• The Fashion Diva Evaluates Mama’s Closet

    I was snuggling in my bed with a good book.  The Banana joined me after waking up from her nap.  She was dressed in stripey tights, a purple fuzzy leotard, a tutu, and a considerable amount of plastic jewelry.   "Mama, why don't YOU have any leotards and tutus and…

  • On Babies

     I haven't mentioned it here, I don't think, but we are expecting Kidlet 4 in July.  The Banana is very, very excited about becoming a big sister.  Mr. SP is set on wanting a little brother, but The Banana goes back and forth between whether she'd like the baby to be…

  • Fast Mess-Maker — Slow Clean-Uper

    I'm just here to tell you that he spends two and a half hours minimum cleaning his room every night.  EVERY night.  It's a complete disaster every night.  I have no idea how he even manages to make such a mess.  He gets so distracted when it's time to clean…

  • Our Own Personal Luge Track

    Our sidewalks have been extremely icy since Christmas.  It's safer to walk on the narrow, (still icy) streets than it is to even attempt the sidewalks, with their solid coating of ice concealed and polished by just a tiny dusting of snow.  It makes outside activity difficult, unless, of course…

  • Thinking about Haiti

      I've always avoided statements like "Children are the future" and "The children of today hold the answers tomorrow's greatest questions."  Really, they just seem a sappy statement of the obvious, kind of a nauseating, idealistic declaration. However, over the weekend, those exact little sentences popped into my mind.  The…

  • Minnesota Children’s Museum

    We've been meaning to take a trip down to St. Paul to visit the Minnesota Children's Museum for years and years, and never got around to it.  Last summer when I renewed our regular local children's museum membership, I decided that this would be the year, and I bought the…

  • Mess of the Week: The Scuba Diving Edition

    They got the brilliant idea of scuba diving for treasure underneath Ya Ya's bed.  Of course, they had to dress up for the occasion.  Goggles were a must, along with Mr. SP's wet suit and green plastic flippers for his feet.  The Banana thought a princess dress with red tights…

  • Morning Choke Hold

        On Friday morning I got up and made breakfast.  I sent Ya Ya off on the bus to school after a quick last minute practice for her spelling test.  Mr. Sneaky Pants went up to my office to play with the dollhouse.  I went back to my bed to snuggle…

  • Afternoon Nap

    Every day I hear this 17 times at the very least: The Banana:  Mama.  Mama.  Mama.  Mama. Me:  What, Love? The Banana:  Mama, I have to tell you something. Me:  Ok.  What? The Banana:  I have to tell you something.  I really don't like taking a nap.   I know,…