I think I’ve created a new holiday character. Introducing—the Valentine Ninja! Here’s the story… Back in my Utah days, my roomie Tara and I hosted a Valentine sleepover for the teen and tween girls at the school where we were teaching. That night Tara introduced us all to a “heart attack” as we forked the teen… Read More Of Valentine Ninjas and Mountain Men
Cooper was such a good brother to Silas by being excited for Silas’s 5th birthday presents. That’s just another window into Cooper’s tender-hearted soul. But the day after Thanksgiving was Cooper’s turn to celebrate. He turned 3! On his birthday eve, Stephen and I blew up balloons and filled his bedroom with them. In the morning,… Read More 3rd Birthday for Cooper
My firstborn is now 5 years old. As an emotional mommy, I kind of wanted to feel sad because it’s what mommys do. But, Silas was so thrilled to be five that I couldn’t help but be excited and happy for him. He had a great 5th birthday! On the Saturday before his birthday, Silas… Read More Silas is 5
Sometime this summer, it clicked with Silas that letters have sounds and that those sounds make up words. He’s known the sounds of a few letters for a while, but now he’s trying to teach himself how to read by spelling words he sees around him. He’s even started using the alphabet fridge magnets to spell… Read More Learning to Read
As I consider this blog and how I write about our summers, I’m surprised that my tendency is to recap our summer activities in one post. It’s surprising since our lives aren’t bound by a school calendar. Perhaps because everyone around me has an encapsulated time slot labeled “Summer,” I adopt that view. Or perhaps, with the… Read More Summer Season
Silas and Cooper have flung open their hearts to little Brynn. They met baby sister for the first time while wearing their big brother shirts from Uncle Jason and Aunt Stephanie. Silas’s says “Security for My Little Sister” and Cooper’s says “Bodyguard for My New Sister.” We had been telling Silas that his job would… Read More Big Brothers
It’s a waiting game now until Baby Sister arrives. I’ve been crossing off the calendar days, and tomorrow is June! I’m 38 weeks and 2.5 cm dilated, but not many contractions yet. I know it’s not true, but I feel as though life is at a standstill until Baby comes. There’s not much I can… Read More Life on Hold
I bought the boys a new swimming pool and set it up in the back yard. They’ve been swimming and soaking their clothes when playing outside.I love having a patch of grass and a finished yard. Just today some friends came over and helped Stephen set up the sand box again. The boys played for… Read More Recently…
Now that Silas is four, he tells me stories about “when [he] was a little boy–when [he] was three and a half.” His questions are plentiful, and it’s fun to see him sort out his world. Silas is very quick to share what he’s learned with Cooper, instructing him on how life works. Here are just… Read More A Four Year Old’s Perspective
Our boys are into Christmas lights this year. Silas has recently learned who Frosty the Snowman is, so it’s exciting for him to see the blow-up snowmen as we drive through neighborhoods. Cooper will look out his car window and say, “Christmas! More Christmas!” The other Saturday we drove over to Scottsdale to see a… Read More Merry & Bright