A Visit with Santa

God bless us, one and all!
What do you do on a Code Red Day? SOMETHING WET!
For some time now, we have known that Connor, whose name means “lover of hounds,” is truly a boy in need of a dog, so we weren’t surprised when he announced that he wanted a dog for his fifth birthday. Since his announcement at Christmas, Connor has talked daily about his dog, Missy, who will…
After four years of struggling to get our youngest to eat even enough to sustain his growth and energy for daily activities; after visits to specialists in gastroenterology, nutrition, speech, occupational therapy, and psychology; and after trying numerous methods of forcing, coercing, and distracting him into eating, some of which resulted in tears and frustration…
Every year since the boys were born, I have struggled with maintaining a balance between the commercialism of an American Christmas and the real meaning of Christmas, the miracle of Christ’s birth. This year, at four and six, the boys were better able to understand and to participate in the Advent celebration, and the true…
“Look Mom, No Tooth!” This weekend Mom and I traveled to the mountains of Maryland for our annual scrapbooking retreat. Four days of scrapbooking, grown-up conversation, beautiful scenery, and meals cooked by someone else, it doesn’t get much better than that… until the cell phone rings early the second morning, and I hear Ryan’s excited…
Ryan has been waking up early, too early, and staying up late, too late,… and today it caught up with him. He was cranky and tired all morning and into the afternoon. When I had had enough, I suggested he actually nap during quiet time today. He didn’t argue – a clear sign that he…