House Cleaning is Over! (for the moment)

After too many days of major house cleaning (sorting through piles of papers accumulated over the years, paring down a huge assortment of books, tossing out old and ugly things that I wondered why I ever saved, and dusting, dusting, dusting), I've gotten back to painting.




Starting with small things, like little bowls with simple circles




that go with a series of creatures painted on lazy Susans.




And now starting on a large mirror with an interesting curly frame.

It's really, REALLY nice to be playing with color again.

Back in Barrington



We came back to freshly painted walls




and crisp white woodwork.


We brought with us snuffly colds and a great new dance. It goes like this:



"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, go.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, go.




Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, stop!

Hold still !!!"

We don't dance this too often, but we love it
and we have Maddie and Max to thank for it (and Yo Gabba Gabba).

Snapshots of Burbank


We wound up our visit to Burbank with some good images---



Maddie excited about going down that slide,




Julie Woodward getting to know Max,




Sam, nose to cheek with Max,




Jess reading a bedtime story to Max,




and Sam reading one to Maddie.




Finally, a quiet, cozy moment for the parents




and Oscar getting his very own attention from Sam-at last!!!

Toby and I enjoy everyday life in Burbank...




like watching Max salivate over a book,





and Maddie intent on her reading.




We're awed by her super stacking skills,




and thought the weekly mom/kid afternoon get-together a great idea--
busy, noisy, social and fun.



But best so far is the



sisterly




brotherly




holding of hands in the car!