and for those who are curious: Utah, NYC, NYC, PA, NYC, Utah, VT, PA, NYC, CT, CT
On our way out of town on Sunday, Andrew and I (with the girls) had a great dinner with many of my second cousins. In retrospect, I should have taken more than one photo that evening.

Debbie, Scott, David, Michael, Brian, Andrew, Suzanne, Sally
While Mama and Daddy were having fun in San Fran, the girls went to Train Town with Gigi and Grandpa. They still talk about seeing the trains and the water wheel...






And now we're back. And it snowed. Again. Ahh, until next year!

2011 California Trip: Round 1

We just returned from our annual trip to California. We always go for the antiquarian book fair, but try to spend as much time with family and friends as we can. The first several days, the girls and I spent in Petaluma (Sonoma County) with Grandpa and Gigi, while Daddy was doing book-stuff.

Here the girls are making Valentine's for their Aunt Heidi, who is now in the Army, stationed in Texas. She was sad to be missing our visit this year.
Gigi got the girls a tea set that they played with every day!
We spent a day walking around downtown Petaluma. One store had a coin-op horsey. Ella's look says it all (Nora refused to try it).
A fountain in town...just happens to be near the local pie shop. They make pies. And sell them.
There is a small playground less than a block from their home. Grandpa and Ella had fun with the swing.
Nora was a big girl and did all of her own stunts.
LOVE this photo. Such a pretty girl.
Nora did the "rock climb" all by herself. Of course, she asked her Uncle Troy to watch her every single time.
The girls were so excited to play with the kitchen set that their Aunts and Uncle used to play with (and maybe even Daddy at times).
We went to do some local wine tasting. Nora thought that if she put on the movie star glasses, they'd think she was old enough to sample.
At St. Francis vineyards
Tasting room. I'm pretty sure the girl behind the counter was smashed. It was a slow day for them, apparently.
The Golden Gate Bridge from the parking lot of the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Part of the outdoor water-play area at the museum.
They were able to play with toy frogs...
...and fish. It totally looked like they were sending dead fish down stream. It was kind of weird.
Ella the frog
Gigi tries (to no avail) to get Ella to dress up like a skunk.
Nora teaches Grandpa how to sort shapes.
Ella rides the lizard.
Nora did about two dozen laps around this tree.
Walking through a wigwam kind of thingy.
Ella sat at this table, no really doing anything with these parts. She was just looking at the kids next to her.
Turns out she was waiting for one of them to leave the computer so she could pounce on it!
The girls put up "window" panes
Seriously. What a great view. This is from the outdoor play area of the museum.
Captain Nora.
Grandpa helps Ella up the rope ladder.
Nora crosses the kid-friendly version of the Golden Gate Bridge.
View of the outdoor area of the museum from above.
The art room. The girls played at the sand table. Gigi couldn't help herself.
We finished our adventure by having lunch in Sausalito. A lovely town.
Round 2 pictures (San Fran) will be up soon.