Welcome Kit

Meet Kit, she is an American Girl doll and a new member of our family. Kit was an early birthday present for BP. All the American Girl dolls represent a different time period. Kit is a clever girl from the 1930's who faces The Great Depression with spirit and determination. BP chose her because "she has short yellow hair" like hers and she looks like her friend Tilda at school. That is exactly what she will tell you. I think it is funny that she chose a doll from The Great Depression considering the state of our economy right now, but BP has no clue. Although when we were reading Kit's book today, and it told of the characters lining up for bread and cheese, BP was curious about this so I tried to explain the circumstances to her. So now BP cares for Kit and Bitty Baby and her other dolls everyday. Our family just keeps growing!

Rain Hike

We could not take being stuck inside a second more on Saturday so we went for a hike. In the rain. In the fog. In the mist. The weather did not matter. It was fun.

It turned out to be a strenuous hike and we had to leave the stroller behind and BP had to hike down and up a mountain. She was a real trooper and did not complain once. She was just a little worried that the stroller would be where we left it. BB had the easy job of watching from her backback. Daddy had the hard job of carrying all of BB's 26 lbs on his back. He was a trooper too! Wish we had time for hike everyday.

A Green Modular

Anyone who knows me, really knows me, knows that I love houses, homes, real estate, architectural design, interior design, landscape design, and anything having to do with these things. It is a passion, and yes, I even think an obsession of mine. I remember rearranging my furniture in my bedroom at age eight. My parents would hear me downstairs and say, "she is at it again." Gettting my real estate license is on my to do list so that I can put this obsession to work. With that being said, I have decided to do a blog post each week featuring a home for sale that caught my eye, a builder or designer I like, or just a house that I snapped a picture of while driving. Maybe a career lies ahead in this field for me? Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

A couple weeks ago I blogged about the owner of the Magnolia Bakery's home and this week's home, pictured above, is a green farmhouse I spotted over a year ago. The old farmhouse look and the big front porch caught my eye and then I read the details and was shocked when it said it was a modular. What? I thought. It must be a misprint. Well, the other day I went to get our mail and in the box was my monthly Country Living magazine. Inside was a story on this house that I spotted over a year ago. It is a simple farmhouse combined with up to the minute green technology. This house sings to my soul (my husband thinks I am nuts when I use this phrase). So I called Randy Florke, contributing editor to Country Living magazine, founder of The Rural Connection, and realtor in our area. He teamed up with Mark Jupiter and Tyler Schmetterer from New World Home to build these homes. He said that he was unable to leave the city for a couple of weeks, but to take a ride and check out the house. We did just that! More to come in Part II

For more information check out http://www.newworldhome.net/

or http://www.theruralconnection.com/ for press releases

Rock Wall

Here is the beautiful rock wall that follows the driveway to BP's school. I snapped a picture on my way to pick her up the other day. Then I thought to myself, I wish I could hide behind it and spy for a day. How fun and interesting that would be. It is all about letting go, I had to remind myself.

Happiness...

I am a lucky girl! Everyday, all day I get to see these two faces.

BB's Trick

If I turn my back for a second BB is into to something and normally it is trouble. Here she is yesterday morning after I finished unloading the dishwasher. She climbed up in 2.3 seconds! She keeps us on our toes and shaking our heads constantly.

Oh, Sweet Gavin...

BP's buddy Gavin, who she also refers to as Gavy, is a very special friend! I could not resist posting these three shots of them. They hold hands, they stand with arms wrapped around one another, and finally they chat on a hay bale. I just snap pictures from behind so as not to interupt their special moments.

Cape Cod

In between raindrops last weekend we hit the beach for some fun in the sand. The girls ran, twirled, danced, jumped, chased, and played on the beach. BB crawled and tried to eat sand and seaweed. The fresh air was heavenly. A Fall day on the beach, wearing shorts and a sweater, playing with my two little sweeties, chatting with friends, and then devouring a cup of award winning New England clam chowder and a lobster roll is one of my favorite days. There is just something about New England that sings to my soul. The only thing missing was Daddy, of course! We all really missed him.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today The Barefoot Family is wishing BP and BB's "Mama" or Grandma a very Happy Birthday. We hope you have a wonderful day!

