What does your Sunday week-starting prep look like?
Mine started Sunday after church as the kids and I went through their backpacks, looking at any papers I missed last week, doing homework, and having my husband assist our son with a particularly troublesome area of reading.
After putting away about two-thirds of the laundry (the rest is still on the couch. Oh, well), we had family time.
After the kiddos were in bed, I spent an hour last night on the computer and with my calendar – figuring out what meetings I have …

Last week, our big kids (7 and 9) crawled in bed with us about 7 p.m. (We were all TIRED!). They asked, “What are we going to do tomorrow?”
My husband’s response prompted a 45 minute discussion: “Well, if I had my perfect day …”
We had a lot of fun with it. From starting the day with coffee delivered (mommy) to Dunkin Donuts (family), a trip to Toys R Us (daddy, brother and sister), lunch at Wendy’s (sister), a trip to Harkins (daddy, brother and sister) to a hour reading (mommy …

More than five years ago, my husband and I faced that school milestone known as kindergarten.
Our son – our oldest – was a summer baby. During my years as an education reporter, I clearly remember hearing: if you have a summer baby boy, you might want to consider holding him back a year.
But at the time, our son was already in a special needs preschool five days a week. We thought he would be ready to move on, but to what?
Our neighborhood school offered an option that combines typical kids …

The kids and I had big plans Monday when they were out of school. We had our annual MLK Day lunch and playdate with friends, an afternoon at Bounce U and gymnastics in the evening.
My big kids – 7 and 9 – always have to have SOMETHING to do in the car, be it a book to read, a movie to watch or an electronic device to play with. It was a 20 minute drive or so to our friend’s house so I knew they would grab a few things.
Little …

Do you have a teen in your house?
Is that teen driving?
I’m years away from that point, but it terrifies me none the less.
Those first driving lessons with dad were – um – a bit laughable. I STILL remember all these years later hitting a garbage can on the street and jumping a curb.
It probably didn’t help that my first car was a 1970 Cutlass Supreme. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, it was BIG. Really BIG. Like, I don’t think any other vehicle, ever made, was that …

I decided to check in on one of our East Valley mom bloggers and found the best news on “Surviving Unemployment.”
After 3 years, 9 months and 12 days, her hubby is working again! You can tell by the posts that they feel very blessed right now!
Take a look at the blog. As someone who has been through it all, she shares great advice and wonderful tips for anyone facing financial struggles and job searches.

My husband can light up the face of any of our children just by walking into a room. My youngest wraps her whole body around his neck when she hugs him. My middle daughter loved it when daddy came to build gingerbread houses with her class in December. My son’s whole outlook can change when daddy is around.
So when I received an email about this promotion from the National Center for Fathering (fathers.com), I thought I would share.
This year, one “Super Dad” will receive more than a coffee mug for …

I picked up the kids tonight after work and school. We didn’t have gym, soccer or tutoring. My husband was working late and I’d had a long day juggling work and family obligations.
I got an email about an evening “family bounce” at a local spot, picked up the baby and off we went.
We were the only ones there at first. We danced. We sang. We threw balls at each other. I came home with three tired kiddos … and one relaxed momma.
Hopefully they’ll get enough sleep tonight!

Welcome 2012!
In 2011, my kids were busy and growing. They continued gymnastics, played another year of soccer and football and moved up a grade at their school.
Oh, the baby added walking.
I’m hoping the big kids take a step into the unknown themselves this year. My daughter already decided to try tennis. Last fall, my son went ice skating for the first time.
I bought Spanish tapes last summer, but we haven’t tried them. Maybe this year?

I didn’t realize how exhausting baking every day (well, nearly every day) December 2010 was until I didn’t do it this year.
I just pulled down “the baking box” for its location in the pantry. For the past 12 months, bits and pieces of it have been used. But what I found – coconut, cocoa, icing, icing tips, sprinkles – remained until I just dumped much of it in the trash.
We did bake this year, don’t get me wrong. And I can’t wait to try out my new cake pop maker …