Author Archives: heather

It may be the longest week in the longest summer in the longest year that ever was. But now it’s over with the wonderful news that Finn has strep throat! This means we can return to the land of the living, or at the land of the semi-living. Or the land of the creatures whoContinue reading “Great News! Strep Throat!”

It is a gift to have a getaway camp, even for a weekend, in these locked down times. Our getaway is Deep Creek, and we’ll take any invitation we get. So here we are for our second visit of the summer, trying to keep true to our summer traditions. Now we just need some cousins!Continue reading “Love Lake Time”

It was a little sad not to be able to go to Deep Creek for the Fourth, our cousin- and extended-family tradition from the last how many years. But given that we couldn’t, we made the best of it with a visit to our favorite river spot for an afternoon picnic and swim, and thenContinue reading “Orange Moon for the Red, White and Blue”

When things have been the crummiest for me in life, I like to retreat, into the woods if possible. I like the leafy green of the trails that feels like an umbrella and a hug at the same time. The solitude and space give me room to quiet my monkey mind and think, to pray,Continue reading “Living Messy in a Two-Dimensional World”

What’s that expression, “The days are long and the years are fast?” It is wild to think we have three middle schoolers in the house all of a sudden. Finn and Clara celebrated their 5th grade promotion on June 13, after the weirdest year ever. True to form, the celebration was unique. There was aContinue reading “Middle School is My Middle Name”

In the era of COVID-19, surviving is hard enough. Yesterday, it felt like we went from sweatshirts and fuzzy socks in the morning to, “Moooommm, my room is so hot, can’t we turn on the air condition?” by late afternoon. The heat made everyone crabby. One child was quick to tantrum over misunderstood homework, anotherContinue reading “Flipping Tables for Fro-Yo”

It is a mixed up time for sure. I tried to think “safety first” in how to get off the beaten path for Memorial Day weekend. The original beaten path is The Loop, as we call it, the circular walk through our neighborhood. Another beaten path is The Trail, which meanders through the woods andContinue reading “Topsy Turvy Parenting Decisions in COVID-19”

Here are thirteen things to know about Tatum’s birthday. 13. She made her own birthday cake, checkered with green and white squares across two rounds. I have no idea how she did that, but it was cool. She wanted to make yellow fondant icing but I couldn’t find gelatin on the empty shelves at Giant.Continue reading “Our Newest Quaranteen”

I am so glad the kids are not too old for Easter egg hunts, and I’m so glad the Easter Bunny was granted permission for essential travel. The kids had a blast looking high and low for the eggs, although actually only two of them were excited about it. I guess between 11 and 12,Continue reading “Easter requires essential travel”