Our school system allows our kids to participate in recess - weather permitting - ideally, where a child can go outside and run, play, kick a soccer ball and shoot some hoops for twenty minutes, or so. My kids? I'd rather they climb into a pit filled with mud, or any form of muck for that matter, than have to face another playground bully and waste half my afternoon having to explain why chump-change felt the need to punch one of them in the gut or cut him/her down to the size of an insignificant fleck. Yes, I understand thatÂ... Read more →

I'll tell you, I am one of the proudest momma's in the whole blogosphere...right about now...I'm feeling this warm, fuzzy sort of feeling that I just had to share. Look it what my kid did!   This was Thing Two before school, this morning.   This is Thing Two -- after she (and about a dozen other school mates) donated ten inches of hair for the Locks of Love! What is Locks of Love? Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss.Â... Read more →

No, it wasn't romantic - nor, was it anywhere near as magical as one might imagine a weekend getaway to be - but, I couldn't have planned a more rejuvenating two days, if I'd tried. So, I didn't. My husband was scheduled to work on Saturday, then helped his sister move rather large pieces of furniture that would take at least four trips and most of the weekend to complete and then...who knows...perhaps we could wave to one another, as we exchanged glances at each other...from the driveway. I was a bit frazzled, wickedly whipped from the week and (quite... Read more →

Though I've always wanted to - this is my first time contributing to Penny's Illustration Friday. Have you heard of it? Illustration Friday is a weekly creative outlet/participatory art exhibit for illustrators of all skill levels. It was designed to challenge participants creatively. I believe that every person has a little creative bone in their body. Illustration Friday just gives a no-pressure, fun excuse to use it. No clients looking for a particular thing. No one judging the outcome of the work. It's a chance to experiment and explore and play with visual art. So welcome, novices and pros alike.... Read more →

Throughout history, people have searched for "the meaning" of dreams. Experts say that almost all of us dream and -- even though perhaps you're one of those people who rarely remembers your dreams -- if you were to be awakened during the deepest of sleeps (R.E.M. - rapid eye movement) then, chances are pretty good that you will at least know that...you were dreaming. I, on the other hand, have no problem remembering my dreams.  In fact, not only do I dream in vivid colors, I often times wake up and can still sense tastes, smells, etc... Sometimes, I... Read more →

Heaven welcomed another angel today, as Shylah's Dad passed after being diagnosed with cancer 5 months ago. If you wish -- go here -- now would be a good time to send your prayers and all peaceful thoughts, Shylah's way. Read more →

Okay, so this is the guy...and he looks very, very happy. Dammit! I didn't really expect to win the HGTV 2006 Dream Home -- hoping's more like it -- but, I don't believe I was even half as disappointed as my kids were! We entered (along with 53 million other people) the contest,toured the house about a hundred times, and even had our bedrooms picked out as we truly thought, "this house was made for us!" And as we gathered together to watch the HGTV Giveaway Saturday night, the kids huddled close together on the couch -- along with the... Read more →