As a certified insomniac, I spend a lot of time surfing the Internets. It's a drug, and I'm addicted. The Internet is good for looking up all kind of amazing information, but sometimes, I just like to troll for the funny stuff. With just a few more days left in 2014, I thought I would share this list of some of my favorite fruits from the internet tree!

1. 39 Renaissance Babies Who Just Can't Even: A creepy compilation of Renaissance renderings of babies that will give you nightmares. I could not stop looking at it! The captions has me in hysterics- "Staaaaaaaaaahp!" Buzzfeed is one of my favorite internet stops and this one was a winner for me! I still look it over and crack up! I know it was a brilliant artistic period and all, but, really. What is the hell was wrong with the artists of the Renaissance? And why was there always so much baby penis involved?

2. Weird Things All Couples Fight About: I am seriously afraid that Buzzfeed has bugged our apartment because, holy crap. It's frightening how similar this is to every conversation I have with my husband.

3. First Moon Party: Hello, Flo is a company that puts together goodies boxes of feminine care products and will mail a customized kit to your home to coincide with your "ladies days". I thought this commercial was absolutely hilarious and so creative that I seriously considered applying for a job with Hello, Flo! I mean it. I want to work for them. Ahem...

4. Brian Williams Raps "Rappers Delight": Oh, Jimmy Fallon, you little minx. You took the hottest man in the news world and mixed him with classic rap. Brillz. Plus, he tossed in a duet with Lester Holt, who I also find wildly attractive (don't judge.). Honorable mention goes to any time Brian William's Slow Jams the News.

5. Cheap Wine Reviewed By An Irish Brewmaster: Buzzfeed wins again with this hilarious wine review conducted by a prominent brewmaster from Minnesota. This dude is hilarious and so cute, I kind of want to meet him for coffee and chat about things. The sidebar in the video is a riot, too!

6. The Lie and The Truth About Marriage: This is the only serious piece to make this list, but I wanted to include it because it meant so much to me. Glennon Melton, of the blog Momastery and the NYT Best-Seller Carry on, Warrior, wrote this essay about the truth about love and marriage. With the scars of my separation from Pete still raw and healing, this was a plainly-worded eye-opener. The wedding is not the finish line we think it is but, rather, just the starting line of a hard race, and to compete at that level, you need to be willing to work. Very few things in this world just happen without any attention or nurturing or care, and being in love is one of those things.

7. If Google Was A Guy Vol. 1, 2, and 3: This one is, by far, my favorite this year! The whole series is hysterical and worth watching. The third video is my favorite and has be often quoted in my house- generally, when we see something on Facebook that just is not true. This was funny and very clever! It kind of makes me wonder what it would be like to be the portal for so many different questions.

PJ lighting the menorah, Age 1, wearing a kippahmy parents brought him from Israel.

The other night, Pete asked if we could get an Elf on the Shelf for PJ. I immediately bristled because I think those stupid things are creepy as hell, and I did't want the pressure of finding new antics for the Elf to get into every night. I wasn't even sure that PJ would get it- would he give two craps if an Elf action figure got into his Apple Jacks or pilfered his train collection?

"C'mon, Brie," Pete implored. "I want him to have as much magic as possible. Who knows how long he will believe in this kind of thing."

The subject of the elf was never revisited (and I sure as hell am not going to bring it up! Sorry!), but it's given me pause over the last few days as I think about the things I do want PJ to believe in. Is it so important that PJ find his magic in a fat dude who breaks into people's houses? Does that particular page of the magic book really speak to what the Christmas holiday is about?

As it turns out, yes. It does. I do want PJ to believe in Santa for as long as possible. I love the idea of having faith in something completely make-believe, something so far-fetched that to believe is magic in and of itself. Santa is just one example of that kind of something. Having a heart that is open to that type of believing is, I hope, open enough to let in all kinds of hope and kindness and love. If PJ can believe in a fat dude who breaks into our house and leaves presents (and isn't completely creeped out by it), can't he also believe that he's capable of doing big, magical things himself?

