We’ve reached that point in the summer when we can remember nothing else. Was there ever homework? Lunch boxes and uniforms? Field trip forms and late-night research projects? Impossible. Now we live for long days at home. And lots and lots of silliness. Which brings me to this, a blog post I wrote last year...Continue Reading
After hosting more than a dozen birthday parties for the Hergenrader kiddos, we’ve all learned some lessons. Outsource what you can. The activities will take a tenth of how long you think they will (and way less time than you put into them). Avoid opening the gifts at the party, if you can. And it’s...Continue Reading
Today is Nate’s Birthday Party Eve. Not the night before Nate’s actual birthday (last week), but the night before his party. He’s the fourth child, so we party for his birthday when it’s most convenient for the rest of the family.We celebrated his actual birthday on Sunday with church, lunch with dear friends, a DQ...Continue Reading
You know, it kind of seems like our family would be naturals for home-schooling. I’m a former classroom teacher and an educator at heart. We have all these kids, and they all have different homerooms, lunch boxes, book bags and school supplies and everything. Why not just keep them home with me all day? Why...Continue Reading
So, big news! Today is our fourteenth wedding anniversary. In those years we’ve been through about two boats, four dogs, fifteen cars, more computers/iPhones/laptops than I can count, three houses, and four kids. Not that we’re through with the kids YET, but you know what I mean. When I think about all those addresses and...Continue Reading
Thanks so much for tuning into the Great School Debate. And for all your helpful comments (Amy).Just to clarify that the school year isn’t presenting big decisions for all of our kids, I’m so happy to report that there is one awesome five-year-old who is ready for Kindergarten.Life has clicked into place for this kid.And,...Continue Reading
The BIG (small?) two-year-old Nate Elisabeth and Sam on (or around) their first day in the two-day, two-year-old class. Click here to see Catie’s first day. It involved cake. Let me just preface this one with a disclaimer: I realize that intense debating about whether I should send my two-year-old to school two mornings a...Continue Reading
So, Nate turned a year older this weekend. Yea for two-years-old!In other news, all of the other kids have aged five years apiece.Not kidding. We started this summer with two cute four-year-olds and a mama’s girl seven-year-old.Somehow we’re ending it with a bunch of teenagers.Case in point, we all headed to the mall yesterday because...Continue Reading
A few years ago (three to be exact), the twins celebrated their second birthday with the theme Pink in the Pool! Elisabeth (Ellie back then) loved pink. Sam loved the pool.On this eve of Nate’s birthday eve, the kids are still pink in the pool. Elisabeth still loves pink. Sam still loves the pool. Catie...Continue Reading
Ah, LegoLand! This big bit of tourist fun is tucked into downtown Kansas City. On our trip (I know, you’re like, “Enough with the trip! Never let that girl leave again! It’s all she talks about!”) we visited the Land of Millions of Legos with my brother and my folks.So fun! So exhausting! So many...Continue Reading
