Years ago, when the original iPhone came out, I instantly became the proud owner of one. I never thought I could care so much about a mobile phone, but it was so much more than a mobile phone, you know? And although three years later when I finally put her to rest, I was teased [...]

I know I’ve been MIA for a while, posting has been spotty at best. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing with this blog. There are so many out there, you know? And over the years, I’ve read and stopped reading so many, as I’m sure others have done with mine. I don’t take it [...]

My time is valuable. I once heard that if stay-at-home mothers were actually paid for the work that they did, they’d make somewhere around $800,000 a year. Can you imagine? How do we work that one out?
I don’t need permission to have a life – to take some time off. I work just as hard [...]

Check out my most recent post on The Bump. For some of you, you’ve already heard it: it was hard to watch my ‘baby’ turn four years old. Yesterday was the official date. And if you asked Pea yesterday what day it was, she would tell you that “it was the day they took me [...]

Pea’s fourth birthday party was on Saturday, and I think it’s safe to say that a great time was had by all.
There were beautiful party dresses, chosen just for the special occasion:

There were good friends and lots of laughing:

There was an extra-special birthday cake with not one but two layers – the top was a [...]

I cannot believe that my little Sweet Pea is about to turn four years old. Honestly, it seems like just yesterday, she was fresh from the womb, in my limp noodle arms at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, ceasing to scream just long enough to latch on and empty my milk stores in record time. Then? [...]

When I was about seven years old, just a few years older than Pea is now, I spent my summers at Kelly’s Camp, outside of Chicago. One year, we were putting on a play, something about “Charlie Brown.” I don’t remember the premise, but I do remember that I was cast as none other than [...]

As part of our plan to simplify our home, my husband and I have had several meetings of our minds about the current toy situation in our home. We have a lot of toys. Or rather, the girls have a lot of toys. So many, that this is usually how playtime goes down…
Girls: Mommy, can [...]

The local school board decided to resume classes yesterday, rather than wait until Monday. No problem for those of us who remained in town, but many families we know? Took off as soon as they heard the word that the schools were closed down. Bonus family vacation time, right? Well, we got an email, of [...]

Ugh. This flu thing is killing me. And not because I’m sick. Or anyone else in our household, for that matter. Giant knock on wood, there. School closed last Wednesday. We were told it would resume on Monday. Then we were told it would resume the following Monday. As in May 11th. And now? Word [...]

Years ago, before my husband and I were even married, I was ‘forbidden’ by him to go to the local animal shelter anymore. Yes, I used to stop at any and every shelter that I happened to pass, just to see the animals, hear their stories, play with them, dream about the day when I [...]

Tomorrow morning is the baby shower that I’m hosting for my friend, who’s baby girl is due in one month. And this has been a crazy few weeks, so when I say that I really did wait until the last minute to get the details together, I’m not kidding. I did. I spent three hours [...]

I have a lot of people in my life who, when it comes to gifting, stump me. Nearly every time. These are people who 1) have absolutely everything that they need, and 2) if they don’t have absolutely everything that they need, will go out any buy everything that they need. Humph.
Some thoughts on the [...]

I never have any clue as to what to get my mother-in-law as a gift. Just no clue. What do you get for the woman who literally has everything, and if she doesn’t have it, she goes out and buys it? (She has a black belt in shopping. No kidding. And her husband? He’s very, [...]

My friend Sonja sent me an email just the other day asking me how I kept a recorded memory of life with my girls. And that’s a great question. There are so many options that I’ve looked at over the last few years, since my mother gave me a beautiful journal when I told her [...]