Cousin Christmas Cookie Party 2012

Believing in Santa is one of those quintessential parts of childhood (if you grow up with a corresponding religion). It's always hard, it seems, for parents to meet their child at the cusp of growing up and admit that the fairy tales aren't as shinny as they seem. It's easy for me to say of course, while my son is still so young and can fully get down with all things pretend, that I won't be upset when he no longer believes. And yes- as PJ gets older, year after year, I always think bitter-sweetly of the things he has outgrown. But if PJ comes out on the other end of beliving in Santa with a heart that is still open to all of the magic of the real world, it will be okay.

Wishing everyone a beautiful and happy holiday season!!!!

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Welcome to Time for Mom, the best parenting link up around!

Time for Mom is a place for mom bloggers to link up and connect with other mom bloggers! You do not have to link up a post about parenting only, your post can be about anything as long as you're a mom! We only ask that it is today's post or a recent one, and that you don't link up the same post each week. Please remember to check out a few others in the hop! It's no fun to link and run!

Please be sure to take a moment to follow your host and co-hosts in some way!

And if you didn't get enough of us on our blogs, check out our Time for Mom Superstars Pinterest Board! Each week we will pin some of our favorites from the link up to the board! Check it out and see who was pinned!

We have each picked a blog post from last week to feature! This may be a fun recipe or kids activity, or a post that really inspired us or that we related with. Be sure to check them out if you didn't already last week!

Please add our button to your page to help spread the word about Time for Mom!

Next week Time for Mom will take the day off, but we will be back in action in the New Year!Happy Holidays everyone!

Thanks for linking up! By linking up with us you are opting in to our weekly email reminder for this hop and giving us permission to use an image from your blog if chosen for our weekly featured posts. We will always link back to your post when we use your image when we feature you!

Our little apartment is finally being holiday-fied, just in time for the 1st night of Hanukkah tomorrow. With two religions to decorate for, our place is shining with Christmas balls, twinkling lights, and a variety of ornaments mixed in with my menorahs and bowls of gelt. We're not quite done yet, but my living room is already glowing with the warmth and sweetness of the holidays.

Truth be told, it drives me a little crazy, but before you get out your holiday sticks to beat down the bitchy Grinch-Jew, hear me out.

I love the holidays. I love giving gifts and being with family and receiving stacks of holiday cards in the mail. I adore holiday food and I freaking LOVE holiday baked goods. I love the magic of Christmas Eve and the excitement of Christmas morning, especially now that I have a son. Oh, and houses covered in lights. Swoon.

That whole week that contains Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Years Day? Love it, along with the eight nights of Hanukkah, which always is easy-breezy. But when Christmas ads start the day after Halloween and the traffic gets insane, I get a little panicky. It seems counter-intuitive to place so much pressure on creating holiday magic when that very pressure makes it SO NOT MAGICAL.

I know that a lot of people thrive on it. Their trees go up in early November and they start listening to the 24-hour Christmas Songs station on the radio. They have all of their holiday shit together, and I am fully jealous of that. I am far too high-strung to be able to enjoy the holidays without feeling so much pressure- it's the same reason that wedding planning didn't agree with me. My wedding day was amazing, but planning it nearly drove me to distraction. I was far too wrapped up in creating a perfect day to get any enjoyment of out of the creating.

So how does a psychohigh strung person, such as myself, get through the holidays? It's hard- I always set my expectations high. I set them too high, and they inevitably fail. I used to go nuts (and broke) trying to make every wish and want come true for everyone. I still wish that I could make all of those things happen, but it's just not possible, so I've scaled back considerably. I set limits that I can meet and try not to venture out into the stores too often (can we give a "hell, yeah!" to Amazon? It has revolutionized my life!). And while the preparation might drive me a little nuts, there is always the magic of Christmas and the electricity and wonder of New Year's Eve to ease my nerves.

We put our little Christmas tree tonight. I will, most likely, spend the next two weeks protecting it from PJ's curious and destructive hands. Shopping will make me kind of crazy, and the disruption to our routine will make PJ a little unsettled. It will be hard for a bitch like me to control my temper and patience, but it will all be worth it for the one truly magical Christmas Day.

