Super Rachel Zana's Spot

Introducing:  The second grader.  He’s incredibly excited about this school year because he has a set of teachers who are wonderful and amazing, and the ultimate favorite teachers ever of two of his older siblings.  It’s going to be a great fit for my school-loving guy.  He’s come home all…

That last look is DS trying to persuade people that his way of thinking is rational. We squeezed in a super fast North Shore camping trip right before the holiday weekend.  This meant that everyone missed something they were not supposed to miss, so in the future our camping trip…

If you are going to roast a marshmallow for your mother, it’s important to “channel your inner Mom.” Hood up. Chin tucked into your baggy sweatshirt. Peek out with only your eyes. It was strangely accurate, actually.  When I need to get away, I go inside my sweatshirt.   

Can we just say that he’s a little tough on his footwear?

When The Banana and I saw beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, I was inspired to learn more about these pale, majestic and oddly lumpy mammals.  They are the most common whale kept in captivity, and are highly social with one another. I learned NOT to schedule a camping…

I’m still a week behind on Sunday Night at the Beach pictures.  Soon I will catch up.  I know it. It’s been a bit of a challenge getting to the beach with Sunday night soccer practice for Mr. TOF and The Banana.  They get done with practice just after the…

From time to time we need a name change on this blog.  For example, long ago the First Kidlet was referred to here as Ms. Crazy Preschooler.  But then she started kindergarten, and the name didn’t fit anymore.  The Banana was just learning to talk at the time and called…

I’m loving water infused with lemon slices and a bit of mint from the container garden on my deck.  Some people around here distastefully call it “weed water.” It’s peach season!  I love peaches.  We ordered a few boxes of amazing peaches from a local ministry organization that was having…

Our trip to the beach was delayed because we couldn’t head out until The Banana and Mr. TOF were done with soccer practice.  Then, to complicate things, there were some wardrobe malfunctions and other issues with necessitated a quick trip home before actually heading to the water.  I almost turned…