Am I the only mom who dreads the bedtime routine? Who is WORN OUT from the bedtime routine? This is the time of day when I “forget” to read stories, when sleepy kids cry during prayers, and everyone moves in SLOWWWWMOTIONNNN. Why? Because we are all tired. The day’s wardrobe malfunctions, spilled yogurt drinks, fights...Continue Reading
We were in Galveston again this weekend to do some work on the beach house, to relax, and to eat donuts. Galveston is home to the best donuts at a little shop called Home Cut Donuts. That link is to the glowing reviews on Yelp. Home Cut donuts is a no-frill, locals’ spot that will probably...Continue Reading
The end of this story is that Sam did, in fact, turn around before the escalator reached the bottom. He did not fall over those people or crack his head open on that tile floor. His habit of riding escalators backwards is just another nerve-racking adventure of parenting young kids. While he’s doing this, and...Continue Reading
It’s only Monday morning, and this week is already wearing. me. out. For real, y’all. All the volunteer commitments and kid nurturing, wifing, housekeeping, writing, speaking, email-answering and befriending have clustered up into BIG DEADLINES this week. I’m not complaining, but as I look at this week, I’m seriously wondering… Who will do all that...Continue Reading
5. It’s National Lutheran Schools Week! For one week a year, Lutheran School kids get to ditch their uniforms for to dress up like their Favorite Storybook Character and like a hippie from the ’60s. The really good news about this? If your kid goes to a Lutheran School, they probably wear a uniform the...Continue Reading
For the past couple years, ever since Chronic Fatigue flattened my life into a pattern of sleeping and more sleeping, I’ve tried to eat healthier. To understand what that means, I’ve read a bunch of books about where our food comes from, about the typical American diet, and about how to prevent cancer, autoimmune diseases,...Continue Reading
The kids’ school has a Talent Show every year at the end of January. The four Hergenraders perform a “show” (using this term very loosely here) just about every night in the living room, so the promise of an actual stage and an audience not related to them sounded like the very best way to...Continue Reading
I hope you and your family are fever-free, virus-free, bacteria-free this week. We have not been so lucky around here. We are on our fourth week of fevers, viruses, and bacteria. Thanks to a sloppy diagnosis, some unneeded antibiotics, and an ugly virus, these past couple days have been especially frustrating for our family. Sam,...Continue Reading
It happened exactly one week ago when we were eyeball deep in December to-dos. Elisabeth came down with a fever the morning of her class Christmas party. Poor kid never misses school, unlike her siblings she doesn’t even want to miss school, and now she would have to miss her Christmas party. M was working from...Continue Reading
1. The Sound of Musicis my all-time, absolute favorite movie. But, wow, you just don’t realize how slloowwwww it starts until you watch it with your three-year-old and six-year-old sons. 2. Nor do you realize how much Maria and her nun friends discuss the plusses and negatives of Maria at the Abbey. I had coerced...Continue Reading