Welcome to Time for Mom, the best parenting link up around!

Time for Mom is a place for mom bloggers to link up and connect with other mom bloggers! You do not have to link up a post about parenting only, your post can be about anything as long as you're a mom! We only ask that it is today's post or a recent one, and that you don't link up the same post each week. Please remember to check out a few others in the hop! It's no fun to link and run!

Please be sure to take a moment to follow your host and co-hosts in some way!

And if you didn't get enough of us on our blogs, check out our Time for Mom Superstars Pinterest Board! Each week we will pin some of our favorites from the link up to the board! Check it out and see who was pinned!

We have each picked a blog post from last week to feature! This may be a fun recipe or kids activity, or a post that really inspired us or that we related with. Be sure to check them out if you didn't already last week!

Please add our button to your page to help spread the word about Time for Mom!

Thanks for linking up! By linking up with us you are opting in to our weekly email reminder for this hop and giving us permission to use an image from your blog if chosen for our weekly featured posts. We will always link back to your post when we use your image when we feature you!

It feels like five years have gone by so slowly, and in the blink of an eye at the same time. Sometimes, when he deigns to give me a hug, I think about this big boy I have my arms around and how his entire body could nestle into my chest when he was a newborn.

Four was quite a year for us. It often felt like PJ was living out his Terrible Twos and Even Worse Threes in the body of a great big four year old. There were a few moments that made me afraid one of us wasn't going to make it to the Five Year Road Marker. But, we've done it. My best guy has started full-day school, just received his first actual, in an envelope report card, and had a big-kid birthday party at a trampoline park. Last night, he read his bed time story to me. My baby is five years old. Next year, he will need a second hand to display his age in fingers.

I usually am a person of many words, but it's so hard to find the right ones to properly express just how much this little wonder has changed my life. When PJ is at his best, when he's at his bravest, when he's at his worst and most fearful- it's just all good. It is not always easy, but it is always good.

I often tell the story of how my pregnancy with PJ was a surprise. I remember standing in the bathroom with two pink lines in my hand, freaking out. I peed on a handful of sticks, trying to make sense of it all. But it was real- PJ was here to stay and I have never been more aware of anything than the feeling of him growing inside of me. Every kick, every movement (or every non-kick and non-movement, torture for a hyper-overbearing mama!) felt like something amazing was happening. And then, a moment that began five years ago; he joined us on the outside and was laid in my arms, so skinny and blonde and looking just. like. Pete.

The kid has been on the outside for five years now. I've watched him grow and learn and surprise me every day with all he has to offer. It made me realize that even though I gave birth to this kid, even though he's on the outside, our babies are always on the inside, too. Always.

This past year was PJ's biggest yet. He performed in front of hundreds of people with the Storm Twisters. He rode the waves of the Atlantic on a surfboard, and try soccer for the first time. He rode horses and slid down giant, inflatable water slides. He took a trip on a pirate ship, shooting water cannons at the bad guys. He tried out Parkour and had his first ride on a zip line. At night, before I tuck him into bed, we still read our bedtime story but, now, PJ can read nearly all of the words.

There just aren't enough things to say about this little wonder, one who is so big and lives so bravely and seems to love life, even when it is hard. It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the brave boy who was the first and youngest on the water slide with the unsettled, agitated child who can have so much trouble controlling the energy and uneasiness in his little body. It's hard sometimes- hard to keep the thought "You know, if it weren't for Autism..." out of my head.

But, if it weren't for Autism, I would have another little boy. Not PJ. It certainly doesn't define him, but it is a part of him. One part, just like his bravery is another part and his strange propensity to replace words of songs and stories with "sandwich" is yet another. There are a million pieces that come together to make this amazing, beautiful, funny, sweet, smart, defiant, precious son of mine. They have been five years in the making, and I can't wait for so many more birthday and new pieces of his being to form.

Happy, happy 5th birthday to you, Peter Joseph!

Welcome to the big reveal of the Time for Mom Holiday Kids Craft Challenge! We were excited to see so many link ups with yours kids crafts and all the kids crafts post will be posted to our Kids Holiday Craft Board on Pinterest!

