THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP! Three kids in swimsuits (in November?) round the corner from the hall into the living room. Abby, who turns 6 tomorrow, shouts to our expectant faces, “We’re playing ApocalypTH! Charlie and I share a glance that contains an entire conversation: “Do you know anything about this?” “Yes. Sadly, I do.” “Any ideas on the [...]

[Read more →]

My older kids turned 9 and 11 last month, so I suddenly find myself the mother of Tweens. And I’m finding it a bit, shall we say, challenging? I’ll tell you, it’s not all High School Musical and helping with harder homework. Noooooo, Tweenland is an adventure unlike anything I’d ever experienced. In fact, it’s [...]

[Read more →]

I just looked back at two recent posts, and I seem to have gotten into a Style and Steph rut. So. This post will not contain anything related to me or my style. Wait. It WILL be related to me. But I won’t SAY my name or the other “s” word. Back to business: Today [...]

[Read more →]

Abby, our little fairy princess, after dancing onstage at church. She’s looking away because she’s angry that more pictures weren’t taken of her. (Diva in the making.) See more Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom. Wordless Wednesday HQ

[Read more →]

This post is wordless because to put it up, I had to promise that I’d never speak of it again. (So I won’t tell you that LC was actually hugging his little sister Hannah to warm her up in the cold restaurant Monday night. And that just before I snapped the picture, they were both [...]

[Read more →]

Hey! I’ve decided to participate in something new today: The Works-for-Me Wednesday blog carnival over on Rocks in My Dryer. Seems like in the blogosphere I learn a lot more than I teach. But today I actually do have something to share that I’m kinda proud of: Morning Chore Charts After only a month of [...]

[Read more →]

A real exchange between my son Charlie (age 10 ½) and me yesterday: “Mom, you really need to rethink your parenting skills.” “Why?” “Because I have several credit cards that you don’t know about.” “Really? What do you buy with them?” “Real estate.” “Well, of course. That’s a wise investment. What do you do with [...]

[Read more →]

First, let me say that nothing I am about to write even compares to what people in coastal Texas are going through as they prepare for Ike. It sounds like many of those who evacuate are almost guaranteed to lose their homes. Along with their livelihood, their sense of place, and their history. I am [...]

[Read more →]

Today feels like a haiku day. Of course, I’m not sure what a haiku day is. It’s just that it’s rainy and I’m grumpy and for some reason short, sarcastic stuff is really easy to write… Do you think I might turn into Rosie O’Donnell? I hope not. BTW, Haiku is a poem of 17 [...]

[Read more →]

“Oh, you’ll like this song, momma,” she whispers. We’re listening to a Classic Disney CD in her bed. “It’s called ‘A Whole New World,” “Oh yeah, that’s one of my favorites.” She chortles, “But you haven’t heard it!” My poor third child. She’s never gotten to see Aladdin. Hannah and LC were already sick of [...]

[Read more →]