outsidevoice

For the first time in a year, Benjamin was sort of sick. I say sort of because even when he is actually sick he doesn’t really accept that and just marches on as if not much has really changed. He’s kind of tough that way. But at some point this week the body took over [...]

Today is Day One of Fifth Grade for Leah and Transitional Kindergarten for Benjamin. The first day of the last year of elementary school – and the first day of a “bridge year” for Benjamin. There’s a lot riding on this year. There is hard work and harder work, maturing and accepting, preparation and decisions [...]

Dear Benjamin, Yesterday you turned five. I think this was the first birthday where you really understood how special a birthday is and I’ve never seen you so excited. The moment the calendar read “July” it was all you could talk about. While the theme of the day may have changed 100 times (you went [...]

Dear Benjamin, Well, look at you.  All “growed up” and being a boy.  I thought you should know that you have astounded me these past few months.  Not only are you growing like a weed (and a very tall weed at that), but you are showing me things about your personality faster than I can [...]

Image by SilenceofNight Leah decided to help Benjamin make his Hanukah wish list this year. By the looks of it he had very little to do with it. Or he’s nuts. Either could be true. Or both. Benajmin: 1. Spongebob Computer 2. Socks 3. iPad 4. iPhone 5. Underwear 6. Monkey 7. Wizard Wand 8. [...]

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Have I shown you these hooligans lately? They are starting to look more and more alike – eventhough they look so different. It’s funny – the game genetics plays. My Swimmy and Buddy. One for me. One for him. Dark and translucent. Blonde and china blues. Long and lean and graceful. Swift and solid and [...]

How’s THAT for a face? She totally is at school today with the colored hairspray in her hair. I was entirely too tired to wash and dry her hair last night. It could also have been the chocolate headache I had. Who knew a Snickers bar could take me down? (Didn’t stop me from eating [...]

Image via salon.com For me, part of giving the kids a well-rounded education is exposing them to not only other cultures and foods and religions, but the opportunity to live differently.  To show them and let them experience that people and families live differently all around the country and all around the world. We live [...]

Driving home from swimming lessons yesterday, we stop at a local fast food joint to pick up some hamburgers because, quite frankly, yesterday called for hamburgers.  Also? Cocktails. Benjamin is wet and sitting on a towel in his booster carseat enjoying a French fry and regaling the car with his feats of swimming including the [...]