This was, in fact, the kids first rodeo. For years, Mike and I have pulled on our boots and headed to the rodeo to hear our favorite country singers, to eat our weight in the world’s best bar-b-q, to watch cowboys ride bucking broncos and to see tiny cowgirls wrestle sheep. Houston’s rodeo is the world’s biggest,...Continue Reading
Lately when I look at Catie, I can see her little-girl self and her future teen self mixed together. Her smile is the same as when she was six months old. The look she used to get when she concentrated on writing her name is still the look she gets when reducing fractions. Her laugh...Continue Reading
Two types of people walk on the beach: those who pick up the shells and those who don’t. For forty years, I didn’t pick up shells. Taking home bucketfuls of shells seemed like something a tourist would do. The only people who collected shells were the ones who needed souvenirs of the beach, right? Also, taking shells home felt...Continue Reading
For days, the kids have been asking to go shopping, specifically to the Dollar Spot at Target. This is not because they need anything, but because this is their happy place. They are absolutely giddy about the idea of sifting through cheap clutter, looking for a treasure. I’m afraid I taught him this. When you’re...Continue Reading
1. Seven-year-old twins are just starting to assign identities. “You’re the tall one.” “He’s the older twin.” “She’s good at reading and I’m good at math.” They only see themselves as a twosome so they have to even it out. They can’t both be the funny one. 2. They’re still proud of their twinniness. They make...Continue Reading
You need a beach vacation as much as they do. For the past ten years, our family has spent almost every break lugging sand buckets and shovels down to the beach. We have gone with family, close friends, and new families we’re just getting to know. Every single time, the kids play so hard, they...Continue Reading
The title for this picture should be, “Idealistic Maniacs Before a 5K.” Because that’s who we are—unstoppable runners who will tackle any obstacle. Who cares it’s early and cold out? A little chill can’t diffuse our excitement for ROCKING this race. We are the champions. Cue Chariots of Fire music. But the caption for the...Continue Reading
For the past few months, our family has tried to eat healthier. Organic instead of conventional, cooking at home instead of eating out, actual bananas and strawberries rather than the miniature, gummy imitations. But it’s hard to stay the course. Kids eat dozens of snacks and meals in a day, the nutritional fabric is destined...Continue Reading
When we bought this house, I called it our forever home. This was six years ago, when Catie was 3 and the twins were 1. We said this house would hold all the kids’ childhood memories. Teen years and first boyfriends and girlfriends and hundreds of sleep-overs would happen between these walls. When we were empty-nesters, Mike...Continue Reading
Camps for this summer are filling up and we need to get our kids registered. But the summer I plan in February is never the summer I want to live in July. In February, we’re in work mode. Spring is the long second act of our year. During these months, the plot of our lives is moving forward...Continue Reading
