It’s back to school season: our house smells like Sharpies and new gym shoes, our lunchboxes don’t have jelly stains yet, and the kids are actually excited to go shopping. Apparently buying pencils and binders is fun, but trying on pants is torture. Go figure. This year the excitement was elevated, because Sam started middle school and Maggie moved up to a new 5/6 combo class. If … Continue reading First Days
Summer is a time for salmon, and Alaskans are chasing them right now. A few weeks ago we headed to the Kasilof for some fishing. The fish weren’t running strong, but the sun was shining and we decided to give it a shot. Our family’s dipnet permit allows us to catch up to 55 fish per season, and the kids are now old enough to strap on … Continue reading Watch us Dip, Watch us Net, Net!
We celebrated 12 years of Sam this summer. Here’s the annual time capsule summary of this child we love beyond words: He’s pensive. He soaks in so much of what he hears and observes, and quietly reflects on it for days and weeks. What wit! What laughter! His sense of humor is wise beyond his years, yet he still loves potty humor YouTube videos. Either way, … Continue reading Celebrating Sam
Thanks to a killer airline deal, we found ourselves on a family vacation to Las Vegas this summer. You know, Sin City. Glitter Gulch. The Strip. The place people go to do things so terrible that they are lured with the slogan, “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.” Might be a fun place to take the kids, right? Actually, yes! Swimming outdoors is a … Continue reading What Happens in Vegas
Another chapter in the book of Time Flies is now complete: Sam has officially “graduated” from elementary school. His school honored the occasion with two separate ceremonies. First, there was a program for the Open Optional families, where each 6th grader gave a speech in front of the parents and younger classes. This was followed by a fun slideshow of students from kindergarten through 6th grade. Two days later we … Continue reading Movin’ On Up
We blinked, and time catapulted us to this place where our daughter is suddenly ten. Ten! I expected to be a blubbering ball of nostalgia when my youngest child hit double digits, wounded by a sentimental arrow to the heart. But it didn’t happen. Sure, I miss the adorableness that was toddlerhood… but that phase of life was exhausting. The only time we got a moment … Continue reading Total Eclipse of My Heart
Another year, another birthday! Since Maggie cherishes the time she spends at the barn with Rosie, we weren’t surprised when she asked for a horse themed party. We told her Rosie could be part of the party plan if she kept it small, and she was thrilled. She invited one friend and the neighbor kids to play on Saturday, and on Sunday morning we stopped at the … Continue reading Horse Birthday Party
This spring break we mastered the Staycation. We played a lot, relaxed a little, and worked just enough to avoid feeling guilty. Trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings. Tubing at Arctic Valley. Lots-o-board games. A poker party, a vet appointment for Rosie, and Alyeska ski school for the kids. Maggie and I whipped up a batch of homemade lotion – when else do you have time … Continue reading Staycation
This weekend I saw a post on Facebook that went something like this: “When I grew up, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green. The End.” Luckily I’m able to laugh at myself, because this post is most likely directed at moms like me who like to turn every special occasion into a themed extravaganza. Take our annual St. Paddy Poker Party for example. Perhaps we should rename … Continue reading St. Paddy Poker Party
You know that moment when your daughter kinda sorta thinks she got a horse for Christmas, when in reality she got a JOB helping to care for someone else’s horse? Yeah. that happened here on Christmas morning: It all started a few months ago when Clark had an epiphany about Maggie: “She’s a 4-H girl!” he exclaimed. It’s so true. How had we not seen it … Continue reading Tuesdays with Rosie
