#7 This was our first week of “normal” life after Christmas. Sienna went back to school, the Ogre went back to teaching classes and continued writing his dissertation in earnest (since he never really took a break from that, except on Christmas Day), and I… I took a vacation. Yup, that’s right. That’s why I’ve been off the internets this week. (And if you have emailed me this week I’m sorry I left your email languishing in my inbox, but... Read more

Two days ago, I was having another frustration meltdown. I have never had an infant who so vocally refused to be put down for longer than ten minutes, or whose sleep routine was so hands-on and time-consuming, and having one now, when I also have three other kids, a house to run, meals to make, a blog to write and really important things on the internet that I need to read, is difficult. I was telling the Ogre how unbelievably... Read more

Among the many wonderful Christmas gifts we received from friends and family this year were these totally awesome accessories for Liam: Right? Right? It’s a bow tie and a FEZ. A freaking FEZ. Yes the italics and caps lock are necessary because IT’S A BOW TIE AND A FEZ AND MY KID IS LIKE A MINI DOCTOR WHO AND MY LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE! Seriously. Coolest gift since the TARDIS blanket from Charlotte. The creator of this brilliant gift is... Read more

In case you haven’t heard by now, Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary and Minor Revisions fame was admitted to the hospital yesterday with pulmonary embolisms in both lungs. This is a complication of her clotting disorder, which is always more dangerous in pregnancy. She is due in May. Please keep her, the baby, her husband and all their other kids in your prayers. Hallie Lord is posting updates on Twitter if you want to follow her (@HallieLord) and I’ll be... Read more

It’s the last day of 2012. No kidding, part of me thought that we would never live to see this day. Clearly I have an unhealthy fondness for John Cusack, but if the world were covered in water and giant metal ships were banging around everywhere and I was sprouting kelp in Davy Jones’ locker today, I wouldn’t be surprised. I  mean, I’d be dead, so obviously. But even so. You know what I mean. Anyway, I was so consumed... Read more

Yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Innocents. I did remember that, for the first time ever in my post-conversion life, and when the kids got up I played them “Coventry Carol” and we talked about how King Herod had killed little children because he was so afraid of Jesus. Charlotte and Sienna listened, asked a few questions, and then moved on with their day. I could tell that Charlotte was stewing on it a bit  more than Sienna (who... Read more

#7 I wanted to put up a whole post today about what our Puking Christmas Eve taught me about little Lincoln, but I’m having a black bean crisis and am too busy hovering over the pot, stirring way too much, adjusting the heat ad nauseum, and praying praying praying that they weren’t old beans that will never get soft. Because we’re having company over for dinner in 3 hours and I can’t start over with canned beans because I used... Read more

Merry Christmas! Love, The Alexanders Read more

This has been a crazy, insane, rough Advent for me. Two birthdays during Advent always make it a bit hectic, but add in finals week, a disappearing husband, an angry baby, and a shoestring budget…it’s just been a madhouse. I’ve been playing catch-up all Advent, always a week behind where I wanted to be, the tree up late, no Advent calendar or wreath, the house falling into disrepair, the children unbathed, the presents unwrapped, and so on, and so on.... Read more

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Now that our two December birthdays are out of the way, I can finally get in the Christmas spirit! And behold, I have tons and tons of stuff to do to make Christmas happen in two days. So. I’m writing a blog post instead, naturally. Liam has been walking around the house for the last two days singing, “He EEEES yew when yew leeping, he EEES yew when yew wake, he EEES yew when yew bad... Read more