We arrived at the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada for our overnight stay. The room is fine, and the scenery is beautiful, but it’s reminding me that casinos are probably the saddest places in the world.
Once we arrived on base, and checked into the temporary family lodging, I made steak, salad, and vegetables for us all. We thought we would take advantage of having a kitchen while we could.
I explained to her that the house was just the outside part that held our home. We borrowed it, and now someone else is going to have a turn.
But out home is coming with us. That’s our family, the memories we have made, the adventures we will have, and yes, our belongings too.
Fauxtographer is a term generally used as an insult by the threatened-photographer crowd. But my friends and I use it jokingly, to convey the idea that although we are not pro photographers, and we know we’re not, we try to take the best pictures we can and strive to learn new things each time we pull out our cameras. And you can too.
Lately, my daughter has been more into Real Kitchen Stuff. Wanting to help wash, peel, and cut fruits and veggies. Stirring and pouring. Wearing her little apron. Sweeping and cleaning spills. And standing inside the refrigerator, door open, scanning for snacks. So I figured it was time for a fully-functional toddler kitchen.
Have you ever locked the bathroom door with your kids on the other side, just so you could have a moment to pee in peace? It doesn’t really work, does it? Babies tend to cry and sometimes knock sadly on the door … While toddlers have their own versions of persuasive objection. Anneliese said all…
The other day, I had my sitter come so that I could attend a Fleet and Family Support class on home buying. Depending on my husband's next orders, we may or may not be looking for a home to buy. Anneliese did not want me to leave, so to help her understand the situation, I…
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Allstate for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Sometimes things don’t go the way we hoped they would. But with a bit of optimism, it’s simple to celebrate moments and find the good. Allstate Good Life is taking this optimistic approach in their latest…
My other post about how to make a hammock out of your woven wraps has been pinned a billion times on Pinterest, stolen and republished without permission (creepy… that’s my kid, you guys. don’t DO that. And not okay to steal anyway) and shared WITH permission by buzzfeed and apartment therapy. THANK YOU to everyone…
When did you find out your due date? How did you find out? Did the doctor use your last menstrual cycle and the “Wheel of Pregnancy” tool to figure it out for you? Or were you 100% sure about your date of conception and use a calculator that way? Which calculator did you use? There…
Designing a Baby Nursery (When You’re Sharing a Room) Before we had our first baby, Anneliese, I carefully arranged a special room just for her, even though we knew we would have her in our bedroom with us most of the time. With a 3-bedroom house, it was easy for her to have her…
Are you traveling for the holidays? The actual travel part can be really simple with a young baby, but what about when you arrive at your destination? Crazy, demanding schedules and overenthusiastic friends and relatives may attempt to derail your routine, but there are a few things you can do to help. Stay Flexible…
When I became pregnant with Joey, Anneliese was just under a year old. I knew she couldn’t possibly understand what was really happening, and what was going to change with our family in just a few months, but I did my best to prepare her for his arrival. Considering that upon seeing him the first…
Part of why the “twos” can be so “terrible” is because these quick-growing toddlers are starting to realize they're their own person, and they want autonomy. It's almost as if they're saying… Don't TELL me to wear that blue dress. I want to wear a green shirt with a yellow tutu! And I want two…
What is Montessori? Maria Montessori created a framework for education which focuses on independence and freedom within boundaries, “following the child” (respecting the child as an individual, with unique personality, strengths, and preferences), and a carefully prepared environment. Classrooms are mixed-age, so that children can teach and learn from each other, and teaching younger children…
This is my babywearing “stash” as of the beginning of October, 2012. It took a lot of work to get it all in one place, and I even missed one carrier, my Boba Air, which is in my stroller as backup. Why would someone “need” so many carriers? Let me explain. Top row: Boba 3G…
When I was pregnant with Anneliese, I redecorated my living room. We got a less oppressive coffee table, new wonderful couches that were exactly what I had in mind, and a pretty rug and curtains. I posted a picture on my facebook page, and got a horrified comment from a friend of a friend: Aren’t…
We’ve really enjoyed splashing in the toddler pool in the evenings this summer. I know I mentioned it before, but I had thought we were going to go to the community pool a lot… not so. It’s so much easier to stay close to the house, in case someone needs a diaper or a bathroom…
Pregnancy seems like such a “mom thing”… gosh, I wonder why. But that doesn’t mean dad can’t get involved too. Even though mama may be the only one who’s dealing with nausea, feeling the first flutters, and getting tummy rubs from strangers, there are lots of ways the father can join in on the…
What does a new mother need, the day after her little one is born? The list will be similar for new moms and experienced moms alike. And if you’re trying to help out a close friend or family member right after they’ve welcomed their newest addition to the family, hopefully this will give you some…
Traveling with two kids two and under is definitely a challenge. Here are some things I learned or observed during my trip. I wrote these on the way to South Carolina, and I’m editing to add a bit of return-trip wisdom. 1)Snack Attack I planned ahead and packed a cooler-lunchbox full of healthy snacks for…
Newborns often seem like little lumps. Hardly aware of the world outside of their own little “bubble.” And to be fair, the first 3 months of a baby’s life are called “the fourth trimester” for a reason. It’s kind of like being a fetus on the outside … all the baby wants to do at…
One way to save on a lot of frustration in the toddler years is to encourage the independence these little people so fiercely desire. When the toddler feels as if, “I can do that,” instead of “The world is intended for people much bigger than I am,” there is less struggle and angst in daily…
During World Breastfeeding Week this year, I’m answering a few questions, sharing my resources, and telling my story. PLEASE note: I’m not a lactation consultant. I’m not a doctor. I’m just a mom. I’ve probably spent 5,000 hours breastfeeding in the last 2 years (well, maybe close), and I’m breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery, have…