Dear Future (and Past, and Present) Husband, Yesterday was our ninth wedding anniversary. Nine years ago, we were married outside, in the South, in the oppressive heat and humidity. Our families, our friends, and relatives we had never heard of arrived in droves to see our impending nuptials and silently judge my choices of color, decor, […]
Chore Charts for Kids: Saving Mom’s Summer Sanity
At our house, summer boredom, screaming fights, messy everything, and me somehow acting as mediator/maid/short order cook has caused me to reevaluate how I wanted to spend the summer with my three kids. First of all, let me be clear. I’m NOT a Pinterest mom. Far from it, actually. I love and admire those organized, super-creative, […]
Yurt So Good: Camping for Families Who Don’t Usually Camp
Last weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to camp for two nights in an Arkansas state park, in a yurt. Don’t know what a yurt is? I’ll explain. A yurt is a circular domed tent. Portable yurts do exist, but the yurt where we stayed was a permanent structure. The yurt has a […]
A Dose of Sweetness, Reality, Humor, and Murder on Mother’s Day
You know the Mother’s Day when you get the sleeping late, the spa pedicure, the cut flowers, the showering of gifts, gift cards, and the afternoon nap? I got some (not all) of it. But I totally loved my Mother’s Day, complete with its dose of sweetness, reality, humor, and murder. Yes, MURDER. Sweetness: Breakfast in bed! […]
To My Mama
Carrie, age 6: Mom, why can’t you throw the ball like I do? You aren’t a very good water skier, are you? That’s okay. You’re a pretty good singer. I still love you. What’s for dinner? Carrie, age 12: Ugh, Mom. You are SO embarrassing! Why won’t you let me do what all the other 7th graders […]
Y’all, A Versatile Blogger Award Nomination? Yep!
Oh my goodness! Someone thinks I’m versatile (not usually the first, middle, or last thing anyone would normally say about me), so I’m jumping up and down thinking that I might not be so bad after all! My buddy Brandi over at A Girl Named Wanda nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award, and I’m so grateful! […]
The “BroMantic Momedy”: An Analysis of the Two-Couple Friendship Dichotomy
The Bro-Mantic Mom-Edy: (n) Two couples hanging out together, trying to decide if this four-person-friendship thing is gonna work. Please forgive the combining of words, but this is a thing that needed a name. It’s like dating, only harder in some ways, as there are now two couples and four personalities making sure they can […]
Carrie On Parenting: Worrying WAY TOO EARLY About My Kids’ Spouses?!?
In 2010 at a family reunion, we joyously cut into a “gender reveal” blue cake and officially prepared to welcome our second child into the world. A boy! A little brother for our daughter…nothing could have been more perfect. And then my grandmother looked over at me and said , “You know what they say: […]
A Few of My Favorite Things
Last week, the Oscars, with a stunning performance by Lady Gaga, paid tribute to one of the very best movies of all time, The Sound of Music, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. I grew up loving musicals, and when I tell you that I reenacted Liesl and Rolfe’s dance in the conservatory about a […]
The Importance of Morning Mojo: Thursday-10, Carrie-0
You may not have a term for it, but you know exactly what it is: morning mojo. It’s that sweet spot where you can let your kids sleep just long enough, but then when they get up, they have plenty of time to get dressed, strip the bed someone peed on overnight (oh wait…that’s just my house), eat […]