peace and quiet

right now, as joey sleeps soundly in the next room and gray is off at school dressing like a princess and learning about barbies, i'm sitting here with nothing but the sound of the typing keys and the soft hum of the monitor. it's luxurious. i even took the phone off the hook, and have a nice steaming cup of coffee sitting on the table next to me. it's raining and cold outside, and the light in my room is dim and somber. i'm loving every second of it.

there hasn't been much peace and quiet here lately. joey and grace have been at each other's throats, a new phase in our family routine that i'm just not used to. i feel like a referee most of the day, keeping the peace. but amidst the chaos, there are tender and sweet moments like the one pictured above. moments that i did not stage just for a great photo op. moments that make my heart break with love. when each of them pick up a book and read quietly, enjoying each other's company for the moment. the sun shines through the windows in the porch and we're all warm and safe. there's no noise from the tv or the radio and you can smell dinner cooking in the kitchen. everything is as it should be, for the moment.

then let the chaos begin again.



spending this time planning for my upcoming weekend (meaning a saturday day-trip) to NYC with my two favorite men, john and boo. anyone out there have any good suggestions from grub or fun places to explore? we like it dirrrrty...there will be no sight-seeing of the statue-of-liberty-type for us. i want little hole-in-the-wall bars, chinatown shops, photobooths (anyone?), hot-dog carts, and blue nailpolish. all suggestions welcome and appreciated...please?