Now & Then

Column: Back in Time, Back to School

Weekly Read: Dating? Game On

Weekly Read: Dating? Game On
  

There’s a thin line between insanity and coping with your daughter dating.

May Clean Up Well

BoyWonder as Freshman Escort, Homecoming 2012. (I don't have permission from the young lady's family to share her image and not comfortable doing so without it. Suffice to say she was lovely :)

When I started writing he was balanced on my lap gumming a computer mouse and banging on the keyboard - look at him now. ♥

Weekly Read: It Takes a Village ... and a lot of willing villagers ...

 It Takes a Village (Click to Read this Column)

Special thanks to all the villagers (you know who you are) who make life just a little bit easier, happier, and funnier every day. 

Real life

You know all those bloggers that post photos of their awesomely decorated and oh-so-perfect organized homes and lives?

I am not one of those bloggers. I am the blogger who would like to share with you real life, c. 2011, in a 100+ year old house currently taken hostage by love beads, peace signs, and the wild tornado that is an 11 year old girl getting ready for a dance.

I like to imagine my house has a heart - and memories. I imagine it thinking hmm... I know I've seen that Peace sign somewhere before ... Probably about forty years ago along with the happy mess of the families it has sheltered for generations.

House Beautiful, eat your heart out. I wouldn't miss this for the world.

Silly Boys

I am told that on Friday my daughter, a whopping 70 or so pounds of pure pigtailed fury, tackled a boy in football and LAID HIM OUT. Attempting to save face he immediately jumped up and called her a "wimp." Apparently the only thing better than being taken down by a girl is being creamed by a "wimpy" one? シ

Birthday Girl

On April 23, 1999 at 9:40 p.m. our lives were immeasurably blessed by the addition of one perfect baby girl.

Yesterday she turned eleven (trusty cat by her side!) and while she tells me she's quite the big girl now, a mama knows, she's still our baby yesterday, today, and every day.

We love you baby girl!

I love FL. I really, really do. (aka the one where we fall in love with surf, sand, and the call of the wild (if somewhat scary) seagulls.

Dear Atlantic Ocean,

Damn you for being so azure blue and enticing. I will never view Ohio lakes as anything more than mud puddles again.

Surfer Girl

How is it possible that a child born and raised in the midwest took to the surf and sand as if born to it?

My son the activist

Matthew announced today that he ran for and was succesfully elected a classroom representative for 6th grade Student Council. He spent 15 minutes on his speech and indicated surprise that he won. He only offered to help with homework, some of the other candidates offered bribes. Apparently, it takes more than a free ice cream cone to buy a vote in the 6th grade!

One minute ...

One minute they are scoring goals for the OTHER team and getting tangled in the nets ~ and the next they are playing like they're getting paid! First game of the 2008 season and our son's team won in a hotly contested 3-2 score. For the record, he scored ALL THREE GOALS. Oh yeah, we were just a teensy bit proud :) If only because after playing myself over the winter I know without a doubt that I could never do that. Period.

 It's humbling to realize I could not do what my 'baby' does.