Recipe: "Cheesy" Chili Pasta Casserole (Your Kids WILL Eat This!)
I was never much of a casserole person until I accumulated seven kids, a busy husband, and a writing career. Now, I love the simplicity of making a few casseroles at the beginning of the week, covering them in foil and writing the baking instructions on top with a Sharpie marker so my teens can … Read more
“My Dog Ate It” and Other Weird Explanations
I made the earth-friendly choice, and qualified for a full-body search. As you might imagine, seven kids, two adults, three dogs and two cats generate a lot of trips to the grocery store. In an effort to make my appointment to our city’s sustainability steering committee a slightly less laughable matter, I’ve been trying to … Read more
All the Wright Moves
The homeschooling next-door neighbors with six kids and the homeschooling family across the street with six kids laid hands on the huge trailer attached to our Suburban. They prayed for our safety, and thanked the Lord that we were leaving. Our northern Snohomish County community was nice enough, but we really were the freaks of … Read more
Kind of Sexy, in that "I-Caught-a-Serial-Killer" Sort of Way
Somehow, Mr. Wright and I switched Palms today. To tell the truth, it’s not a mysterious “somehow,” but easily explained by a “someone” who raced out the door without actually looking at the device he plucked from the nightstand. Ahem. I decided to make the best of it and swipe the drag queen video I … Read more
I’m Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old
ALERT: There is absolutely no humor in this post. It’s nothing but a “The Gonzo Mama feeling sorry for herself” post. You’ve been warned. I can’t really say when this feeling began. Perhaps the breaking point was waking up one morning and finding that I’d become the un-expectant mother of seven children at the ripe … Read more
Tread Lightly, Young Man… And Stay Away From My Daughter!
Mr. Wright and I were walking through town today when a local teen boy passed. “Hi, Mr. Wright,” the boy said as we passed. “Why can’t Princess go out with that boy?” I asked. “He’s very polite. Sure, he needs a haircut. He really should pull his pants up, too, but he’s so darned respectful.” … Read more
Sins of the Mother: When Animals Attack
I’m hanging all of my hopes for absolution on my daughter’s future career as a veterinarian. Perhaps, through Princess’s dedication to helping and saving animals, I will be forgiven by the animal kingdom for whatever sins I have committed in my previous lives. I’ve always clung to the belief that animals know, instinctually, who is … Read more
What Generation Gap?
Staying on the cutting edge of parental coolness is hard work, but I’m committed. In fact, I go out of my way to let my kids know how hip I am, and I’m dedicated to bridging the so-called Generation Gap. What is that, anyway? Sure, there’s a world of difference between my parents’ generation and … Read more
Mommy Makeover
It will never happen, but sometimes I dream of signing up for one of those cosmetic surgery reality shows, and getting THE WORKS. I look way too old for my age… Motherhood years must be like dog years. Being a mom is tough on the body, for sure. The stretch marks that cover my butt … Read more
Part Time… No Problem!
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Fall is always stupid-busy for the Wrights, and it’s not just the beginning of the school year… fall also means the beginning of Princess’s soccer season, Pockets’s football, and—for me—teaching journalism to fourth- and fifth-graders for six weeks. Add to the usual chaos these new twists for 2008: Mr. Wright was elected President-Elect … Read more
The Center for Disease… whatever.
I am pleased to inform you that my family has survived the wretched Flu Epidemic of 2008. Hmm? What’s that? You say you didn’t hear there was an epidemic? Did you miss it on CNN? I’ll recap: Monday AM – Two year-old, Snugglebug, begins projectile vomiting. Monday PM – Three year-old, Curlytop, joins her sister. … Read more
