• Family - Farming

    Field of Dreams

    May 6, 2019 - By 

    Tonight I was reading the boys bedtime stories with the windows open, enjoying the fresh spring breeze, when we became distracted by a noise outside. It was the sound of our neighbor running his tractor through the field. The boys and I looked out Aiden’s second-story window towards our backyard, and the field that lay beyond. That field was corn that first fall when we moved in, and soybeans last year. Which means due to the mechanics of crop rotation, this year it should be corn again. It was strange, looking out that window and watching him work the ground,…

  • Family - Parenting

    About a jump rope

    May 3, 2019 - By 

    I own a fancy jump rope that I use at the gym. I mean, it cost $20 so it’s not crazy expensive, but as far as jump ropes go… well, I consider it fancy. Today, Aiden saw the jump rope setting on the table, and asked if he could play with it. I was inclined to say no, because I consider it part of my workout equipment, and as such not really a child’s toy. Also, it’s specifically sized for me and would be awkwardly long for a six-year-old boy. But I agreed. However, there were conditions: he must stay…

  • Family

    The Vanity of Foresight

    April 18, 2019 - By 

    I’ve taken the liberty of modernizing these lines from Robert Burns’ famous poem: But little Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Often go awry. “To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough”. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_a_Mouse We are moving (again). To Kansas City this time. It’s a bittersweet time, filled with promises for the future and sadness for the home and family we will leave behind. We had planned to stay on our Iowa acreage as our “forever home.” We had planned to host gatherings…

  • Marriage - Throwback

    Not Cool Enough

    March 7, 2019 - By 

    Chris and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary this month. In honor of that illustrious event, I give you a little Throwback Thursday to the early days in our dating history. Here goes. I attended college in northern California, and during my senior year, I had a ritual. About once a month I would wander downtown to the local record store. I’d sample some of the featured CDs and, if I liked the sound, I’d buy one or two. Which is how I came to own All Lights Off, by a band called Rearview Mirror. Although the sound was a…

  • Family - Parenting

    Compliments to the Chef

    March 3, 2019 - By 

    Last night I made the boys cheeseburgers for dinner. Aiden says to me: “Mom did you make this? It’s really good!” Why thanks, Aiden, I did make it. “It’s so good… It’s almost as good as McDonald’s.” From a 6 year old, this is a high compliment. I bet if I’d thrown in a cheap plastic toy and a cardboard box he would have been sold.

  • Family - Fun - Travel

    The Drum Circle

    January 27, 2019 - By 

    Our vacation on Siesta Key wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the Drum Circle. Held every Sunday, one hour before sunset, the internets told me it was a fantastic (and free) family event, filled with brightly-colored dancers and jugglers, performed on the pristine white beach of Siesta Key, where performers encouraged visitors old and young alike to hula-hoop and children danced happily to the beat of the drums. Even the ladies sitting next to me on the plane said they had been, and sang its praises. So we went. EXPECTATION REALITY One more time, for fun… EXPECTATION REALITY It…

  • Family - Fun - Travel

    Siesta Key Vacation

    January 26, 2019 - By 

    This past week we took a family vacation to Siesta Key. The four of us, along with many members of Chris’s extended family. His mom (who initiated this trip and generously provided the rental accommodations as part of her Christmas gift to us), his sister and her family, his other sister and her husband, and his cousin. In total, eight adults and four kids ages 5 and under. At least our adult-to-child ratio had the kids outnumbered 2 to 1. Our rental was amazing and beautiful and had this gorgeous upper deck perfect for watching the full lunar eclipse on…

  • Fun - Travel

    Maybe you shouldn’t be in charge of the sailboat

    January 21, 2019 - By 

    As soon as we were settled in the rental house, we made the two-block walk to the beach. It was cold, but that didn’t stop us. The beach was everything we could have ever wanted. Pristine, white sand. Turquoise waters. Gorgeous sunset. However, if you look at the two photos above, you will notice something missing from our pictures the rest of the trip. It’s this guy and his boat. He had clearly run aground. A crowd gathered to watch. Beach patrol and emergency responders arrived. The guy refused rescue, saying he wanted to remain on his boat. Eventually, the…

  • Family - Throwback - Travel

    Blue Jeans and Plaid Shirts

    January 20, 2019 - By 

    1999 marked the beginning of the end for mall culture. I should know. I grew up as a teenage girl in its heyday. I still remember the Britney Spears poster displayed in the window of the record store, and the glitter eyeshadow at Claire’s. My sign-language class performed Frosty the Snowman on the mall stage during the holidays (Fun fact: to this day, I can still sign the entire lyrics to that song). When I was 14, our girl scout troop did an overnight sleepover at the mall with hundreds of other lucky teenage girls. These were the years that…

  • Fun - Travel

    Cats and Chickens

    December 12, 2018 - By 

    I went to Key West and I mostly took photos of cats and chickens. No, seriously. If you’ve ever been to the southernmost point of the United States, then you’re aware that chickens – both hens, roosters, and their offspring – freely roam the streets. These so-called “gypsy chickens” are super cute if you’re a tourist, and – I would imagine – super annoying if you’re a resident. I was a tourist and therefore, I delighted in taking photos of these wild fowl. And since you see them everywhere… well, I ended up with lots of photos of chickens doing…