And now on to the part you've been waiting for, the winners!

Our two runners up are:

Yarn Christmas Tree by Busy Bee Kate! A super cute idea where you create a tree out of yarn with the help of your kid(s) and then have them decorate it using various odds and ends from your craft box!

I Spy Ornament by Krystal's Kitsch! Have your kid(s) help you fill a clear plastic ornament with shredded gum wrappers, glitter and more to create a personalize I Spy ornament!

And now our grand prize winner...

These Candy Cane gift-tags from SAHM I Am are our challenge winner! These gift tags were created using peppermint scented shaving cream to marble the tags by her sons! Check out the full directions on her blog! Lauren's craft swept the votes and the Time for Mom hostesses agreed she was the clear winner of our craft challenge and the giftcard prize! Congratulations Lauren!

Thanks to everyone who linked up and participated in our challenge this last week! Be sure to check out the pinterest board for all the kids crafts from the challenge, and let us know if you'd like to see another challenge again in the future!

Come link up this week with Time for Mom! All kinds of posts are welcome from all kinds of moms!

Welcome to Time for Mom, the best parenting link up around!

Time for Mom is a place for mom bloggers to link up and connect with other mom bloggers! You do not have to link up a post about parenting only, your post can be about anything as long as you're a mom! We only ask that it is today's post or a recent one, and that you don't link up the same post each week. Please remember to check out a few others in the hop! It's no fun to link and run!

Please be sure to take a moment to follow your host and co-hosts in some way!

And if you didn't get enough of us on our blogs, check out our Time for Mom Superstars Pinterest Board! Each week we will pin some of our favorites from the link up to the board! Check it out and see who was pinned!

Please add our button to your page to help spread the word about Time for Mom!

Thanks for linking up! By linking up with us you are opting in to our weekly email reminder for this hop and giving us permission to use an image from your blog if chosen for our weekly featured posts. We will always link back to your post when we use your image when we feature you!Be sure to say "hi" if it's your first time linking up!

It's been radio silence here on my blog for the past two weeks.
There were a few times that I sat down to write
and just had nothing,
mainly because I was tired.
But's it's been a very busy few weeks,
full of celebrations,
holidays,
long weekends,
and a few kind-of-scary-yet-exciting things.
PJ turned 5 years old, and we celebrated with our families.
I can not believe that my son is 5.
How did that happen?
We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my parents,
Marla and Steve,
and my Aunt Sandi.
Pete was even able to enjoy dinner before he headed to work.
PJ performed songs from his newly-acquired repertoire of
Songs About Turkeys.
The long weekend was a busy one.
Monday arrived.
PJ went back to school,
everyone went back to work,
and my sister was admitted to the hospital
for a double mastectomy.
The surgery was "easy"
in that there were no surprises,
her body cooperated,
and all of her pathology reports came back clean.
A huge decision that will hopefully have a worthwhile payout.
She is coming home tomorrow sore, but healing.
There is so much to talk about
and so many stories to tell.
But being tired has taken some of my focus,
so the stories will have to wait another day.
For now, I am thankful for so many things;
for my smart, brave, amazing five year old son,
for my little family,
and for my insanely brave sister.

I have always
been a creative person, rather than a pragmatic one. I grew up a little dreamy,
and loved to give in to the urge to write a poem or sing a song. As I grew, I
learned to balance all of that with a more practical side of myself, but I
never stopped loving the joy of creativity.

Now that I am
a grown-up, a wife and a mother, it
can sometimes be difficult to find moments to express creativity just for the
sheer joy of it. Women in particular, and of any age, are so busy and carry so
many roles. We have ample opportunity to create, to make Valentines for your
child’s classmates or put together a Halloween costume. We use our creative
muscles to keep our family’s lives going every day. As a woman, my place in my
life allows me the chance to share my creativity with the people I love which
is an amazing thing! But it’s finding the time to create for no other reason
than the sake of creativity that can be elusive.

If you are a
creative person, the chance to express that is like breathing. It is something
you need to do to live. We can get caught up in taking care of our children,
our spouses, our jobs and our friends, but when an airplane is going down,
protocol is to place the mask on yourself before helping others. Taking just a
few minutes to be creative just for the sheer joy of it can help us better take
care of those around us.

