August 29th we moved from a suburb of Madison to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. With moving to a smaller city there is one thing that we did not expect to happen on the first day we arrived. Our 10-year-old daughter was initiated into the neighborhood gang. Roughly an hour after we closed on our new house,… Continue reading Gang Initiation
Tag: #kids
Kids do the darndest things
In our home we generally have humans sleep on mattresses and canines sleep in dog beds. However, earlier this week our adorable child decided she was going to switch things up a bit. We kissed her good night and sent her upstairs to bed. A little while later when my husband and I made our… Continue reading Kids do the darndest things
She be campin’
So Taylor is gone this week at Girl Scout 'Ninja Girl' camp. It is her first week-long overnight camp. The day before she left we were looking over her packing list and the camp map. While holding the map she turns and looks at me very straight-faced and says very matter of fact like "You… Continue reading She be campin’
Badger Youth Camp 2018
In July Taylor attended her first overnight camp without a family member being a chaperone. She was surrounded by children, away from home and was determined to cause trouble. This is something I always wanted to do when I was a kid. I dreamed of meeting my twin just like in the original Parent Trap… Continue reading Badger Youth Camp 2018
Power Struggle
Sometimes I wonder how I will survive this whole parenting 'thing'. Saying it is challenging or difficult is an understatement. While it has more than its fair share of positives, it can be a struggle. Right now my, I mean our, daughter is nine and a half years old. She is smart, kind and creative.… Continue reading Power Struggle
Limitless
I want to teach my daughter that she can do anything. Anything that she puts in time and effort to achieve. Nothing is only for boys or only for girls. If there is something she wants to do or learn it can be done. Everything just takes research, practice and dedication. In the last few months I… Continue reading Limitless
Fashion Police
While raising Taylor I wanted to try my hardest to raise her in a home where style isn't mandatory. I wanted her to have confidence in herself and her choices. Since she could walk I began having her choose her own outfits. As long as it fit and was weather appropriate; it is considered fair… Continue reading Fashion Police
Through Her Eyes
Over the last six months Taylor has been taking pictures with her Fuji film Instax Mini 9. In essence it is a modern mini Polaroid camera. She received it as a gift for Christmas last year. Recently while picking up around the house I gathered and assembled all the photographs I stumbled upon. I enjoyed… Continue reading Through Her Eyes
Posing for Portraits
Natural light is my dear friend. It has assisted me thus far on my photography journey. Until now. Recently I have been trying to learn how to take studio style portraits with an off camera flash setup. Here are a few of my images, well more than a few of Taylor, but who's counting?? The… Continue reading Posing for Portraits
Proud Mommy Moment
Over the years I have noticed and embraced a handful of extra special, proud mommy moments. These moments are ones that steal your heart, take your breath away and bring tears to your eyes. These moments are different from the ones when your baby takes their first step or says their first word. In my humble… Continue reading Proud Mommy Moment
Loosening the Reins
Parenting and / or child rearing is tough. There is no right way, but lots of 'wrong' ways. There are a lot of opinions though! People always have a simple solution for what ever the current problem or obstacle is too. Even without fully understanding the situation or the dynamic of those involved. I'm sure… Continue reading Loosening the Reins
Snowed In
A weekend away is a wonderful thing. Especially when you are visiting a dear friend and her wonderful family. It is even better when you get well over a foot of snow and have a good excuse to stay put and catch up. Between coffee, wine and kids there was plenty of entertainment. Paint, science… Continue reading Snowed In
Gangsta
Late night texts. Pushin' product, Neighbors, friends and fam. Notes in shorthand. Parking lot drops. Stack of cash. Customers hiding their habit. Kid working the street, drumming up business. Watching the stash. Addicted. Maintaining inventory, Can't run low. Peddlin' round the clock. She be hustlin'. Street cred. Serious business, these Girl Scout Cookies.
She be Sellin’
Taylor is in her third year of Girl Scouts! This year she wanted to make a higher cookie goal and crush it. I love her determination. Day one we spent 2 hours going door to door in our neighborhood. Yes, that sounds like a lot - however - we only made it around the block… Continue reading She be Sellin’
Time Travel
I am not an idiot, but maybe I am... Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my time zones straight. The issue is that I work in the Central timezone, my boss and most of my team work in the Mountain timezone except for one that works in the Pacific time zone and for the… Continue reading Time Travel
Stirrin’ Up Some Trouble
Last Sunday was a day spent in the kitchen making memories. Taylor and I made multiple batches of cupcakes and frosting from scratch. We love cooking, baking and tasting everything we make! New recipes are our favorite way to connect. Plus when we bake we love to freeze some of our goodies for a lazy… Continue reading Stirrin’ Up Some Trouble
Livin’ in Color
My wonderful almost 9-year-old has A LOT of personality. She shows it through stories, art and dance. This year she has been wanting to show it through her hair. Earlier in the Spring she got one streak of a blue-ish teal and LOVED it. Pictured below. So when she asked to have rainbow hair we… Continue reading Livin’ in Color
Criminally Cute
The 8th Annual DeForest Public Safety Family Fun Night (quite a mouthful) was a fun learning experience for Taylor and a great mother-daughter night. The last few years we have missed this event due to dance and my illness. I am so glad we were able to make it this year. What a great event!… Continue reading Criminally Cute
The Kid-Sense
Scarier than the Sixth-Sense... Why is it that parents are needed ONLY at the most inopportune times? My husband and I can easily be doing nothing or at least nothing of importance. However, the second either one of us needs to cook, take a call or use the restroom - BOOM - it happens. Out… Continue reading The Kid-Sense
The Weekend’s A Brewin’ via Samsung Galaxy
It's Friday morning and even though it is late August it feels like Fall. Cool crisp air with a slight breeze. After a brisk walk with the dog and taking the kid to her Summer program I decided that today was a REAL coffee day - not a Keurig morning. I ground my beans into… Continue reading The Weekend’s A Brewin’ via Samsung Galaxy
Savoring Life's Moments 