The Katkics Women, Christmas 2013 I love this picture for so many reasons, but mostly because it captures the women in my family who are usually found behind the camera and are equally passionate about capturing moments, like this one: my mom, me and my sister-in-law Pam. It's been a tough year for the three of us. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and whatever else is left after throwing yourself into living life to the fullest...no matter what life throws at you....body, mind and soul-ly. Me and my twin bro, taken by my sister-in-law, who was all like "Get in front of... Read more →

Like most families we know, the kids and I have our favorite holiday traditions: decorating Christmas cookies ranks right up there with tricking out a ginger bread house with leftover Halloween candy, if there's any left. Assembling said gingerbread house, not so much. So, when our good friends at Kellogg's challenged us to put a twist on a family-favorite holiday tradition, I thought it would be REALLY fun to replicate This Full House (the house) in Rice Krispies, but then I broke it. So, according to the directions, you're supposed to bake the pieces for about 20 minutes before assembling,... Read more →

Two out of four of my kids are not very happy with me at the moment and -- especially if you have kids who can use both hands and feet to quantify their age -- most parents would be all like...good...it means you are doing your job. Right. So, I'll just go ahead and file it under "really sucky aspects of raising teens" and be thankful that I'm not required to submit a work performance assessment or self-evaluation or anything. Because, all we parents have to do is look at our own kids. Long story, short (you're welcome!): the really,... Read more →

Last month, my dear friend Beth (a.k.a. Life in The Bat Cave) took it upon herself to reach out and spread a little holiday cheer by organizing a Blogger Ornament Exchange -- sort of like a cookie exchange, only different. So, I signed right up and guess what?!? I got paired up with Beth :) Now that we're smack-dab in the middle of the holidaze -- you know, that constant "Uhhhhhhh, what year is it, again?!?" feeling you get in between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day -- and because my contribution to the ornament exchange got to Beth's house safe... Read more →

Taken on Manasquan Beach, NJ on a much warmer day, in November. #nofilter “Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?” - Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull) More linky love bytes: Wordless Wednesday HQ, 5 Minutes for Mom ©2003 -2013 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook and everything! Read more →

I've been crocheting for exactly a week -- here's my first project, it's a slouchy hat, which my middle girl borrowed and then forgot to give back, accidentally on purpose -- and I've crocheted a total of six hats, two of which don't really count, because they were either too big or too small and I had to unravel the whole gosh-darned thing, but I didn't realize that they didn't fit until I was finished crocheting them, so I guess they really do count, right?!? Ugh, this using both hands at the same time thing...to make something that someone would... Read more →

Because if you happen to have a middle-schooler in your house, who also happens to be a member of the middle school's chorus, then you may or may not appreciate the town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony as a REALLY BIG DEAL. A really bad picture of our youngest daughter singing at our town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony, last night -- at least, I think that it is her -- but wait, it gets worse! Our youngest daughter has been looking forward to it for many reasons... WARNING: this is where, if you are a parent of a non-grader (i.e. pre-schooler... Read more →