Boys Play Rough

I heard rumors of this rough-housing but I honestly had never really experienced it myself before now. I don't know if I have just had my head in the sand for decades or what. The other night I came... Read "Boys Play Rough" »

Cookies. They Are What's for Lunch

You ever have one of those days when you can't get anything done even though you are trying to just get one thing done? Before you know it, your children have the Costco-sized tub of animal crackers under the... Read "Cookies. They Are What's for Lunch" »

6 Tips for Road Trips with Small Kids

We have been on the road for a total of 24 1/2 hours, but who's counting? This is the first time we have taken a true road trip with with our kids for distances longer than two hundred miles.... Read "6 Tips for Road Trips with Small Kids" »

Road Tripping With the Kids

I went to the craft store to pick up some things for the trip. It was only when I reached for the glue that I realized I had lost my mind. Glue? In a car? The worst thing that... Read "Road Tripping With the Kids" »

Pay-For-Performance Potty Training

I have a sister (she knows who she is) who once gave me a book that discussed all the ills of reward-based parenting. The book poetically waxed on and on about how children should just be expected to do things... Read "Pay-For-Performance Potty Training" »

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream

Something happened along the way and now I'm stuck in this crazy place. Three times in a row I promised my kids dessert if they ate all their dinner. Now they are saying crazy things like "can I have a... Read "I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream" »

Independence Day and Curbing Independence

Nothing says the 4th of July like fire. Since becoming a father, my husband's array of fireworks suddenly seem like they fit squarely within the confines of the law. It's not to say that he used to set off... Read "Independence Day and Curbing Independence" »

Simon Says Gone Wrong

Ethan: Simon says 'stand up.' Gurgle. Ethan: I said 'Simon SAYS!' Gurgle. Ethan: MOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!! K: Yes, Ethan. Ethan: Mom, he is NOT doing what I say! K: I'm sorry, Ethan. But if we are going to get technical, he... Read "Simon Says Gone Wrong" »

Rain and Mr. Steve

The weather has been a little crazy lately. We have had so much rain that when I hear Mr. Steve, one of my all-time-favorite people in the whole world, singing the Rain song, I contemplate throwing something at the... Read "Rain and Mr. Steve" »

Father's Day--Success or Bust?

Ethan wanted to get his father something specific for Father's Day, but I don't remember what it was. The only part I remember is that it cost money. I shut him down. You can see by that haircut that we... Read "Father's Day--Success or Bust?" »

The Great Gravel Move of '09

School is officially out. I know this because it is already Wednesday and my children are ready to lose their minds. E: Momomomomomomom. We should go outside and play ball. K: What kind of ball? E: We can just throw... Read "The Great Gravel Move of '09" »

Poorly Behaved or Poorly Parented?

I live in this fantasy world that the reason my children are so poorly behaved in public is because we are "old" parents. I tell myself and everyone else that will possibly listen that I'm sure I would be... Read "Poorly Behaved or Poorly Parented?" »

No Wonder We Always Go to the Emergency Room

That's what you were thinking when you looked at this picture, right? I'll admit I was sort of thinking it too when it was happening. The only thing is, I couldn't really see how this kind of activity could... Read "No Wonder We Always Go to the Emergency Room" »

Raising Boys is Different From Raising Girls

This life I am living is not familiar to me. Growing up there were the four girls. When we fought, we yelled. Rumor on the street was that the two youngest may have actually exchanged blows but I can't believe... Read "Raising Boys is Different From Raising Girls" »

Happy Memorial Day

I'm not sure if this is a defense move, but I like to call it Mason's Karate Kid pose. I notice he does it when Nathan comes in the room. He has spent this weekend with his father and... Read "Happy Memorial Day" »

It's Tough Being Two

Baby Mason comes by this face honestly. His brother? He's is a train wreck. I complained to his teacher last week about how he just barrels everyone over, ALL THE TIME. It's driving me crazy. He's running into things,... Read "It's Tough Being Two " »

How Do You Get Your Two-Year-Old to Wear an Eye Patch?

The news isn't horribly grim. It just isn't great. Nathan's lazy eye seems to get be getting slightly worse and the eye doctor wants him to wear a patch on it. Not a pirate patch but an adhesive bandage that... Read "How Do You Get Your Two-Year-Old to Wear an Eye Patch?" »

Your Average Two-Year-Old Behavior

Isn't he cute? You would hardly know that this is the face of a child that just may drive his mother over the edge. I've been working on watching the kids more closely. That means if anyone is in... Read "Your Average Two-Year-Old Behavior" »

Teamwork and Playing Together

This weekend Derek took the boys down to the National Mall. I went to a book signing not far away with Mason and we all met up around 7:30. K: How did it go? D: Great. Good. Okay, we... Read "Teamwork and Playing Together" »

Picky Eaters, or What Not to Eat

My husband is saying that I am a hypocrite for writing this post. How dare I judge the picky eater? I am one myself. There, I said it. When I was little, I may have even promised my parents that... Read "Picky Eaters, or What Not to Eat " »