Every evening that he can, Kevin spends some time playing with the kids before they go to bed. The blessing for me is two-fold: I get to enjoy some peace and quiet without getting mobbed or monitoring some “Mr. Monk-worthy” behavior, and I get to “be a fly on the wall” and just listen to […]

    Riley and Adam have been tracked out of school since January 2nd, and before that, they were on holiday break.  So, it’s no wonder that Riley reminds me nearly every day (not that I needed the reminder:)) that, “I’m going back to school on January 24th,” or that Adam asks me inquisitively, “School?” every […]

Decorating sugar cookies is an annual must-do for us at Christmas time. Everyone gets in on the fun, and all three of the kids enjoy it very much. There are so many things about making sugar cookies that I love. I love that sugar cookies always taste delicious. I love that they make the house […]

Last weekend, the girls had the wonderful opportunity to start a new tradition with their PaPa. Three fruitcakes joined forces to create another. Kevin, of course, captured these wonderful photos of the event:

Last Sunday, we took the kids to eat at Andy’s after church.  The kids love eating at Andy’s.  Second only to visiting the giant gum ball machine is the joy of selecting a cheap toy from the display case after they finish eating.   We punch a token out of the bottom of the cardboard classic […]

Today, my mom is 64 years old. The first conversation I had with Zoe this morning went something like this: “Mommy, Mommy, GUESS whose birthday is today?!” “Whose?!” “It’s not Jesus’ birthday today, Mommy. Today, it’s GRANDMA’S birthday!!” “I know! Isn’t it wonderful?” “Yes.” Zoe paused, looking slightly puzzled. “Mommy, Grandma said she’s not having […]

Riley has just become a member of the elite Hello Kitty fan club. How old is Hello Kitty anyway?! I remember being fascinated with that character when I was little. We had an entire store devoted to Hello Kitty paraphernalia in our mall. I remember because I wanted ALL of it. Zoe has two pairs […]

Sunday afternoon, I was in the kitchen washing dishes (getting everything all set that I might sit down and put some focused effort in on my Christmas cards), when the telephone rang.  It was Mom, sounding cheery.  “We’re getting more and more excited as time gets closer,” she said. “Me, too.  Riley was just asking […]

This morning as I was reading my Bible and enjoying my coffee, the girls were fighting. First Riley was on my lap, and anytime Zoe came near, she’d say, “Zoe, I’m just trying to sit on the lap with my Mommy!” In order that her position not be threatened, she required that a radius of […]

I learned a few things worth noting at our church Christmas pageant on Sunday night: 1. When the Bible says that Mary “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger,” it actually means that baby Jesus was loosely wrapped in a blanket.  Whenever she picked him up (which was usually by the […]