[ UPDATE: We have exceeded the number of slots we had available for this offer. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest! Click here for more information about bringing Jason in to speak at your organization through more traditional means. We have options to suit almost any budget, so don't hesitate to get in touch! ] You may have heard that Jason has a book coming out with St. Martin's Press (an imprint of Macmillan) this June. Hopefully you've already secured your nomination for "Awesomest Person Ever" by pre-ordering a copy or ten. This is a big deal to us, because it's the best …
No
Every time I say no, I actually mean yes. (What, am I the two-headed monster from Sesame Street?) I know it's confusing, but hear me out. It looks like this... "No. I can't connect for a long-overdue playdate on Friday morning," actually means... "Yes. I will take the morning to clean since we have people coming over on Saturday. If I can clean during the day on Friday, then I won't have to stay up late on Friday night cleaning after the kids go to bed, and I'll be able to be well-rested for our visitors which will help me enjoy the time more. I'll also get quality time with Jason …
Lucy’s First Day of School
The school buses are ready to roll. Students have their new shoes laced good and tight. New backpacks are filled with shiny new supplies. Butterflies are busy in the tummies of newbie teachers and students. The start of school in Wisconsin is here! This fall Lucy is five-years-old. Since she will not be attending a "school" in the next few days, I guess that means one thing...we are "officially" homeschoolers. Of course, our fellow homeschoolers (which in 2013 made up 3.4% of the U.S. student population) would agree that we've been homeschooling since she was a baby. Tru dat! What will …
How Does The Fox Read?
I had a cool homeschooling moment yesterday, a shining example of interest-based learning! Lucy and Ben, coming a little late to the party, (because their dear 'ol mom is always about 6-12 months behind) love to watch the music video, "What does the fox say?" Lucy asked me to pull it up on our Apple TV. Since I had my hands full holding Virginia, I asked her to type it in by herself, using sound spelling with some reassurance from me that she was hearing/choosing the right sounds for the key words that we agreed might work: "fox say." (By the way, teaching a kiddo how to use search engines has …
Homeschooling Lesson: Gravity!
Ben was a bit too quiet. I found him dropping stuff out of the front window. That's what I get for sneaking fresh air on this beautiful day (no screens on yet). …
Virginia’s Birth Story
Jason and I are officially outnumbered! It has been a wonderful blessing getting to know our little Ginny Rose these last three months. I'd be lying if I said it's been all rainbows and lollipops. Sleep deprivation combined with the winter blues is a bad combination. I'll admit to having Googled at one point, "How do you know if your baby has colic?" The biggest disadvantage little Ginny had coming into this family is that she followed Ben, who was officially declared "The Most Chill Baby of 2012." Seriously though, Jason and I agree that he probably cried a total of an hour during his first …
My Humble Take On The Hot Halloween Debate
The hot debate in school districts around the country is whether to "Halloween" or not. When I was in school 30 years ago, every class had a Halloween party and the younger kids got to dress up and partake in a Halloween parade throughout the school, which was a super fun treat for everyone. One teacher even had the unique tradition of making homemade donuts in class, complete with sprinkles. It was an awesome time of year. Fun for the sake of fun! Halloween was not so fun for me, though. To be honest, the stress and anxiety started each year about October 1st when the costumes started …
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My Birthday Comeback Story
Birthdays come with a a lot of pressure! Everyone -- including myself -- hopes that it's a GREAT day. Some years this greatness is easier to achieve than others. Last year was a breeze. We played hooky as a family, savoring the early spring weather at the zoo. It was a VERY awesome day! But this year (my 35th) was shaping up to be a real challenge. …
Must. Wear. Eye Black.
There's something you need to know about me. I'm looking for any excuse to wear eye black. If I see even a remote opportunity to wear it, I'm jumping on it. …
Freedom I Can Wear
For years, Jason has been teasing me about my wardrobe around the house. I am the Mismatch Queen. "Homeless" is how he puts it, and I laugh -- we both do. I DO HAVE matching comfy clothes. My mother-in-law faithfully supplies her three daughter-in-laws with cute new pj's every Christmas Eve. (Thanks, Linda!) And yet, when I enter my closet to "get cozy" (as Lucy puts it), I walk away looking like I am colorblind. Why? I'm not sure. But, I've come to the conclusion recently that "why" is the wrong question. …