Ah, Friday. For us, it often means Saturday morning sports activities (right now we’ve got karate and gymnastics going for the big kids), lounging outside (until the temperatures warm up) and a visit with a friend or family member (or two). Last weekend, it meant TWO birthday parties on Saturday. Next weekend, there’s a birthday party Saturday and, of course, Easter festivities with family on Sunday.
But this weekend – just a minute, let me check again – yup, the calendar is free (except for the sports) (OK, I wrote this …

If you have kids, you’re likely taking photos.
If you’re taking photos, like me, they’re likely stuck somewhere in a camera, a computer, or – eek! – your phone. I just checked. There are 400 pictures in my phone. Wow.
With a winter storm coming down on Arizona this weekend – maybe we’ll get RAIN! – I think we’ll be spending time indoors Sunday. A lot of time.
I wish I had a photo to show you – that would make 401 on my phone – of my dining room table. It’s covered …

Do you ever feel this way, moms? That change is ever present? I’ve really felt it recently. Sometimes I wish it would stop!
I first glimpsed it on Sunday – tiny buds of green on the formerly barren trees around our park. Today, they’re full leaves.
A sign of a new season. Change.
There’s been lots of change around our lives in the past few months: many families – and friends – have moved away, two friends soon to welcome babies, one sport dropped and another began. As much as we want things …

I found myself thinking about my grandparents’ porch swing this past week.
As days grow longer, my kids and I are spending more time outdoors. Summer is around the corner. We better enjoy the weather while we can here in Arizona.
Growing up, summers often meant a trip to Indiana to see my mom’s parents.
With each visit, there were two guarantees: Papa would host a fish fry and I would seek out the porch swing.
My nine cousins and two siblings and I never fought for the swing (or maybe I just don’t …

My daughter and I wrapped up our holiday baking over the weekend with a gingerbread house. I’ll say “baking” loosely since we didn’t actually bake the house. We just decorated it. We giggled and smiled as we picked out the candies, watched the frosting drip down like snow on the roof and snuck a few pieces of sweets in our mouths.
It goes without saying that we didn’t meet our goal to bake every night. We didn’t even come close. But we did enjoy the times we broke out the “baking …

Each year it seems my kids’ teachers get more and more creative with winter holiday parties.

What’s a holiday cookie without sprinkles?
My kids attend the same school for the first time, so they had holiday parties the same day last week. I attended my daughter’s in the morning and my son’s in the afternoon. I’ve never done so many crafts in so few hours! Their teachers amazed me with the organization of the stations and variety of projects.
In my daughter’s kindergarten class, the students: decorated cookies, …

This week is CRAZY (ok, so are the next few weeks). So when I bought baking supplies from the store, I picked up a few easy, put together kits (that bakes up goodies I don’t have to find recipes for).
I worked late last night so when I got home, there was only an hour before bedtime. I pulled out this fudge kit. The directions were pretty easy: dump the supplies in the right order into the sauce pan, stir it up then pour it into the pan. I gave my …

YUM! There are a two downtown Mesa locations that sell a treat called “magic bars.” If I go there for lunch, I often buy one.
Now, I can make them at home! (They look better in person.)
Once again I tackled a treat I’ve never baked – turtle bars. My daughter had a ton of fun sprinkling the nuts, toffee bits and chocolate chips on this one. I wasn’t sure she would like coconut (she didn’t when she tasted it before being cooked), so I only put that on half the bars. …

Today is National Day on Writing. I found this out while researching a story that took me to the U.S. Department of Education website. I’m taking the challenge a teacher posted there to write a six-word autobiography (supposedly inspired by Hemingway). Perhaps you can challenge your own kids (or yourself). Share your post here.
This is mine: Mom of three. Lover of life.

I love crafting. Or should I say, I love the IDEA of crafting. In my busy schedule – working full time as a journalist, raising two kids and preparing for a third – my crafting hours a numbered each week. My 5 year old loves to craft also, but her desire to work side-by-side often ends up with her sitting on my lap, leaving me unable to accomplish my own goals.
I saw this idea on a blog and thought we would try it: 5 Ways to Make Summer Memories Last
I’m …