A few months ago, our church hired a new youth pastor when the previous youth pastor decided to try his hand as an elementary teacher. (Ironically, his own children are homeschooled ….. but that’s not even part of this story, so why am I already off on a tangent???) Children’s church takes place during “big [...]

Proof that it’s time for the holiday break to be O.V.E.R. and my children should go back to school? Two conversations. Actually, one conversation and one (incredibly rude and ill-mannered) comment. As follows: Kellen: “Mom, imagine you are a slave.” Me: “And that would be different from my life … how????” Kellen: “Mom, seriously. Imagine [...]

The other night, when I drove Kellen and his friend to the concert, he asked me to play the Weird Al parody “The Ebay Song” on my ipod (through the car speakers). Again and again and again. After about the fourth time, his friend turned to him and said, “Wow, you really like that song, [...]

So, driving in the car with Brayden yesterday, her voice piped up from the back seat, and the following conversation took place: Brayden: Mom, what’s I.B.S. ?? Me: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Brayden: What’s that? Me: Well, I’m pretty sure it’s when your stomach cramps, and you poop a lot. Or can’t poop at all. Brayden: [...]

I’ll be the first to admit that over the years, I’ve said (and said in front of my children) a few things that probably aren’t as nice as they could be. One of my favorites, of course, is when I allow my kids (only in the car, and only with the windows rolled up) to [...]

Last night, Kellen and Kendrie and I were in the van together, driving to (where else? The black hole of my life) soccer practice. Out of the blue, Kendrie asked, “Mom, when are we moving back to Georgia?” I sort of sighed to myself, because I had hoped we were past that — past the [...]

Mom: “OK, you kids realize that since Dad is still …. um …. “indisposed” …. (ie, puking his heels up) that we’re going to have to fake these pictures again later with him in them, right?” Brayden: “What do you mean? There’s only one first day of school.” Mom: “I know, but we always take [...]

Kristie: “So, what was your favorite part of being at the lake last weekend? Kendrie: “Um, probably the you-tubing.” Kristie: “You tubing?” Kendrie, rolling eyes: “You know, when we hooked the tube up to the boat and Uncle Cliff pulled us around in circles??” Kristie: “Oh! You mean INNER tubing!” Kendrie: “Whatever.”

Kendrie: “You know how in that movie, The Three Ninjas, the boys are brothers and ninjas at the same time?” Kristie: “Yes” Kendrie: “What I noticed is that even though they are brothers, and they fight a lot, and argue about the best way to do things, and get on each other’s nerves, they always [...]

Overheard last night before bed: Kendrie, to Brayden: “Well, it’s important that you like them a lot because you are stuck together in sickness and in H – E – double toothpicks.”