Four hours into our five-and-a-half-hour drive to New Jersey, amidst much commotion, complaints of “he’s on my side” and “Leya’s stepping on the crackers,” and threats of turning the car around, Connor says, “Mommy, I sooo happy!” Having no idea what this could be in reference to, I asked what made him so happy, to…
Ryan ran into the bedroom this morning to inform us the radio had just announced that “All Fairfax County Public Schools and Cornerstone Schoolhouse are closed due to the snow!” Patrick informed Ryan that since Cornerstone Schoolhouse is located in our basement and requires only a short walk downstairs, where there is indeed no snow,…
Last year for Christmas, the boys received a singing, dancing Irish Santa. They loved it at once, but Patrick and I were unsure about the beer in Santa’s hand. Did an imbibing Santa send an inappropriate message to the boys? For a year we worried and discussed… should Santa find a new home? Could I…
This morning I made an off-handed comment to Patrick that the skirt and top I had chosen to wear to church looked better on me last year. Ryan was standing nearby and chimed in with his usual, “Why?” Not wanting to get into a discussion of body image with my 7-year-old son, I replied, “They…
Connor, Future Olympian! With Ryan in New Jersey at Grandma’s for K*nex and Lego camps, Connor has been enjoying a few of his own privileges here at home. He has taken to staying up past his regular bedtime to watch the Olympics with Dad. Each night, Connor falls in love with another sport! He has…
Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a Thanksgiving morning tradition in our home. This year’s parade provided more than colorful floats, melodic bands, and giant balloons, it provided comic relief: During a commercial break, Patrick and the kids were telling me about the Smurf float in the parade. Now as a child of the 80s,…