White no, TAN with a green roof

I think that it is pretty standard to hate on your hometown...everybody thinks where they grew up is too small-town, too clique-y. Not surprisingly there is a Facebook page devoted to hating your hometown. I think the real reason most people hate their hometown is because thats where they went through their ackward teenage years and no one likes remembering that.



Not the town's fault you made bad decisions at age 14, people.


Anyway, some people move BACK to their hometown, in the same neighborhood they grew up in... And while those people's siblings would love to laugh at that, they can't. Because they did the same thing. There is a comfort in your hometown too, and I guess that is what I focus on.

Anyway, one of the things I love about Millbury is every year Santa drives through town the Sunday before Christmas. He gets to ride the firetruck and pass out lollipops too. At a function for Gia's school this year, some of the parents who grew up in Millbury were remembering how this happened every year while we grew up. We all remembered running out of the house, shoes on the wrong feet and no coat in December to catch a glimpse. It is one of those little things that becomes a tradition under your nose.

I'm glad my kids get to take part in this town tradition too. This year we are especially glad that he got to do a drive-by. The siding we put on last month changed our house color, and we wouldn't want him to be confused on the big night.

The holiday season is in full swing. Our weekends are packed with parties, christmas activities and functions. Last week Gianna danced at the chain of lights.

Mike slept.

Mike is really starting understand Christmas. Like halloween, this is really the first year he can anticipate what is going to happen. This has made for some interesting conversations. Last week he ran up to me, breathless, and said

" Is Santa watching me now?"

me: "yes he is, to see if you are being good"

him: "RIGHT now?"

me: "yeeess...why?"

him: "so, right NOW?"

me: "what did you do?"

he ran away at that point...

Gianna's list to Santa was very short and simple:

• A horse
• A puppy
• A kitty
• A hermit crab
• A saddle for the horse

She's going to need to ask for some re-zoning laws as well.

Rock Lobster

Great Halloween this year, no big events, no one puked in the neighbors breezeway (looking at you, Mike...).

The halloween costumes this year were also pretty low-key. Gianna picked a "dark princess". Frankly, I'm not sure that is a real thing, and I've taken a class on gothic literature. However, since she didn't want to be one of those floozy little Bratz characters, we couldn't really argue.

We sort of dropped the ball with Mike's costume. Right up until 2 weeks before Halloween, he hadn't decided, and when he finally did--he wanted to be Wall-E again (which was unfortunate because I had thrown out the remnants of his costumes during a recent playroom-purge session). We were banking on the fact that his three-year-old attention span is only a few minutes long and that Target has a dazzling array of costumes (this strategy works on me and nina effectively as well).

On the night of Halloween, it was unseasonably warm, which was great for walking around the neighborhoods. The kids got so much candy that their bags broke. We got some treats walking around the neighborhood as well (Thanks Neighbors!).

The hit of the neighborhood? Defintely Mario's lobster costume (though Nina and Justin's giving out bud light is a very close second). Mario is a BIG fan of halloween (and the trick or treaters were big fans of Mario, its a very symbiotic relationship).

It was most disturbing when Gia ran ahead to trick or treat with her friends from the neighborhood (both boys). We are so uncool. already--she's not even a tween.

ahhh...the loot! Two complaints: Not a Mounds to be found in all of this candy (my favorite) and not a single piece of dark chocolate (and DOTS, who eats those?).

Walk to Cure Cancer 2009

What a great day for the Cancer walk!
Take a look at the table...and whose that attractive woman handing out mousepads?





At the beginning of the walk, theBreast Cancer group released pink balloons...



Our team! Kim, Alex and Sam (but Rudy was being shy...)

Bill jumped into action to provide the walkers with glucose (in the form of lollipops). Why are you only giving lollipops to the girls Bill?

Gia was teaching Bill how its done...She was also the resident Tattoo Artist. I think she was the busiest person there!

I can't figure out why Mike was so tired--he didn't even walk!

Dark and Stormy

During our vacation last week both Bill and I had to leave for mid-week meetings. This meant driving from North Truro (right next to P-town) to Worcester and back. Not fun.

Fortunately, I got to come back Wednesday night and after tucking the kidlets into bed, Nina and Justin took me to the Beachcomber in Wellfleet. This is a very cool bar that is right on the beach.

We were still sad that Bill wasn't there.

So we ordered some drinks.

and were much happier.

even Nina was happy. Despite getting hit on by some very drunk Radiators fans.

That drink is a Dark and Stormy--which at first we thought was a good nickname for Nina and Justin. But really, Nina is both Dark and Stormy...so maybe we don't draw any conclusions from that except that its a great drink. and I think I want some Burberry pants.

Guess what "P" stands for....

For vacation this year, we decided to forgo the camper and rent a house in North Truro. Fantastic idea! Two bathrooms! TWO! and that is not counting that outside shower--which is always a crowd favorite.

One of the things I love about the beaches at the end of the Cape is how remote they feel. The first day we arrived we drove onto the beach at Race point.


Looking right...nobody for miles.














Looking left, nobody. Except the two rugrats asking for fruit snacks (I believe fruit snacks are the equivalent of crack for kids).









There's my little addict.


More lightnin' McTween fruit snacks, pleeeeese? I can quit anytime...I pwomise!



Every year I have thoughts about going here or there, catching some of the theater in Welfleet, going on a whale watch, taking the kids to the Islands--but it is all for nothing, we spend just about all day every day on the beach.

This striper was a keeper (31 inches long)

Yes, all those kayaks belonged to us--next year we are bringing snorkels and fins too--I don't care how silly we look. There were whales and seals swimming with us everyday and loads of piping plovers. They are all delicious. (just kidding!!)

We did do a couple of non-beach activities...we made it to the Truro Vineyard for a tasting.

Yay! We're tipsy!

Bill scored a fire permit for that night too (because the BEST time to have a fire is when you are buzzed from a wine tasting). That meant everyone had to pile into the truck to get to the beach.



My favorite part was when bill started the fire by shooting lasers from his eyes.

I braved first degree burns for the s'mores, which are, in fact, worth getting second degree burns for. So I made out on that deal.

Did you know that beach fires are not supposed to exceed 3 ft in height? Nope, neither did we.

Lobsta..(of course) was eaten. and the carcass was subsequently played with.



As the week went on, things got more and more relaxed. Given what Justin and Bill told Mike that the "P" in P-town stands for, he felt it was more than appropriate not to wear pants.

Thanks guys, I have enough problems getting him to wear clothes as it is.

The Big Dipper...new and improved with more pekinese!

Year two of the Big Dipper..The free ice cream festival in Elm Park that benefits Children's Hospital. Here are Gia and Mike pre-ice cream...


And here's Mario. Nina wasn't sure how he climbed that huge bridge with such short legs. Come to think of it, she asked me how I made it up there too.

ah...so cute.

During and post-ice cream infusion.

and then there is the star of the day.

Not sure whose kid this is, or why she is sticking her finger up Mario's nose--that's really a bad idea. He was more popular than the kids and just as high maintenance (which is saying something).