Deerfield, Mass – For Father’s Day weekend, we decided to take the whole family on a working weekend in western Massachusetts. Our first stop was Historic Deerfield, by special request of Daddio. It’s an authentic 18th-century village–back then a frontier settlement–that…
Beware the Mummy’s Tomb
Somerville, Mass – I’m not sure where it came from–perhaps from reading the Magic Tree House series–but the twins have become obsessed with Ancient Egypt. It was a no-brainer that one of them would want to be a mummy for…
Magic Tree House
Somerville, Mass – So what do we do for fun when we’re not traveling? We read about traveling! This review of the Magic Tree House series is not going to be a revelation to anybody who knows much about children’s…
Kindergarten
Somerville, Mass – Last night, we were psyching the twins up about their first day of kindergarten. Daddio enthused (or was it lamented) that he had to go to school too. Twin S said hopefully “Didn’t you know that I cancelled school?”…
Swimming, Snorkeling, Soaking
Sarasota, Florida – Last week, we took an impromptu getaway to the Holiday Inn in Somerville, Massachusetts. It was fun, but I was being ironic when I called it a vacation. This week, we took a proper getaway–like, on an airplane–to…
Holiday in Somerville
Somerville, Mass – We woke up to a cold house on Sunday. (Of course it was Sunday.) And it was snowing. (Of course it was snowing.) The thermostat said 58 degrees. The pilot light was out and we couldn’t get…
Illuminations Tour
Somerville, Mass – The twins are crazy about Christmas lights. What 4-year-old isn’t? And really, what better time to embrace your inner 4-year-old, suspend your judgment, and just soak up some sparkly, high-wattage holiday spirit? It’s one of the things…
Free Play
Somerville, Mass – A few weeks ago, I came across this fascinating article from The Atlantic, The Overprotected Kid, about a new, old kind of playground in Wales, known as The Land. (Thanks also to The Atlantic for the cover…
Drumlin Farm
Lincoln, Mass – It’s Veterans’ Day, so all across America parents are looking for something to do with their kids, who have no school (again). I figured the museums would be packed, so we headed out to our favorite Mass…
Ferry Beach
Saco, Maine – There’s nothing better than a fall trip to the beach: that last taste of summer that is all the sweeter, knowing that the next one is probably nine months away. In fact, it could be argued that a…