Scott Peterson on my reckless snack-distribution habits
“I trust you with my life, I trust you with my children’s education, I trust you with my finances—but I do NOT trust you with marshmallows.”
View ArticleWednesday: Five Moments
1. Spirited discussion of story structure with four bright girls, meandering into the all-important topic of why, why, why couldn’t Jo have ended up with Laurie? 2. Huck’s very delicate sneeze after...
View Articlefive Thursday moments
• Rilla came to me with a paper cut. Not that I’m happy she was hurt, just–it struck me so sweetly that she still comes to me for little hurts like that, still believes a kiss from mommy can help •...
View ArticleFriday: five good things
1. I forgot (again) to pinch off the cilantro and it went (again) to seed. Every year I do this, and every year I glance across the yard one day and feel a rush of joy. I never think to put it on the...
View ArticleNo slamming
Today’s happy list is three keeper moments from my boys. 1. Huck, wistfully: “I wish no one in this family would have more birthdays. I like everyone the way we are.” 2. A story my friend Patti told...
View ArticleMorning Snapshot
Rose, stretched out on Beanie’s bunk reading Paradise Lost. Beside her, the bluebook she writes compositions in for the Spanish class she’s taking the community college, and a battered paperback copy...
View ArticleTrue story
Swiped from Scott’s Facebook: My wife looks skeptically at the gorgonzola. “How can you tell if that’s still good or not?” the 14-year-old asks. “I don’t know,” Lissa says. “It’s moldy and it smells...
View ArticleA Monday snapshot
Small child straddling two barstools, running toy cars up and down the high counter. Another child sprawled on floor, drawing a picture. A third hovering by the cedar chest at the far end of the...
View ArticleA Little Smackerel of Nothing
“I like that too,” said Christopher Robin, “but what I like doing best is Nothing.” “How do you do Nothing?” asked Pooh, after he had wondered for a long time. “Well, it’s when people call out at you...
View ArticleThursday reading notes (plus happy anniversary to us)
It’s our 21st wedding anniversary (though we begin our official count from our first date, five years earlier) and San Diego celebrated with RAIN, which you know is a huge big deal here these days....
View ArticleThe Month That Ate My Brain
Oh, May. You beautiful, terrible month. I can’t say I’m sorry to see the back of you. Massive workload, plumbing woes, multiple trips to the children’s hospital (which sounds more alarming than it...
View ArticleHuckisms
The younger kids and I have started spending the hour after dinner having family art time at the kitchen table. They mostly paint while I practice sketching, or Huck grabs markers and continues his...
View ArticleDinner-table conversation
Rose: “Why are Huck’s dirty socks on my chair?” Huck, much aggrieved: “They were on my chair first and I needed to sit down.”
View ArticleDiscombobulated
I gained a whole week today. It feels luxurious: what to do with this newfound space of time? It’s like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of your winter coat. Of course, just as with found money,...
View ArticleHigh Tide for Huck and Rilla
The other day I mentioned that I was putting together some shelves of books to use for Huck and Rilla this year. Huck is 6 1/2 and Rilla is 9, and according to the boxes I will have to check on the...
View ArticleThursday catch-up
Whew! We moved Jane back up to college over the weekend and then, back here at home, got to spend an extra day visiting with my parents, who had come to stay with the rest of the gang while we were...
View ArticleThursday Q&A: Are they ALL bookworms?
I was going to make this a Monday thing, but the week ran away from me. So let’s try Thursday. I’ve enjoyed having a regular day for posting my weekly booklists—it helps keep me on track, knowing I’ve...
View ArticleHeavy Artillery
Huck (returning home from a playdate): Can I add something to my wish list? Two shields, a sword and a cotton ball. Me: …A cotton ball? Huck: You know, the little white round puffy kind? Me: Okay, so a...
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