And don’t
worry, we do not have to bow to the subtle pressures of Pinterest when we pour
out our art. It’s not about perfection but, rather, expression. Carry a small notebook in your purse or diaper bag to jot down a few lines
of poetry or the outline of that short story you've been dreaming of. If
something beautiful catches your eye, snap a picture of it with your
phone. Collect those pictures later and create an album or a lovely set of stationary. Get into the
crayons after the kids are in bed and draw for the sheer pleasure of it. The
time for this might come in short bursts, but even if it is brief, it’s your
time to use. Why not use it to express yourself?

These bursts
can be the start of something big- staring a blog, writing your novel, painting that mural you always
wanted in the living room- or stay small, acting as little anchors of sanity in
a sea of chaos. There’s no race or deadline when we create for ourselves, just
the pleasure of having created.

Please add our button to your page to help spread the word about Time for Mom!

Don't forget about our Holiday Craft Challenge! Click to see all the details and we hope to see you link up your fun kids holiday craft with us on December 2nd! Thinking of participating? Let us know with a tweet or facebook tag so we know to keep an eye out for your Holiday Craft post!

Thanks for linking up! By linking up with us you are opting in to our weekly email reminder for this hop and giving us permission to use an image from your blog if chosen for our weekly featured posts. We will always link back to your post when we use your image when we feature you!Be sure to say "hi" if it's your first time linking up!

PJ had his first show tonight with cheer team, the South Jersey Storm. We are back for a second season and so happy to be there! PJ needs me less now- last season, I had to be out on the floor with him for practice. This year, he can be out there with his coach and team and learned his routine all by himself. The routine seems to get better and fine-tuned as the season moves along, so it's likely that tonight's show was just a preview for what we'll see as the year moves along. But all of that aside, there's nothing in the world that can beat watching my son be part of group that loves him so much, and that he loves back.

In fact, they love him so much that they all leap up to chase him when he decides to be a brat face and make a run for it!!

I can not stop laughing at this picture! Thanks to my friend Sara for snagging it!

This weekend was filled, from start to finish, with so much love and happiness and celebration (more on that later) and this performance was the perfect way to cap it off. I can go to bed tonight (and I can't wait to do so because I am freaking tired!) with my heart full from all of it!

I got to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes today- being
alone in the car, blasting music. It's a rare thing for me since I became a
mother. With PJ in the car I have to watch the content and the volume of the
music choices but when I'm alone, I love to blast whatever music is playing and
sing at the top of my lungs. I set my iPhone on "Shuffle" and the car filled with "America" by Simon and Garfunkel, "Levon" by Elton John, "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys. It was mixed in with some LL Cool J, Britney Spears, and the soundtrack to the movie "Pitch Perfect."

As the songs ticked by, I started thinking about my taste in
music and where it came from. The answer to that is, largely, from my parents.
I can score the entire soundtrack of my childhood with the music my parents
listened to in the car. My parents had control over the radio, and the music
from two Philadelphia stations (Oldies 98 and WMGK Magic 103) would flood the
car during every drive. Not all of their choices stuck- I passed on my Mom's
penchant for John Denver and my Dad's taste in The Doors (yuck). But I can see
now exactly where my parents taste in music influenced my own. I prefer
gorgeous voices, lyrics that tell a story, amazing harmonies. Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John, The Beach Boys, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, The Eurythmics, and Motown, Motown, Motown- I
can see myself sitting in the back seat of my parent’s car, singing those
songs.

My musical preferences expanded as I got older. School
choirs gave me a taste of classical music and my own love of singing took me
right to the music of Broadway. A few questionable choices snuck in here and
there (ahemDebbie Gibson) and new talents came onto my radar
as musical trends changed. But if you take my favorite band from my 20's and
30's, Barenaked Ladies, and draw a line it goes directly to The Beach Boys. The
powerhouse vocals of Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy? Draw the line to Art
Garfunkel, one of my favorite voices of all time. If you made a flowchart of
every song I added to my catalog, they would all trace back to the songs I
listened to in my parent’s car.

