The Best Weekend! I told my family that, for my BIG birthday, I wanted to wake up with my loves in a place we’d never adventured together before. We discussed the pros and cons of various locations and landed on: New York City. How does a nature-loving, bookish homebody—easily overwhelmed and edgy in crowded cities … Continue reading NYC, There’s Something About Ya’
Category: Parenting
Up Late with My Babies
Up late has never been my problem. Up early is always a problem. A night owl by nature, I could easily do midnight feedings since I was still awake at midnight. Middle of the night wake-ups were hard, but the 6 am feedings were brutal; I sleep best in the early morning hours. Obviously we’re … Continue reading Up Late with My Babies
Library Love
“A world of reading brings a bounty far beyond us, and we find it creates a legacy to stretch far past us into every next generation.” Kaitlin B. Curtice, Glory Happening Yesterday I made a library pit stop to return two books and pick up another five waiting on hold. I left at home several … Continue reading Library Love
Meatless Monday – Berry Muffins
Once a month I teach the preschool Sunday school class. Yesterday's lesson was about being fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image, which means we are smart, and helpful, and creative (among other things). We focused on the "creative" part and gave the kids lots of time to paint with watercolors, or color, or make … Continue reading Meatless Monday – Berry Muffins
Talking with Teens
My sons have temperaments on opposite ends of the spectrum. One wears his heart on his sleeve. He'll tell me anything (sometimes more than I want to know). The other holds his cards close, and I have to pay special attention for the times when he might feel more talkative. Still, over their lifetimes we've … Continue reading Talking with Teens
Found It!
Most visitors to Año Nuevo State Park this time of year are looking for elephant seals. Our family went in search of a snake. The San Francisco Garter Snake, to be exact, an endangered species that makes its home in that area. C20 has been desperate to find one. We decided to make this President's … Continue reading Found It!
Surprise!
Parenting can be So Fun! For example, today, when I told Q14 I would pick him up mid-school day but didn't explain why. And he didn't remember or figure out that TODAY is the day he gets his braces off! And I got to surprise him with one of the best surprises an adolescent can … Continue reading Surprise!
Adventures in Parenting: Snake on the Loose
Spoiler alert for the squeamish: all snakes are back in secure cages. Yes, you read that right. All snakes, because we (intentionally) have several. Five, to be exact. C20 thought he wanted to be a herpetologist (reptile expert), but turns out, that college major involves way more math than he wants to do. Meanwhile, it’s … Continue reading Adventures in Parenting: Snake on the Loose
Happy Thanksgiving 2018
What are you facing this week? Traveling or family coming in? Stay-cation with lots of local activities? Business/work as usual? Cooking, eating at another's table, dining out? Little about this week has been our family's version of usual. Q14 got an unexpected day off school, closed due to unhealthy air quality from the Camp Fire … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving 2018
Be Prepared
PSA: Check your fire extinguisher. Over the last few weeks the Bay Area has had several warm and windy days. Guy hates wind, and each time he remarks: "It smells like fire weather." Good point, since last October the Tubbs Fire, the most destructive fire in California history, burned Santa Rosa to the ground. This … Continue reading Be Prepared