Fancy Nancy Tea

Last weekend we attended a "Fancy Nancy Tea." As I mentioned previously in another blog post, The Barefoot Princess loves the children's book character Fancy Nancy. We could not resist this event! It was lavish, extraordinary, exquisite, and everything a fancy girl's heart could desire. Sponsored by a Children's Museum, the event was perfectly planned for all of Fancy Nancy's fan club. The girls were able to meet the "real Fancy Nancy" and have their picture taken with her. It was an afternoon of glitter, feathers, lace, beads, nail polish, parfaits, and all things girly and of course fancy!

***Special Note: BB tried to be fancy too, but she needs more time to learn. When we took her picture in her fancy tiara and tutu she had a cracker coming out of her mouth. Some things take time.

Happy Birthday Gavin!!!

Happy Birthday to BP's friend Gavin. His big day was Saturday and we were away for the weekend, but we did not forget and we were thinking of him. Hope you enjoyed Thomas!

This shot was taken last year, but it is one of my favorites. These two have known each other since before they were even crawling. They have always strongly resembled one another. BP loves Gavin like a brother, a big brother since he is three weeks older. Gavin is a saint because he has always been the only boy amongst a group of 3 very strong-willed, rather dramatic girls. He puts up with a lot and holds his own well. Happy 3 Gavin!!! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Two Pumpkins

When we ran out of room in our garden, I planted a few pumpkin plants in the corner of our yard by the compost pile and now almost four months later we have two little Sugar Pumpkins growing. It looks funny to see them growing among scttered rocks of an old rock wall. I guess pumpkins will grow anywhere.

So we have two little pumpkins, one for each of our girls. BP is very excited to pick the pumpkins and I think they will be ready soon. I once heard that if you tap them with your fingers and they sound hollow they are ready to be picked. Is this true? Anyone know?

F.I.T.

Here is BP designing couture for the princesses I draw. It is our new game we play while BB is napping. I draw the outline of the dress and she decorates it. It is like Project Runway for Preschoolers.

Retro Chic

At an antique truck show this weekend this 1962 Airtstream trailer caught the Barefoot Dad's eye and I would say his heart too. I think it is a very classy, very sharp, and very chic home on wheels. We learned that about 70% of the original Airstream trailers are still in use today. This is like a second home on wheels. It even has a bathtub inside! Being from the school of thought that going somewhere more than once is silly beacuse there is so much to see in the world... the Airsteam appeals to me and makes perfect sense.

A Little Friend...

This little guy lived with us for a few days. I think it is a grasshopper, but I am not positive? I put him outside once and he found his way back in. He chose our second floor bathroom as his place to hang and BP loved to watch him. She did not like when he rested on the bottom of the toilet one afternoon. Too close for comfort, I guess. Here is the little green guy hanging on my makeup mirror.

Happy Birthday Lillian!!!

We want to wish BP's very special friend Lillian a Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful day!

Day 2

And she is off again... Day 2 of Preschool for The Barefoot Princess. She just left and once again was very excited. Daddy is doing the drop off solo mission today. When I tried to pick her up and give her one last squeeze she said, "I have to go to school, Mommy." I shed a few tears as they left. I should not have looked at her baby blanket from the hospital when I grabbed her shoes out of her closet. I have to admit it wasn't as hard this morning though. Right after they left, I caught BB looking out the window for her Daddy and big sister. How sweet...more tears. If I think about BP trying to carry that huge backpack it makes me smile though.

More on Magnolia...

The owner of NYC's yummy Magniolia Bakery is selling her "country house" located in a little river hamlet about two hours from the city. While searching for Nicole's cupcake picture I remembered I saw this on a real estate website. You can view the listing and price at http://www.theruralconnection.com/ The house looks as beautiful as one of her cupcake creations!

Happy Birthday Aunt Nicole

Sending birthday wishes to BP and BB's Aunt Nicole. Hope you have a wonderful day!

(flickr pic of Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes. We know Aunt Nicole is a big fan.)