I'm 37 now, and most of the things I do in my life revolve
around my son. PJ dictates the games we play, the places we go, the movies we
watch and the music we listen to in the house. But in the car, Mommy chooses
the music, just as my parents did. Of course, some of it is censored. We don't
listen to the soundtrack from The Book of Mormon (hoooooo, boy! Bad words!).
But when I set a playlist, PJ gets a taste of the music that makes his parents
happy. I am certainly not a perfect person. I make mistakes, every day, but the
music I grew up on helped shape the person I am today. That music gave me my
love of words, my love of telling stories, my love of theatrics and my love of beautiful
sounds. Apparently, that is something that can be passed on from the front seat
of car to the back.

I wrote this post a few months ago, a little bit on PJ and some of our favorite PJ-isms. Because of Autism, his speech has significant delays but as his skills have improved, he will replace a word he doesn't know with one that makes sense to him. It can be very specific and it always cracks us up!

"Green and Orange Cereal"

Lately, he has added "Jack Apples" to his repertoire, but usually, he asks for these by color.

"Thirty Ten"

Because, duh. That's what comes after thirty nine.

"Blue Toy Story"

If you just suggest Toy Story, he will correct you.

"One grilled cheese"

This can mean that he wants a grilled cheese sandwich (a favorite), but it can also mean that he wants a slice of cheese. Heaven forbid if I don't know which he means.

"Green and orange tissues"

He has a thing for green and orange. Either way, if you approach his nose with anything other than one of these, there will be no boogie wiping.

Please add our button to your page to help spread the word about Time for Mom!

Don't forget about our Holiday Craft Challenge! Click to see all the details and we hope to see you link up your fun kids holiday craft with us on December 2nd! Thinking of participating? Let us know with a tweet or facebook tag so we know to keep an eye out for your Holiday Craft post!

Thanks for linking up! By linking up with us you are opting in to our weekly email reminder for this hop and giving us permission to use an image from your blog if chosen for our weekly featured posts. We will always link back to your post when we use your image when we feature you!

My friend Mary Beth brought me into the literary folds of a writing group that meets monthly. Hosted by a sweet woman named Debbie, it is a chance to share and talk and write with other women who like to share and talk and write. Ironically, Debbie's home always makes me wish I had brought my camera- nestled on the edge of a wood along a lovely stream, the property is exceedingly beautiful and lends itself to serene creativity. I always have the urge to take a photo rather than write about it's beauty.

We sat at the table and a stack of envelopes was passed around, each one containing a writing prompt. I slid my card out and read the topic question:

What roles do love and affection play in your life?

Oh, for God's sake. I sighed and considered slipping the envelope back into the pile and choosing a new one. But one of the reasons I joined this group was to work on writing as honestly as possible, so I sighed and opened my notebook. Everyone else did the same and for a second, I took in the glow of the sun through the leaves outside and the sounds of pens scratching before I started to write.

As I age, love and affection become trickier things. When I was young love came to me- and, subsequently, flowed from me- with such ease. I was a hugger, a take-er in-er, a sympathetic ear. I loved meeting a new person and taking in every bit of them. It wasn't a frivolous feeling; it was intense and authentic. When I loved, I loved.

The danger, of course, is that to love that greatly you have to be vulnerable, an open window to let whatever may be blow in. It's a very risky thing, this love business, and as I become older it becomes a more difficult risk to take.

I find that I wear love as a measured thing, my windows no long flung open but merely cracked, sometimes closed. Physical affection- hugs and kisses and snuggles- can sometimes leave me feeling naked and unprotected, so I close myself off. It feels safe- and what could go wrong with this method? Being shot can kill you, so why would you put yourself in front of a loaded gun? Stay safe.

Still, there's conflict, all the time, that free, spirited girl that soaked in love versus the part that isn't brave enough to be her anymore. Safe may be lonely, but risk is too risky.

“Just because” gifts are my favorite kind of present. The
holidays are amazing, and birthdays are so much fun, but there is something so
joyful about a little surprise on an ordinary day. It’s
a little bit of unexpected love when you least expect it.

