You Know You’re a Great Role Model When…
I’ve been trying to get across to the members of my family that Curlytop and Snugglebug are like over-sized camcorders these days. Anything we say or do is likely to be played back for us by one of our little cinematographers – most likely at the most humiliating or improper moment. So far, this has … Read more
Soup, Interrupted
The code word… Do I have to spell it out for you?Photo source When Mr. Wright and I were cultivating our first crop of kids, we crafted a code word for Grown-Up Time: soup. As in, “If we can get all the laundry done, the dishes washed, the kids to all their appointments, dinner made, … Read more
Recipe: Creamy Orange Ginger Sauce with Stir-Fry and Rice Noodles
I’ve been a busy, busy mama. So busy, in fact, I’ve fallen into the rut of being a lazy mama when it comes to dinner. Pasta. Sauce. Repeat.Ugh. Mr. Wright was working late, Pepper and GirlWonder were out of town with Princess, Pockets was with his other parents, and The Dude was at a wrestling … Read more
Naïveté at the Nativity – Revisited
This is one of my favorite holiday posts, because it demonstrates so perfectly the dynamics of my family. In fact, it may just become an annual post. Enjoy, and please feel free to share your holiday program mishaps… You know, so I don’t feel so dysfunctional and whatnot. My kids make up eighty percent of … Read more
Did Mia Hamm Start This Way?
The most beautiful moments of raising a special needs child are those when I forget my child learns “differently.” I watch her playing with a group of friends or putting her shoes on the correct feet and I marvel at what a perfectly-created little human being she is. Speech therapy, sensory integration, physical therapy, cognitive … Read more
Beware the Kindergarten Teacher
Curlytop woke up excited this morning. She knew today she’d be starting kindergarten. Bring on the recess and school lunches! It’s been a long, hard road, readers. Curlytop spent last year as the only preschooler not potty trained and, while we suspected she had the ability to go diaper-free, she was sadly lacking in desire. … Read more
“My Dad has a Yacht of Girls”
Curlytop and Snugglebug have made great strides in their language development since we first consulted with a speech therapist over three years ago. Still, there are some words they use which can only be understood by family; and Curlytop still serves as a Snugglebug-to-English translator all too often. Music Store Bob’s wife, Brenda, watched the … Read more
My Mother had Magical Balls
When I was a child, my mother drank. A lot. While I may be tempted to assign blame for my Southern Comfort habit to dear Mom, her choice of beverage was loose tea, which she brewed in little stainless steel balls. The balls in question had screw-on tops and small holes to allow the steeped … Read more
Vegan Double Chocolate Chai Cake (Recipe)
I’ve had many requests for my prized vegan cake recipes from fellow vegans – and from friends who are looking for cholesterol-free desserts. Did you check your calendar today? Because today’s the day I’m going to give away my top-secret recipe for my never-fail Vegan Double Chocolate Chai Cake! This recipe makes one tall, decadent … Read more
A Girl and Her Dog… Meat?
In our house, the source of meat is no secret. Mighty, mighty hunter that he is, Mr. Wright is very forthcoming with the kids about what they’re eating. Plus, our kids visited the Angus in our freezer, back when it still walked the pastures of Bullet Bob, our friend and proprietor of Gyurkovics Ranch and … Read more
A Little Privacy, Please!
The Gonzos have recently moved into a bigger home. With the exception of the additional space, my favorite feature is the locks on the bathroom doors. Confession: I haven’t gone to the bathroom or taken a shower without someone coming in for at least ten years. While I grew up with just one sibling in … Read more
Somebody is Always Broken or Bleeding
Last night I cut my finger while slicing a loaf of bread. It’s not an unusual event. In fact, I fillet myself quite frequently. If Mr. Wright had his way, my kitchen tools would be pared down to rolling pins and spoons, though I frequently manage to find a way to injure myself with those, … Read more
Tokyo Breakfast
I had no problem finding seemingly vegan food at our hotel’s breakfast buffet. Photo (clockwise, from top left): miso soup, fresh pineapple and kiwi, coffee (thank God), roasted potatoes with carrot and squash, rice, an assortment of Japanese pickled things including lotus root Mr. Wright and I are going to tidy up our room and … Read more
Bad Gratitude Monday: School Days with Curlytop
Curlytop is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. Some days, she wakes up like a lightning storm, all flashes of anger and tantrums. Other days, like today, she’s full of wit, smiles and playfulness. She was excited to go out and wait for the school bus today. She … Read more
Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say "Banana?"
This is the dawning of the Age of the Knock-Knock Jokethe Age of the Knock-Knock Joke the Age of the Knock-Knock Joooooooke… And so, it begins. At the age of four, Pockets started making up his own knock-knock jokes. They were really good, too, like: Knock-knock! Who’s there? Moo! Moo who? It’s me, A COW! … Read more
Bad Gratitude Monday: Thanks for the Global Warming, Mr. Gore!
Last Monday, due to the holiday, both the school and the daycare were closed. Fortunately, the weather was glorious and most of the snow had melted. I took Curlytop and Snugglebug to the Japanese garden for a little run-around-a-lot-because-Mommy-wants-us-to-take-a-nap time. For once in my life, I had my camera with me and planned on posing … Read more
Naïveté at the Nativity
My kids make up eighty percent of the children and youth in our church, so there’s little question that they will be cast in the Christmas production each year. The competition for roles is—what’s the word I’m looking for? Oh, yes… “nonexistent.” In fact, it’s not unusual for a single child to play two or … Read more
Bad Gratitude Monday: I Know Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar
I haven’t done a Bad Gratitude Monday for a while. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had anything to be grateful for. It just means I’ve been distracted. Today, I’m grateful for the innocence and honesty of toddlers. In the span of five quiet minutes, Curlytop and Snugglebug managed to sneak every single cookie left over … Read more
Mommy Masochism: Piece of Cake?
What kind of an insomnia-plagued masochist would work through the night, forgoing sleep and the promise of sweet dreams, baking and decorating custom cakes for four children who probably aren’t as interested in the cakes’ appearance as in the cakes’ taste? A mother; that’s what kind of masochist. The closure of Beebe Bridge delayed the … Read more
Bad Gratitude Monday (Adoption)
Today, I’m grateful for the adoption of our two youngest ones, which was finalized on September 22, 2009. Please welcome Lilliana AnnMarie (Curlytop) and Symphony Sinclaire (Snugglebug) to our family, officially! Remember when you helped name them? What are YOU grateful for today?
