My parents live in an older home along the coast. They love the architecture and charm of it. While much has been done over the years in terms of decor and renovations downstairs, very little has been done upstairs. My parents rarely venture up there. It's now the Children's Area. They still have the old cast iron tub and the two old sinks that have different spouts for the hot and the cold water. The old doors are charming but do not close properly. Lock the bathroom doors and you might never get out! The old wood floors are gorgeous. And loud and creaky! I never noticed all these little foibles when I had the upstairs to myself, but with three loud children not only does the sound reverberate over and over and over again off the walls and ceilings and floors, but every time someone tosses and turns the whole upstairs creaks as well! The boys are in my old bedroom. They also use my old four poster beds. Beautiful and loud and creaky! But the kids love it here.

I'm in my mother's office next to the kitchen. In the kitchen Alexander is watching Handy Manny, Rebecca is playing Play Doh and Christopher and Popsy are about to resume a game of Monopoly they started last night. Sandwiches have been made as we are due to meet up with Tickled Pink Talk in a couple of hours... It doesn't look so great out there. The skies are grey and the weather is still cool. I've packed sweatshirts for the kiddos, but typical, I have forgotten my own! My cousins are in town and we hope to see them too. Rebecca is headed back into Manhattan on Saturday for a Birthday Party. The girls are going to see Shrek on Broadway and hit Serendipity for some Frozen Hot Chocolate. She absolutely "needs" a new Lilly dress she informs me. Hopefully we will have time to check out Angela Moore. If not she'll have to (gasp!) wear hers two days in a row. Her others are just way too short and a little HoochieMama-ish for my taste. I hate when she outgrows pretty things as she looks nice so seldom these days... well, you know what I mean!

I keep looking up and peering out the French Doors with the hopes that the sun will soon shine. It's been a long, cool summer so far. I know many of you in the South are suffering from too much heat. This has not been the case here. So far. I'd better watch what I say and wish for!

I'll try to post later on and tell you all about our afternoon with Tickled Pink Talk!