Painted Walls, Happy Girls

When we broke the news to the girls that we were leaving Norfolk for Richmond, Morgan was particularly vocal in her reluctance to leave.

She listed all of the reasons she didn't want to leave Norfolk, why Richmond wouldn't be any fun, and all possible scenarios that would render her post-kindergarten summer the worst on record.  Not easily swayed by the drama she puts forth, seeing as she does so on a regular basis, Craig and I heaped reason after reason why a move would in fact be a good thing.

She wasn't buying it.

So Craig resorted the one, true trick tool every parent calls upon at one point or another: bribery.

And it worked.

We told the girls that with a move to a new house comes a new room for them to decorate.  Ever the skeptic, Morgan asked, "Decorate however we want?"

Within reason, we assured her, but certainly, think of the possibilities.  Craig enumerated all the ways they could make their new room their own.  He mentioned hanging up the Norfolk Mermaid poster we had framed, putting up canopy beds. Then he pulled out the big gun: a mermaid mural on the wall.

Whoa.

And of course, Morgan heard that and well, it was done deal.  For days thereafter, "When are we going to Richmond and when are we getting the mural painted on the wall?" became her constant call.

As we boxed up the Norfolk house day after day, as the movers came and carted stuff onto the truck, she kept reminding Coever, ". . and when we get to Richmond, we're going to get a mural of mermaids on the wall! I'm so excited!" She'd clench her hands together up under her chin and bounce on her toes in anticipation.

When we rolled up to the new digs, you can imagine what she said. When she and Coever raced up the stairs to their room, you can imagine what she said, immediately followed by, "Well, where is it?"

Thankfully, Craig had been in touch with several artists, trying to obtain the best one for the project. We decided that when the girls spent a week with his parents this summer, we'd get it done while they were gone and it would be ready to surprise them when they came home.

Which is exactly what we did.

Morgan and Coever as mermaids

I love the detailing of the puffs and the eyes.

Many thanks to Emily Z. for the great design and speedy work!

 The girls love it.