Up until a few years ago, I can say with certainty that I was a beach girl. I really didn’t have any interest in the mountains, always preferring to drift warmwards rather than coldwards, and in complete adoration with the ocean. I believe, if I remember correctly, that it was the fault of The General […]
A Random Reason to Celebrate.
The Hundredth Day of School is entirely a millennial fabrication as far as I can tell, but a much needed one. Because after the climax of the Christmas Season (and, for us, two birthdays), the rest of the winter feels like drudgery – both in school and in weather. So although I am not, on […]
Ali: Commissioned Artist.
I’ve noticed a trend with adult/child introductions. Anytime a new big person meets one of my little people, they say hello, then comment on a physical feature. “My goodness you have such beautiful eyes!” “Look at all that hair – I bet that’s a job to brush!” “Oh – you’re so tall for your age!” […]
The PlayPlace Rescue.
If you’ve never done it, then either, a. You’re not a parent, b. Your kid is fearless and never panics in the realm of PlayPlaces, or c. You’re too much of a germaphobe to allow yourself to come into such a situation. The Infamous Chuck E. Cheese rescue (that was not only repugnant to […]
The Frozen South.
I get it. We’re not the only ones who have been cold this week. (Minnesota readers? Are you still alive? How about Michigan? Canada? Illinois? Report in, everyone!) But it’s been cold here. Cold enough to set records and let us experience single digit temperatures below zero windchills and other such absurdities that we’re not […]
Top Ten Moments of Christmas.
It was a good Christmas. Many of our past Christmases have contained moments (or longer) of frustration and unmet expectations, which became exponentially blown out of proportion because of the fact that it’s CHRISTMAS DAY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD and ALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETELY IDYLLIC. You know, like a kid busting her head […]
When Santa Traditions Need to Go.
It took Ali six years to work up the courage to actually speak to Santa, so this year, she eagerly prepared for her second visit to The Man, The Mystery, The Legend. She began early to work on her Christmas list. Then she trashed that list and started over. Because one can never revise their […]
Educational Diversions.
If you haven’t deduced it by now, I’ll spell it out: my oldest child is a full-on geek. This quality makes her the easiest part of the homeschooling equation (especially after installing the attitude chart.) We’re ahead in several of our books because she often asks to keep going, and the poor child is so […]
DETERMINATION.
That’s what it takes to achieve the mailing out of Christmas Cards. I am convinced that the twenty-nine step process of Christmas Card Creation is the single most trying test of adulthood. (At least this week.) And, being that I have a severe aversion to being late to any function, the fact that I cannot […]
A Series of Unfortunate Events.
He’s stinking cute. But he thinks too much. And also? He’s a toddler. And toddlers break things. He’s actually always been a rather careful kid, though – bred from the highest of OCD stock, he had no choice in the matter. He carefully closes every door, turns out every light, sorts his toy boxes when […]