His latest trick is to say “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” as loudly as possible whenever he’s riding in the car.  The streets in my city are bumpy, really bumpy, and when he says this long vowel as loudly as he can for as long as his breath lasts, his voice bumps up and…

Yesterday it was 102 degrees in Minneapolis.  It was 62 degrees at my house.  It was 55 degrees next to the lake with a very, very strong east wind whipping up the waves into a lovely green-blue surf that sparkled in the sun and crashed onto the beaches.  Can I…

The Banana was standing on the walkway between the deck and the patio door with her bike and the bicycle tire pump.  Dr. Peds was around the corner of the house.  She started pumping air into the basket of her bike and singing.  Then she got a brilliant idea. The…

There are a few things that make Squirmy very angry.  For example, he hates green grass.  If his skin touches green grass he has a temper tantrum.  He doesn’t like to be in his high chair when he can’t see the other kidlets, and he hates getting out of the…

I knew my water-loving boy would have a good time splashing in a big bowl of water, so when it was warm last Friday afternoon and he was getting a bit bored inside, I fllled up one of my biggest mixing bowls with water and set it on the porch…

Mr. Sneaky Pants and Dr. Peds were digging up a big tree stump on the corner of the house where a tall juniper bush died over the past few winters.  An ax was involved, which made Mr. SP very happy. Mr. SP:  Dad, what’s the strongest thing in the world?…

These days there’s almost always a string of drool hanging down from Squirmy’s chin.  Although it makes snuggles and kisses a bit slobbery for my personal taste, I know that someday soon all that drool will disappear and then I’ll miss having a drooling baby, so I embrace it each…

Me:  What do you think I should be when I grow up? The Banana:  I think you would make a great fireman. Me:  What do you think Daddy should be when he grows up? The Banana:  Maybe it would work out for him to be a grocery store worker.

The front sidewalk has been a busy, busy place, bike tires swishing back and forth all throughout the day.  A few measures (otherwise known as consequences administered) have been enforced to protect innocent pedestrians who might also need to use the sidewalk, but for the most part it has been…

My newest favorite book about emergent literacy is Jennifer Hallissy’s The Write Start. I ordered and read it a few months ago, and it is chalk full of terrific information about writers who are starting to write.  What is particularly terrific about this book is that it is written by…