Itle

Back in our old neighborhood, we were known as “The Leg Lamp” house.  For years after we moved, Plat and Clarence would post to our Facebook pages “We miss you Leg Lamp!” We earned this rep because at Christmas time we’d proudly display our fishnetted Christmas Story lamp front and…

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Hatchet

Two Saturdays ago, Jacob’s Halloween Party fantasies finally came true.  Although given I’m the one that went to two grocery stores plus Target, wait make that three grocery stores, plus Target… and hauled the ice, set-up the taco buffet, lit the charcoal grill, hung the spiderwebs and remembered the trash cans,…

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The Rat Mobile

We used to call my car Lufthansa.  That was back when it was James’ car and it hadn’t driven tens of thousands of miles carrying tens of thousands of house hunters.  It had the luxury car acceleration.  And silence.  And smell.  Then we traded in my previous vehicle, the Crop Duster, and…

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Camp Kikiwaka

Over the past two weeks or so, Jacob has developed an affinity for a Disney TV show called Bunk’d.  From what I can tell, it’s a tween sitcom that takes place at a fictional summer camp called Camp Kikiwaka.  There is one camper of most ethnic backgrounds including Ravi, Jorge,…

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Cantaloupes

Not surprisingly, a spot-check of this blog for the popular search term “Handy Manny” returns no fewer than one dozen results… and our family vocab on “Lovely” shows appears to have been born in the late-2015-early-2016 toddler television era. Yesterday I was talking to my three-almost-four-year-old nephew Bry-Bry and heard the words Dinosaur Train. …

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Juve

The last few weeks, Nate’s been somewhat sensitive and tearful at night.  He’s a pretty stoic guy so I know something’s bothering him.  After some gentle prying when he’s at his sleepiest, he finally blurts it out.  Turns out some kids in his class have been making fun of his name……

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Golazo

We’re two weekends into the soccer season and so far so goooooooooool. Or “golazo” as Nate likes to say. I arrived late to Nate’s first game and found out I was substitute coaching.  Bad news?  We only had three players and had to borrow one every quarter from the other…

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The Awesome Panthers

We’ve got the soccer fever.  Seems like it started with this year’s World Cup.  We poured over stickers and books and players.  We found out Nate has a knack for remembering names that might rival his mom’s.  And after nine years of persistent bedhead, Jake started caring about his hair. …

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Back to School

Just one week ago we headed back to school.  Second grade and fourth grade.  Summer somehow flew by in a blur of sun scream and goalie camp. Two weekends ago the boys and I embarked on a Saturday morning back-to-school shopping spree.  Growing up, this was always a much anticipated errand. …

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LDP

Hard to believe we’re already in the last week of summer vacay.  Last Friday I was invited to a final family Y camp barbecue at Meadow Park.  Reminder for next year: Bring our own barbecue if we want to eat at lunchtime.  Or eat. So we’re sitting in the shade…

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