In between earthquakes and hurricane warnings (what a week we're having, Jersey, eh?) my husband, Garth (NHRN) and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary and had an awesome dinner with my in-laws, last night! I tried to keep the conversation light (thanks to 2 Mojitos and an awesome glass of Pinot Gris) alas, my husband's boyscout powers, along with the category 2 hurricane and extreme flood warnings, had been activated early in the day. "You guys have everything you need?" My in-laws are both in their 80's (but, you STILL look good Mom!) and, well, let's just say that they didn't seem very worried about the weather. "Ah-yup." Still, I told them that the kids and I were going to go down to check on my folks (they live about 15 miles inland from Seaside Heights) then, I would stop by their house (my in-laws live about 10 minutes away... Read more →

As you may (or, may not) have heard (or, even care, considering other more important stuff, like, oh, I don't know, preparing for a hurricane, or something) we had a bit of excitement the other day when the earth "Pfffftttt" here in Jersey. All east coast jokes aside (seriously, I'm from Jersey, we're used to it) what I can tell you is this, I was already sitting on the floor and did NOT panic (at first) thinking: a) I was helping the girls clean out their closet and, well, it's a lot like playing Jenga, only different. b) The washing machine was running at the time and I may (or, may not) have overloaded the sucker (again!) c) A truck busted open that stupid sink hole down the street, or the watermain broke (or, both!) d) Our house is old, it farts (a lot!) Until, I saw my oldest girl's... Read more →

Knock-knock. Who's there? Fanny. Fanny who? (see blog post title) SNORT! The kids helped me out with a little blogging project and, since it's been raining cats and dogs, since, like, forever, they built this awesome tent in the middle of our livingroom. Not that it's earth-shattering news, or an epiphany in parenting, that will perhaps, one day, save the world, by any means, or anything. It's just that, you know, my kids are older AND by older I mean: a) oldest is graduating high school this year and b) youngest is moving up to middle school next year (SOB!) The fact that they still like doing this sort of stuff...with me...well, sort of just blows me away, a little. You see, I am not the best mom, or expert at anything other than being a dork (I get that!) but, raising teens is REAL hard. Aaaaand, some would be... Read more →

I just love capturing really awesome moments like this (unedited) and surprising the heck out of myself, for remembering to take off the lens cover, even, you know? Related Post blogged at Gone Shopping: Our Kleenex Field Trip to the American Museum of Natural History with TheMotherhood.com © 2003 - 2011 This Full House Read more →

I was collating through paperwork and alphabetizing color-coded files, the other day. Okay, so I was looking for a pen. Fiiiiiine, I would have been happy finding a broken crayon...but, couldn't see the top of my desk from the paper jungle that mysteriously cropped up...seems like overnight, really. Alriiiiiight, so a person could lose a small child in the stack of bills, that somehow magically migrated from the kitchen table...ummmmmm...what? [sound of crickets] PEN!!!...that's right...I was looking for a pen (or crayon) but, found a list of stuff and asked my youngest daughter about it, since, you know, it was in her handwriting. "It's a list of stuff." Now that we're clear on it being a list...of stuff...she went on to explain that it is actually a collective wish list she and her sisters penned, while I was away at BlogHer, of the qualities they wanted in their future husband... Read more →

It's the same thing, every summer, about this time, the kids shake down our mail carrier, desperately awaiting news of their teachers and classes for the new school year. So, when I heard the SLAM! of our mailbox (our new carrier seems to be a wee bit crankier than usual, I don't blame him) and then Hope's feet running for the front door (she walks/runs like her muh-thuh!) I was hoping that the wait would be over...FINALLY! [SLAM!...SQUEEEEE!] I felt it safe to assume that...yep...they got their back-to-school letters. "It's from....Hogwarts?!?" They each received a personalized letter, addressed to The Brown House With the Star, sealed with wax and, well, really?!? Yes, they looked really, really, um, real and, honestly, as self-proclaimed Potterheads, we ALL experienced a little pang of regret...okay, mostly me. My youngest is graduating from elementary school, this year (SOB!) and has spent nearly her whole life,... Read more →

Toasting a safe arrival into San Diego with my dear friend, Headless Mom! I had the extreme privilege of attending BlogHer 2011 (thank you, Kmart!) and honestly, even after pulling all-nighters in a New York City hospital, saving BlogHers with Busy Mom, I don't remember being THIS tired, last year. Then again, biking around in Coronado with Melisa, Sue and Michelle can be very, very EXHAUSTING oh and absolutely HILARIOUS (trust me, I was there!) but, I'll let Melisa blog about it, once she stops laughing, I mean! UPDATED TO ADD: Which, she did, right here. Left to right: Me (Michelle, in back) Christina (Headless Mom in back) Jenn (Busy Mom in back) Melisa and Carmen (don't her arms look great?!?) It's REAL hard work, you know, keeping up with the cardigans (dang, but it was chilly) and my Clever Girls Party sistahs. After all, seeing as this is my... Read more →