Eulogy for My Dog Owen - I Lost My Friend            05/18/2013 11:15 PM

Last night I lost the very best and loyal friend that I could ever have. His name was Owen and he was my most beloved dog. He had been a part of my life since early 2001 and was forever by my side. There are no words to describe how much I already miss him and how much he will forever be in my heart. 

Garner State Park, This is Me            05/16/2013 08:43 PM

We took a trip to Garner State Park a few weeks ago. My daughter was turning ten and the only thing she asked for was a family camping trip for her birthday. We figured that we might as well give her what she wanted since my husband had been forced to stay home an extra day because of the government furlough and now had a free but unpaid day off from work. The result of our decision was a good one. During one of our hikes, looking out at the beautiful view, my daughter shared some words that still resonate in my ears. At that moment, I understood her a little bit more than I had the day before and I loved that.

Mother's Day Quilled Card Craft            05/08/2013 11:37 AM

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and if your kids are anything like mine, they are looking to give mom or grandma something a little special. So, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share a wonderful and creative way to craft a special card for the mother figure in your life. This quilled Mother’s Day card craft is also a wonderful one to share with kids, because they’ll be learning something they can use for many other holidays and craft projects as well.

Father Daughter Mystery Date Night            04/19/2013 02:37 PM

A couple of nights ago, our American Heritage Troop held it’s Father/Daughter Date night. The theme for the evening was a “Who Done It?” Mystery Dinner and I can tell you that both daughters, their father, and their server (me) had a really good time. In the end, they were one of the few in the room who figured out who stole the painting, but that really didn’t matter, because it was all about fun and fellowship.

Crafting a Pet Shop with your Kids            04/09/2013 10:02 PM

It goes without saying, most kids love anything animals. So, the next time you find yourself with a little extra time or stuck inside on a rainy day, this fun kids craft project is the perfect thing to do. The best thing about it is that the whole family can get involved! With supplies you probably already have at home, this craft pet store will ignite your kids creativity and will surely be a ton of fun! 

What Every Dog Owner and Parent Should Know            03/07/2013 03:47 AM
Recently, our American Heritage Girls troop began our badge work on Pet Care and so as I started gathering information for the girls, I came across some interesting facts. For example, did you know that children ages 5-9 get bit more than any other age group and that most animal bites to them are inflicted by domesticated pets like dogs and cats? Did you also know that bites occur most often with dogs than with any other kind of animal? To help the girls understand when a dog might bite and what to do around new dogs, I put together and presented some valuable information for them that any pet owner and parent could also benefit from. I thought I’d share it with you and I hope you too will find it valuable enough to share it with others.   

Our Yorkie - First Year in Review            02/26/2013 06:44 PM
A little over a year ago, thanks to my sister and the puppy dog eyes and pout of my little girl who was recovering from a stomach virus, we were blessed to have a yorkie, Harvey, join our family. At the time, I wasn’t sure what to expect since we’ve never owned a yorkie before. I also wasn’t sure what his temperament would be with the kids and with our other dog, Owen. I can honestly say that today, about 13 months later, he has become a real joy to our family and we couldn’t imagine life without him! He’s such a cutie pie!   

Letting Him Grow Means Letting Go            02/22/2013 04:02 PM
There are those times that letting my son grow also means letting go. This is one of those times, and although I’m a little nervous, I’m trying to be brave and positive. See, as my son gets ready to go on a campout this weekend, without us, I must admit, I’m not sure how I feel about his growing independence and to top it off, he’s so excited about it! He’s not nervous at all. He’s ready for it. All day today, I’ve been trying to stay positive and enthusiastic for him, but inside I’m a mushy mess!   

Defending Brother            02/15/2013 01:49 PM
She said, “I defended him.” I said “who?” She said her brother. I said “Why did you have to defend him?” She said, “that guy over there was making fun of him and saying bad stuff about him. I told him that he was my brother and he shouldn’t be talking bad about him. I told him he better not do it again.” “Then what happened?” I asked. She said, the boy said “Oh, he stopped talking about him, and he walked away.” I said that was the right thing to do and I’m so glad that you came to your brother’s defense.   

Valentine Pineapple Blueberry Sweetheart Quick Cake            02/14/2013 04:19 PM
My husband and I have a vow to give each other no gifts on Holidays. This goes for all holidays including Valentine’s. It works for us. There’s no needless spending, there’s no worry of “What did he get me?” or “What do I get him?” or “I hope he likes it” or “Will she like that?” It’s a big relief because you know the time and sentiments that you do share on those special days of the year are directly from the heart, they are true, and they mean so much more. We try to raise the kids with similar values and sentiments and I’m so glad that they take delight in the little things rather than the big. In fact, I prefer it that way. So, this Valentine’s, when my cupboards were bare and I hadn’t been to the grocery store to buy them their bag of decadent chocolate truffles, I had to come up with something while they were sleeping and luckily my Valentine Sweet Hearts loved what I did for them. In fact, they loved it so much, they had seconds! So, this sweet surprise plus their “fortune” cards were all they needed this year to feel extra special and to be happy.