• Fifteen Frames: The Middles Match

      Last Thursday morning all of the kids at our elementary school were encouraged to walk or bike to school.  Anyone who arrived on foot got a free T-shirt.  Despite the fact that at our house walking to school is usually the consequence of missing the school bus, and despite…

  • Like His Big Brother

    Ever since Mr. Sneaky Pants got glasses, Mr. Trouble on Feet has been insisting that he cannot see well.  He asked for glasses for his birthday.  Dr. Peds was out and about a couple of days ago, and came across some fake glasses.  He brought them home, to the delight…

  • In the Neighborhood: A Bouncy House

      Our neighbor halfway down the street turned eight!  To celebrate, an inflatable bouncy house was rented.  You can only imagine what a magnet this was for kids in the neighborhood all weekend.  It was first inflated Friday night.  The birthday party took place Saturday morning.  All Friday evening and…

  • My Reluctant Hiker

    This is Mr. SP deep in thought.  This is the look I get when Mr. SP wants to strike up a bargain.  This is Mr. SP, filled with quiet optimism that we might turn around and start walking home again.  We didn’t.  I didn’t think to take a picture of…

  • Dandelions in a Braid

    It was probably two weeks ago now.  We were just beginning a relaxed Saturday afternoon hike.  They picked some dandelions along the road, and Mr. SP helped decorate The Banana’s braid.  Although these two squabble and argue sometimes, my middles do seem to get along the best out of any…

  • Waiting in the Car During Oboe

    As soon as The Banana gets home from school on Wednesday afternoons, we head straight to the piano with her violin to sneak in a practice session before things get really crazy for the rest of the day.  We grab a quick snack and all of the supplies we need…

  • Friday Afternoons at the Park

      Mr. SP has his trumpet lesson on Friday afternoons, and his trumpet teacher lives just a block away from our neighborhood park.  It’s the perfect opportunity to walk over to the playground while he noodles and toodles away on his trumpet We’ve been enjoying this little routine to end…

  • Conversations: Concerning my Cooking Skills

    Each Friday morning for the past few weeks Mr. TOF and I have headed off to a nature-based preschool that invited us to come and teach a music class.  The class meets at the teacher’s home and incorporates some really fun concepts.  For example, there is a pet rabbit that…