I wrote my first post for this blog 5 years ago today – about potty training. From discipline to crazy mornings to nighttime issues to teeth falling out (ICK!), tales of my kids – and my parenting – have covered the gamut.
Being the education reporter at the Tribune, I’ve tried to include that, too.
But I admit, I’m still struggling to find my voice here.
Some days, I enjoy sharing stories of quiet, fun times with the kids. Others, life is crazy at the Reese house.
Please tell me I’m not the only …

With three active kids, a working mom and an overly worked dad in our house, let’s just say our nights don’t always go as smoothly as I probably would like – or even portray.
Each night is different, with sports, tutoring, a school board meeting or two that jump on the calendar here and there. My kids grandparents are an amazing help. I can’t thank them enough.
But even with the best planning, some nights go like this one:
I arrived at grandparents to find out one nearly 2-year-old had decided to throw herself off her …

Every woman should have someone who inspires you to dream.
When I met Patty Leon, I found out she is a scrapbooker. I immediately liked her.
She’s also followed her dreams to own her own store. The busy mom of one 9 year old (a Lego lover like my son) and wife to a busy tech guy had told herself years ago that by the time she reached 30, she would own her own store (or travel to Europe).
That passport didn’t get created, but instead she’s travelled into the path of a businessowner. Less than …

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 …

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 …

Moms, if you need a break — and a massage — here’s your chance.
The next Mom’s Nite Out event is coming Wednesday. The event is hosted and organized by Choosing Love blogger (and EV Mom Bloggers Connect contributor) Wendy Wright.
Every mom who attends the event will receive a free chair massage at Mom’s Nite Out courtesy of BackFit Chiropractic & Rehab. Moms will also get a goodie bag of giveaways, learn more about local vendors and get a chance to chat with other moms. Food and drink available for purchase, …

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 …

The holiday decorations are scattered on the dining room table, gathered from various rooms in the house. There are baskets of clean laundry in the loft (and the hallway and my room). Dirty dishes overflow the sink.
Rather than tackling these tasks today (while caring for an ill toddler), we grabbed shoes.
With new skateboards in hand and nature all around, the kids are playing outdoors. It’s gorgeous in Arizona today. We are going to enjoy it.
Everything else can wait.

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 …

Wow. If you’re a parent like me, the house looks like a tornado came through, there are dirty dishes everywhere, and dozens of new clothes and a few toys are to be put away. You know what? I’m on vacation. They kids can play with their new toys, stay in PJs all day and eat the leftovers in the kitchen. We’ll clean up tomorrow. Or not.
I hope you and yours have a very joyous post-Christmas week and a happy New Year!