10. Anything, as long as it’s completely different from what their sibling received. That way, they can compare and claim “it’s not fair!” that someone else got a better gift. 9. Stickers. Lots and lots of stickers. It’s the gift that keeps giving as you find them stuck to your carpet year-round. 8. Something expensive that is bound to get colored on with permanent marker, … Continue reading Top Ten Gift Ideas for Kids
No forks. No spoons. Just hands. These are the rules of Goop Night. When my husband was in medical school, one of his classmates told us how his family had regular “Goop Nights” on which they ate dinner completely with their hands – no utensils allowed. My husband and I have joked about instituting our own version of Goop Night since having kids, but we … Continue reading Goop Night
10. You’ve never liked to craft, but a thoughtful relative sent you a link to a project they thought you might enjoy doing alone with your kids. 9. You have a rainy day fund that you’d love to devote to a bunch of craft supplies that will end up in the trash. 8. Home décor that relies heavily on toilet paper tube sculptures is something … Continue reading Top Ten Reasons to Craft with Your Kids
You eat chicken and waffles and don’t share a bite. You pose for a picture with your husband in front of the Space Needle (you look so rested in that photo). You don’t worry about kids getting lost in the museum or laying on the floor in a public bathroom. You stroll city streets without a plan, pop into a gallery of glass without hands … Continue reading Seattle, 2014
“Thanks so much for picking this up,” I say to my husband. I set the takeout containers on the counter and start to dish food onto four plates, rushing so I can get it to the hangry children in the living room. My husband hides two chocolate lava cakes in the refrigerator without the kids seeing him, and we give each other a silent nod. … Continue reading Thanksgiving To Go
Week 2 of Homeschool: My daughter cries nearly every day. Sometimes the tears come when I ask her to read to me or to try something new, but most often the tears come when I fail to do things the “right” way (i.e., how things were done at her school last year). This last offense is by far the worst, as it reminds her of … Continue reading the stories that keep us together
fingers and toes by tens
heartbeats per minute
grams, then convert to pounds
inches, from head to tips of toes Continue reading a list of things to count in the first year
I meander through Home Goods, filling my cart with quirky treasures for our new home. In the office supply aisle, I grab a felt message board on a whim. Two weeks later, on the first day of school, I pose my brand new kindergartner for some snapshots by our front door. She beams as she holds up the message board: First Day of Kindergarten, 7 … Continue reading The Last Day of Kindergarten
The question I’m most commonly asked lately is, “How is Las Vegas?” Surprise! It’s hot. The second most asked question is, “How are you settling in?” I don’t always know how to answer that one. Although we are doing well overall, we have only been here 29 days – not even a full month – and everything is still new. We have a new house … Continue reading Unsteady
