Expectations vs Reality: You mean, all kids are different?!

Today I’m happy to be joining up with Amy from Go Forth and Mother for her year-long ‘Happy Wife Project’. This week I’m writing about my expectations of motherhood vs the reality of motherhood. When you’re done here, be sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour! I’ve listed them all at the…

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I’m The Last Woman Who Ever Thought She’d Have Five Kids

Happy Easter! What a great looking family! It’s weird for me to remember that there was a time, many years ago, when I thought I didn’t want kids. I mean, maybe one or two, but only after I’d been married several years and felt ready. When I started dating my husband eighteen years ago, I…

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The Burden of Bad Habits

I don’t know what it was about yesterday; maybe the fact that I had to drag everyone out to the dentist and music lesson. Maybe it was all the snow and mud Fulton’s wheelchair kept bringing into the house. Maybe it was just lack of sleep or hunger. But whatever the reason, as we drove…

Staying Active with a Fun, Family Obstacle Course

My goal has always been to keep my family active, but a no holds barred family obstacle course was not on my radar at all. Maybe you caught my reference to a family jog we took a few weeks back. We’ve kept at it, following a Couch to 5K app on some evenings and other…

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Why I Hate Sleepovers

Typically for our kids’ birthdays, Tony and I either plan a family outing or purchase one special item( i.e. a bike) rather than dispense a truckload of gifts.  We’re hitting the zoo for Teddy’s second b-day (which was Monday) and originally, Addie and Byron were going to host all their friends at a joint bowling…

How To Dine Out With Children And Not Die

Since our family, and several of our friends are battling some insurance battles, a few of us decided to dine out with children after Mass on Sunday for a “feel better feast” where we could drown our sorrow in good food, good drinks, loud conversation and hot fudge. Besides, our parish wrapped up 40 Hours,…

Tips For A Low Stress Family Beach Trip

As you may have noticed if you’ve spent any time poking around my blog lately, I enjoy finding any excuse to take a family beach trip. Despite all the sand, sun and sweat, I tend to have as much fun as the kids. My love affair with the beach goes back early in my childhood….

Lent Is The Perfect Time For Field Trips

This photo shows my family outside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center with our bronze pal Abe Lincoln. It’s one of only two shots we managed to take and it was probably the only time I smiled all day. I love the idea of field trips. In fact, the flexibility to take…