In April, we experienced some pretty strong and unexpected straight-line winds in our neighborhood. Ali and I actually saw the storm in all its intensity, which was over by the time we ran down to the basement. But the memory has stuck with Ali. She’s an unemotional and severely logical kid, which is extraordinarily nice […]
Slip Sliding Away.
For the past two years, my husband has been the chairman of the building committee at our Church. We’ve been building onto our current buildings to connect them all and put in an elevator – because our property is on a slope, has been built onto several times, and it was all…well, wonky. It needed […]
What’s that Sound, Volume Six: The Questioning Edition.
Noah has solidly entered the 437 Questions a Day phase. It’s high time that I get Chris’ lap counter out for a day of objectively counting them as I did for his sister. I suspect he’ll break her record by lunchtime. He sees questioning me as something akin to an eternal game Keep Off the […]
How Spiderman Wasn’t Made.
Once upon a time, a spider got trapped in my son’s underpants and attempted to eat his way out. Once upon a time was last week. I woke up Friday morning to a text and two emails from my husband, who, despite happening upon a middle-of-the-night crisis, feels strongly that all crises are best handled […]
The Shirt of Summer.
Style is extraordinarily important to Noah – in a way that it never has been for Ali. All shorts must possess six pockets – back pockets, front pockets, and cargo pockets. The cargo pockets cannot be too low on his leg or they’re tragically unacceptable. He has three pairs of sunglasses that he has with […]
On Hopes and Dreams.
A few months ago, I asked the kids a question. “Would y’all like to be on a billboard?” Ali’s eyes lit up. “YES! That would be AWESOME!!” Noah’s brow creased. “NO. They’re way too high. I might fall.” Fair enough. I had been working here and there with a local company, Alabama Outdoors, with regards […]
On Graduating Preschool.
First and Last Day of 3K Noah is officially done with preschool, now giving him the privilege of saying that he’s done something I never did – he has gone to school outside of his home before college. I know. Quite an accomplishment. It was strange for me, being a parent in a world I’d […]
Mommy Jeopardy!
“Welcome to this very special episode of Mommy Jeopardy! Our contestants, all too sleepy to actually introduce themselves, will choose from six categories today, all related to their occupation of Motherhood. Let’s get started.” “I’ll take ‘Kids are for the Strong of Stomach’ for $200, Alex.” “The answer is…” “What are toddler boy feet after […]
Discovering The Soul of Trains.
Last Sunday was our annual trek out to Calera to visit Thomas the Train. But this year, we managed to get there earlier than usual, and it was much less crowded than it has been in the past. These two factors gave us ample opportunity to explore everything else at the location – something we’d […]
This Week’s Headlines
This week’s household headlines: “’Hopping around is so much fun – when you’re naked’, Agree Toddler Boys Everywhere.” “Negligent Mother Makes Children Wait Until She Finishes Her Lunch Before Fixing Them Their Third Lunch. Authorities Launch Investigation.” “Toddler Places Open Mouth on Meat Counter at Publix Three Times – Then Acts Shocked At Mother’s Screams […]