Who is more deserving of a little pick-me-up than your
child’s teacher? The people who wake up early every day to preside over
classrooms full of young learners often receive the least amount of positive
feedback for their efforts. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or spend
hours trolling Pinterest and wielding a glue gun to
say “Hey, teacher! Nice job! Thank you!” Instead, try out one of these simple,
thoughtful treats:

School supplies- Teachers often pay
out-of-pocket to keep their classroom stocked with essentials for learning. A
bundle of pencils tied with curling ribbon, sheets of stickers, and marble
notebooks with a pretty pen attached- all are inexpensive gifts that will
ensure your child’s classroom is well stocked. Want to splurge a little? A
Facebook poll of some of my favorite teachers revealed that a pack of Sharpiesare among the
most coveted of the potential “Just because” gifts!

Gift Cards- Some days, our precious little
learners can challenge the patience of even the most experienced, giving,
wonderful teacher. Just think of how a five dollar gift card for coffee and a croissant, a few tunes,
or even Amazon
could overhaul a rough day for the better!

Something Yummy: Do you have a killer
recipe for zucchini muffins or snickerdoodles? Whip them up, pile them into a
gorgeous bowl (you can find surprisingly lovely dishware at discount stores!)
and drop it by the teacher’s lounge for everyone to enjoy.

Words- A few words of appreciation on a lovely piece of stationary or a cute card could
mean the world to your child’s teacher. You could even
use the Treat app which allow you
create, personalize, and mail a gorgeous card right to the school! These are
the humans who spend hours each day filling young heads with all of the words
and numbers and poetry and science. Get out your nice pen and use a few words
to say “thank you.”

Have you ever treated your teacher to a little something
special, something that was obviously well-received? Let me know!

I'm over at Central Avenue Chryster/Jeep talking about how being alone in the car is the New Vacation when you become a parent! Stop by and check it out!

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Our Halloween was a good one! It was a perfect fall day- cool and cloudy, but not so cold that the kids needed winter jackets over their costumes. Remember those days??

The day began with the Halloween parade and parties at PJ's school. PJ was not thrilled to be wearing his costume. He took it off so many times I started telling people he was going at Stripper Buzz in the hopes that someone would start throwing dollar bills. But the parade was adorable, despite all of PJ's attempts to turn back into a real boy. The classes all marched by in varying levels of cuteness, the highlight being when the 5th graders broke out in the Thriller dance. After the parade, the kids returned to their classrooms, where many snacks were enjoyed and much noise was made.

The tradition, since PJ's first Halloween, has been to Trick or Treat with his cousins. They have walked the neighborhood streets with him dressed as spaghetti and meatballs, Super Grover, Thomas the Train and a dinosaur. This year, the big kids had hit the street before we even made it to Pete's brother's house. They had places go, candy to gather, and teenage things to do. But thankfully, having a ton of cousins means that there will be some younger stragglers to canvas as the youth contingent. The younger kids gathered for a group picture...

...and then they were off.

PJ's cousin Emi guided her little cousin through in ins and outs of Trick or Treating with patience. Under her direction we watched as PJ was truly able to enjoy Halloween for the first time, running from house to house and delighting as his bucket filled with candy.

PJ hit the wall after about an hour, melting into the ground in a tantrum and needing to be carried back to my brother- and sister-in-law's house, where we all gathered for pizza and madness. PJ calmed down once we got there and the big kids carried out the annual Candy Swap, an event of ear-bending noise and high-energy stakes as candy is traded and bartered. Costumes were shed, pizza was eaten, and soon enough, we were taking our tired little Buzz home to sleep.

I hope we have a few more years of family Halloween before all of the kids are too old for it altogether. It has been so much fun to see PJ celebrate with his cousins, and I'm hoping we can hold on to it for just a little longer.

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Life In Pictures

About Me

Mom. Wife. Writer. Typical 40-something with an atypical propensity for junk food and garbage TV. Book, music, and enchilada enthusiast. Guiding parents of special needs children while needing guidance as the parent of one myself. Click my face to learn more!