• At the Bus Stop

    The middle kidlets started school yesterday, and suddenly we are back to our early rising school schedule.  Of course, it always goes more  smoothly in the fall, when there’s just a smidgen of light upon waking up instead of total blackness in the middle of the winter, and there is…

  • Middle School

    Everyone always talks about how emotional and difficult it is to send your kindergartener off to school.  For me, it really wasn’t.  My school aged kidlets were always excited and ready to go to kindergarten, and while I missed them during the day, I had no qualms about them being…

  • Developing Treasure Island

    Treasure Island.  It’s a circular patch of ground with two tall, mangy pine trees side by side along with a caragana hedge surrounded by driveway and sidewalk on all sides.  The kidlets have claimed it as a special play place since we moved into our house, years ago, and from…

  • At Kawishiwi River

    Dr. Peds and our neighbor halfway down the street planned an almost spontaneous camping trip for Labor Day Weekend to introduce kidlets to the Boundary Waters.  Because I was busy playing for a beautiful wedding on Saturday, I did no preparing or packing for this camping trip other than to…

  • In Case of Emergency, Dial . . .

    Never leave home without your phone.  He insisted on bringing along the blue plastic cell phone on our evening “Big Wee Wee Walk” so that he could make calls, as necessary.  Lately he has loved going on a neighborhood walk/bike ride.  I walk.  He rides.  He loves to “win” and…

  • What I Learned in August

    Some research shows that mosquitos can detect the blood sugar levels of their victims from a distance of up to 50 feet away, and they go after the sweet people. I learned to identify dragon fly larvae and mosquito larvae. A cooper is a person who crafts barrels. Messrs is…

  • Learning to Talk

    There are so many reasons why age three is just one of my favorite ages for kids.  I love all the personality that starts showing its face at age three and all the thinking skills that start to develop.  Some of those thinking skills are maybe there before age three,…

  • A Glimpse of the Future: An Odorous Affair

    Dr. Peds said to Mr. Sneaky Pants:  Now, whenever you change your shirt and pants or shorts because they are dirty, that’s a good time to switch out your underwear for a clean pair, too.  Then you don’t end up stinky. Mr. SP;  Dad, I’m just practicing for when I…