i can’t do anything half-way.  it doesn’t matter what it is…half way is never sufficient.   this drives chad crazy.  half way is okay with him.  preferred, even.  half way means more gets accomplished.  and time is not wasted on things that…seemingly…don’t matter.  like cotton ball snowman crafts.  or perfectly tied ribbons on wreaths.  or […]

chad’s mom has been here from iowa all week.  she’s not one for pictures, that one.  and although life could not stop, unfortunately, when she got here…we did have 2 different mornings that we just huddled in the living room, lit only by the sweet sun streaming in through the windows and the twinkly lights […]

annslee and i finally went back to the doctor two days ago.  she had a nasty ear infection and i had developed a wicked sinus infection.  so…$60 in office visit co-pays and $40 in prescriptions and 2 days later…we are finally starting to feel better.   there is nothing like being sick to make you […]

my little family is riding this virus out.  slowly but surely.   as one of us become vertical a little more, another goes down.   this morning it was annslee.   she woke up at 5 am with 103.7.     when you have been stuck in the house for as long as i have…you […]

i woke up on thursday with a sore throat.   it’s gone downhill from there.   i started running a substantial fever…and coughing up nastiness from my chest.  my throat felt like it had razor blades in it.  i’ve never been covered in so much vic’s vapor rub in all my life.     that’s a […]

i put make up on my eldest daughter for the first time last night.  she has never been in a dance recital…nor worn a costume that required anything more than kitten whiskers.   let me just tell you…   i was not prepared for that.   chase took one look at his little sister and […]

i had forgotten why i never ask chad to help with the pumpkin carving.   last year…i put him on research duty…finding the best pumpkin face ideas.   you know?  it’s kinda kin to the thanksgiving job of “putting ice in the classes” or “watching the rolls.”   you make them feel important…but you don’t […]

the weekend was quite the whirlwind.  i was remembering a time, when the kids were all toddlers…and i hated the weekend.  i thought they were boring.  chad was gone a lot.  there was nothing good on tv.  we didn’t have anywhere to go.  i longed for monday to roll back around.  because…then…at least i had […]

when i think over the last 38 birthdays…a flood gate of emotion opens up and pours memories all over me.   i remember things like getting my first pair of guess jeans; honey and paw-paw giving me my kermie and piggie sleeping bag; walking into school to find my locker decorated by friends; opening my […]

this morning…i got a wild hair and took off annslee’s diaper and didn’t put a fresh one on her.  i told her…   “today we are going to use the potty.”   she protested like she usually does…despite promises of candy and new toys.   she is sitting at the breakfast table in just her […]