Some people might say that our neighborhood is storybook quaint. We have wide sidewalks, old trees, a location that’s within biking distance from everything we need, a simple playground, and a huge group of kids who get together regularly for planned and impromptu play dates, bike rides, and snow shoveling parties. A lot of these things are happy accidents, […]
Month: July 2015
Riding the Rails: 25 Tips for Taking a Train Trip with Kids in the USA!
A few months ago, our little family unexpectedly ended up on a train from Spokane, Washington to Chicago, Illinois. Wait. Hit the brakes. Back up. We “unexpectedly” took this trip? How does someone (especially a planner like me) “unexpectedly” end up on a train across the country? I know it’s hard to believe, but this trip was spontaneous, last-minute, random, and completely […]
30 Date Night Questions and Conversation Starters
We just celebrated our tenth anniversary. Ten years! Holy moly! I don’t know what makes me feel older–turning thirty, having three kids, or being married for ten years. Honestly, it might be the ten years of marriage. I mean, I thought we had accomplished something great after just one year, but TEN YEARS?! That’s legit! The past ten […]
In Joy and in Mess: The Challenges of Being a Foster Parent
I’m diving into the personal side of foster care. I started writing because I needed to digest. I’m publishing because there’s a chance that someday another foster family (or future foster family) will stumble upon this post and find it useful. But it’s hard to write without sounding resentful. My hope is to enlighten not anger. My […]