On Creating a Miniature Shopkeeper.

Besides Playing Office, playing Store was my favorite game as a kid. In general, I liked to handle money, make kid-formatted by-hand spreadsheets, and fill out paperwork. (Still do.) I don’t know why I haven’t thought of introducing Ali to the game, but the other day, she suggested it to me. My heart swelled with […]

The Equations of Camping.

Despite my extreme reservations about the June Alabama heat, we went on a family camping trip to our favorite Alabama secret, Buck’s Pocket State Park, this last weekend. And when I say “camping trip”, I mean one night.  And for that one night, we rented a camper.  Because juggling two kids on a daily basis […]

The Great Flush.

It took a week for this story to become untraumatic enough to share.  A week and at least ten hot, scalding showers. Finally, at five and a half, I am starting to do “rest time” instead of nap time with Ali.  Sometimes, mind you. After the first day, she told me she’d rather have nap […]

Regarding Those That I Mother.

As a blogger, I find myself quite self-conscious about not drowning my corner of the internet with vast quantities of photos of my kids. Despite the fact that I have really cute ones. (Am I allowed to say that?) But you know what?  Yesterday was Mother’s Day.  And the day before that, I wrote.  About […]

She Has a Dream.

“Did you see this picture I’m working on? I’m an artist!” “Yes, you’re a very good artist!” “Well, I’m an artist now – while I’m a kid.  But I’m going to be a Princess Ballerina when I grow up.” “Well, you can do the ballerina part, but probably not the Princess part.” I immediately regretted […]

What Happens in the Bank…

I’ve had to do a lot of banking lately. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m an accountant during naptimes.  And so I’ve recently needed to open up a few new accounts for a business. Unfortunately, a stay-at-home-Mom cannot go into a bank branch during naptime.  So one has to take their two children along with them […]

The Vacation Album.

Last week was our somewhat-annual family vacation. Somewhat-Annual Family Vacation: \ noun \ ; what my family does instead of exchange gifts for any holidays or birthdays; a vacation that is supposed to occur annually but periodically gets cancelled for the purposes of birthing babies, during which years nobody gets anything.  Except new babies. Last […]

Lessons Learned on Easter, Volume Two.

(Last year’s lessons can be found here.) 1. One Year Old Boys have no appreciation for being dragged into the living room by their sister first thing in the morning. … Until they see that there’s something in it for them. They they’re completely on board. …Until they realize they can’t open it on their […]

Paint Chip Art

Something about Springtime makes me want to put away the math, the reading, and the spelling and just focus on art. After all, the kid is barely five.  And at five, paint and glue and pretty colors earn me quite a few Awesomest Mommy Points. (Besides the fact that I find it all rather cathartic […]

Time Passes By. And I am Mad at it.

I should always listen to my husband. You know, the hair guy?  Yeah – the one who pleads with me to keep mine and Ali’s hair long at all costs. I really thought I knew what was best, so I talked him AND Ali into it. (Because you see, he’s brainwashed her as well, and […]