I can distinctly remember the first time I had that horrible feeling of being left out.   I wasn’t invited to a popular girl's birthday party in junior high and everyone else was. I remember wondering what I needed to change about myself to get invited? What was wrong with me that nobody wanted me […]

Women love a birth story. I mean it, we can’t get enough. We watch YouTube videos of births, we read stories about them, we listen to each other’s tales in person, and we watch them on TV. We live for the experience, the excitement, the suspense, the drama, and then the ultimate payoff, the sweet […]

"You guys always pick black names." This ridiculous statement is something we have heard on countless occasions. Don't get it twisted either, we have heard it more from friends who are black than from others by far.  It's motivated by association and it has always got me thinking about what they really mean? Where do […]

When I was younger, before there were cell phones, laptops, tablets etc...I used pen and pencil to write.  I loved writing so much I would make lists of things I had already done just to have something to write and satisfyingly cross out. Scraaatccchhh. Oh what a satisfying feeling sharp pencil dragging across paper is […]

It is a little scary to have people tell you they admire your marriage.  A huge compliment! but scary as well because we all know, married or not, how fragile relationships are. Sometimes I worry the admiration will jinx us.  Relationships can turn in a instant, often when only one of you is aware and […]

Milestones have been around since ancient Rome. They were actual stones placed along the road to both reassure travelers that they were still on the right road and to show how far they had come, or how far they had left to go. Humans count birthdays as a living milestone, each culture revering a different […]

I'm entertaining the idea of taking the boys out of 'traditional' public education and schooling them at home. Homeschooling. Holy cow that word conjures up very different images in peoples minds doesn't it? Typically the odd images occur to those least acquainted with the subject.  I myself am guilty of a fair bit of supposition […]

Ever since I was 5 and could read on my own I have had my head in books. And I'm not alone!  It seems despite what is indicated by the demise of Border's, and possible demise of Barnes and Noble, that everyone is still in love with reading.  One need only visit said bookstore on […]

Did you know that there are actually people who live in real Hobbit holes?  Surprisingly they aren't all living in a Tolkien inspired fantasy world of second breakfast and random trips to visit the Elves. Their motives are actually very green and focused on sustainable living.  And miraculous feats of architecture have been achieved! And to […]

Everyday I'm Trufflin This is what I'm going to start asking people to do before I consent to talking politics, global warming, terrorism, economics, sports, celebrity gossip...you get the picture.  You wanna talk gun control?  No problem my friend, but first ya gotta do the truffle shuffle.  Kim and Kanye having a baby?  Can't say […]

Inspired by my lackluster locks, which are going against everything nature intended for them during pregnancy by being dry and unruly, and also having recently watched Chris Rocks HBO special about Black hair, I am feeling the need to set the record straight about White girl hair. I can't tell you how many times I've […]

I left you hanging with the last post and the promise of tales of monkey armies and Cortez to come. Since then I have been consumed by holidays, travelling, babies and finishing the rough draft of my essay. With all those behind me now I have a moment to make good on at least one […]

Todays topic is Magellan and his fantastic voyage.  Although perhaps not so fantastic to him since he never made it home, poor guy:(Leaving Spain with 5 ships, the Trinidad (his flagship), Concepcion, San Antonio, Victoria, and the Santiago, Magellan embarked on his famous journey with 257 men. The men stopped to wait out the cold months […]

If someone asked you to describe what you think the natives of the new world looked like, the kind of shelters they lived in, what their clothing looked like, what would you say? Would you describe naked heathens who lived in huts.  If you did you'd only be partially correct. There was another side to […]

I often wondered why the voyages of early explorers seemed to be so haphazard.  Granted, to begin with they didn't have a destination because they didn't even know what, if anything, was out there. But on return voyages it would seem their lines of travel would have a little more purpose and direction. Today I […]

Off to the library today... I continue to chip away at the remarkable book I'm to write anessay on. Today I read more of the third decade.  Here is one of the important things I learned: When the natives ate they used their right hand to eat a piece of maize or bread and at […]

There was a little cloud of sadness over me Saturday as I walked my two sons house to house continuing the time honored tradition of trick or treating.  They had a great time, Desmond riding in the stroller for much of the trip and Miles walking away from every house stating "My bags not full […]

Here are some pics I haven't shared yet. It's bedtime...holla!  Notice the peeled border in the background?  I will never again put something like that in reach of tiny fingers.  As soon as Miles could stand up in the crib he started to peel the border and when Des came along he did the same […]

Seems there is no end in sight to the pretty autumn pictures I keep capturing of the boys.  I think I can thank my Canon for that as well as mother nature:)  But first let me share this indoor shot of my little men. Last week Miles decided he couldn't possibly eat unless he had […]

Today I am contemplating the need for more time in a day. Instead of being able to devote the 8-10 hours I truly need to work on my book, or read the Eight Decades for my soon-to-be published essay, or clean and organize all rooms of the house in which I live, or finish and […]

You can't live in Michigan and not visit an Apple Orchard at least once, if not multiple times, in the Fall.  It's beautiful out with the colors changing, the weather is mild and allows you to let the kids run free just a little more before going outside means putting ones little bambinos in 72 […]

When I was a little girl, about 8 or 9 years old, I helped my cousin Kelly conduct an oral history of my Grandma Drow's life.  At Christmas that year my cousin Diane, who has lived out of state as long as I've been alive, sent my grandmother a "Grandma Remembers" gift.  Now, we've all […]

I suppose it wasn't technically scrumping since I believe that means to steal apples from a tree and B and I paid for ours, but never the less we did go to Wasem's to pick apples and try to get into the Fall groove. I love Fall more than any other time of year.  Everything […]

It's official.  I will be publishing an essay in a book for the Clements.  I am going to have a heart attack.  I wish I had a picture of myself looking like I'm having a heart attack to insert here but instead I'll put in this. Precious little men:)

Yes, you read that right.  I am currently working for free, otherwise known as volunteering, at the Clements Library at UMich.  So far the two days a week that I have been able to drag myself away from my babies and try to reintroduce the adult part of my brain to the land of the […]

  Well, I officially am the mother of a 3-year-old.  I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by.  I panic when I think about it too long.  Miles' birthday party went off pretty well, as usual I felt scattered throughout the entire party and then stressed for a while after it was over […]

I took the boys to Makielski's Raspberry picking a few weeks ago.  Miles loved it and Desmond is...well Desmond is 1 so he ate dirt and fell a lot:)                                                      […]

Have you ever wondered who wins those contests you see on candy bars, pop cans, boxes of crackers, or chip bags? They're everywhere aren't they? Look under the cap you could be an instant winner! Collect all 4 and you could be the next millionaire! Enter for a chance to win cash and prizes! In […]

The kids got a chance to all be together again today to run and play before Emily heads home to Vegas.  Just thought I'd share the pictures. Sarah, Max, Bella, Miles and Desmond                                               […]

Miles and I decided to try our hand at baking an old-school favorite today; Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies.  They turned out pretty good, although a bit too gooey.  I think it needs a bit more oats or flour but I'm not much of a baker by nature so I'm not sure. First we make the […]

  Last night we had a nice little break from the kids and hung out with Margaret, Cousins Lydia and Jason, Emily and baby Isaac, and my handsome husband.  Mexican food and frosty beverages were yummy but the night ended with a major migraine!  It's a sign of my age that two beers cripples me […]

Today we are anxiously awaiting the return of Daddy. I know the boys are going to go crazy when Matt get's home which is unfortunate because I know Matt is going to want to go straight to bed. He's been in San Diego for a business trip and had a video shoot at 3 am! […]