It’s my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We’re all partying at my house and what would a party be without party favors? In honor of my birthday, and my mom’s hard work 39 years ago today, I’m giving away free Kindle versions of my book! So, enjoy my birthday and go have a big piece of cake. It has no calories today. I worked that out for you…’cause it’s my birthday. You’re welcome!!!!!!!!My birthday is over and so is this give away. Thank you... Read more

It’s been four days since I last posted. I have all of these great ideas for things to write about, but none of them are going to happen today. I’m sick. It started as a little sniffle that didn’t seem to be a big deal at all, but when I added in a night with one an hour of sleep and it catapulted into full-blown sick. Three hours ago I sneezed and all the goop in my sinuses backed up... Read more

Our youngest is completely obsessed with Peter Pan. I put it on my iPad a few months back thinking that it would be an occasional distraction in the car or while waiting at the doctor’s office. I couldn’t have predicted how much she would love it. When she’s lucky enough to find my iPad both unattended and unlocked, she swipes it and runs off to my room, snuggles under the covers on my bed, and pushes play. It seems like any... Read more

There was a day when my eldest was 13 that everything changed. The sweet and easy-going child we had gotten used to now eyed us with a more cynical gaze. She had discovered that we were human after all. It was a hard transition for all of us as she went from unquestioning child to a teenager with a point of view and an opinion. There were many nights that I went to bed missing the sweet girl she had... Read more

It’s been raining here for three days straight. The children have spent every day playing outside in the rain and splashing in puddles. They’ve spent hours outside, but only if they’re in the front yard. I keep sending them out back where there are no cars and I don’t have to watch them. There’s a fence to keep them safe and not much trouble for them to get into. Which is why they hate it. My 9-year-old calls it “playing... Read more

My Computer Guy and I got to go out on a date last night. It doesn’t happen often, but I strong armed him into it. I was on my way home from my first ever Crossfit competition (we took 3rd!) when he texted me: CG: How did it go?Me: It was awesome! We pulled a Humvee. We finished third.CG: I think that means you want to pick up some chocolate on the way home.Me: I think it means that you... Read more

It used to be, a few years ago, that people would ask me what I did for a living and I’d cheerfully reply “I homeschool our children,” and their eyes would either glaze over in boredom or scan the room in panic as they looked for a way out of the conversation. I knew what was happening, and I accepted it. What I was doing was weird. Most people heard the word “homeschool” and instantly inferred “freak” or ” fanatic.”... Read more

I’ve heard too many times in the past few days from the “Voices of Reason.” In email, instant message, Facebook comments, and real life conversation, these reasonable people have wasted an enormous amount of reason telling me all of the reasons that I can’t. From silly wishes to full blown goals, plans already in motion and things on my wish list, it doesn’t matter what wonders my brain can conceive – there’s a negative Nelly for that. So to all... Read more

Every Sunday morning after Mass, the elderly woman who sits in the pew behind us pats my hand and praises my family. This week she told me that it was so nice to see a couple in this day and age who trust God enough to have a large family. I smiled and said thank you and hurried my children out of the pew. I wanted to tell her that she has is all wrong. We didn’t trust God, especially... Read more

is brought to you by you! Thanks again to my generous blog readers and real life friends who made this possible. Mr Waterman seems to have settled in just fine. Thank you!!!!! Read more