Archive for August 2012
The official license to read
This past week, I declared Jordan a real reader. It came with her first library card. We rushed over to the library after school one evening and filled out all of the paper work. Jordan’s first library card required her signature and an opportunity to read as many books she wants in a three week…
Read More +That moment when you step back and watch
We’re already getting into a pattern with the new school year. The kids get up, I make sure they eat breakfast while I make school lunches. I encourage Cameron to practice piano or guitar (or both). I convince both kids to stop fighting. We walk to school and I go to work. When I get…
Read More +I went on a candy hunt
I like candy. I run and exercise so I can enjoy things like a good beer and a yummy candy bar from time to time. In the last four years, our family has worked very hard to focus on healthy eating and staying away from high fructose corn syrup. That means we left many of…
Read More +A beautiful day
Our family feels a little closer to complete… Even though we’ve been without my mother-in-law since the end of February. August 12th will forever be a special day for all of us. The wedding between my brother-in-law, Barry and my now sister-in-law, Jenn was fabulous. Spending a few extra days with the kids’ new cousins…
Read More +Encouraging independence… But not in charge
Back in 2005, during my 20 week ultrasound, the technician did not notice Jordan’s limb difference but we did discover that I was going to be a mother to a daughter. With or without a limb difference, I was nervous. I know how hard it can be to be a female. So right then and…
Read More +I didn't cry this year, I swear
She’s officially a first grader. We took our pre-school pictures, walked to school with our neighborhood and sent Jordan to sit with her classmates outside her new classroom. Last year, as I watched her sit there, I worried. But this year, I’m confident in Jordan’s ability to thrive at school. I talked to her teacher…
Read More +First grade, here we come!
I haven’t even had a chance to go through all of the pictures I took from our long wedding weekend in North Carolina… First we have to prepare for first grade! Jordan’s first day is tomorrow. We had a chance to meet her new teacher: The same woman who taught her brother four years ago!…
Read More +One last summer hoorah
We’re on the road again. Can you believe it? It feels like we’ve been out of town non-stop this summer. But this is a really special trip and I have to share a few details that explain why this is so important. First, Uncle Barry is getting married to the coolest woman and mom I…
Read More +Thank you, Oscar Pistorius. Thank you, technology.
[NOTE: This was written long before Oscar Pistorius was arrested and put on trial for the murder of his girlfriend.] Over the weekend, an amazing thing happened. A man with two prosthetics made it into the semi-finals of the Olympic 400 meter race. In his semi-final heat, he finished last. But in my mind, that…
Read More +Growing a friendship with pencil and paper
When Jordan came home from her week out of town, we had our hugs and our smiles and then Jordan went straight to the mailbox. She loves being the person who grabs the mail (who doesn’t, really). In a rare moment… She actually had a letter that was addressed to her! A penpal letter! This…
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