Category Archives: CRAZY kids
Pro Kadima Invasion
Well, the game that was meant to be played while shuffling through powdery sand slathered in Panama Jack sunscreen has hit our living room. Pro Kadima is a ping-pongy game played with large wooden paddles and a hard foam ball. … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Family Activities, Home, Kids, Play, Random Fun
Tagged beach games, games, Panama Jack, ping pong, Pro Kadima, World Series
1 Comment
Pippi Longstocking and Praise Dancing
I saw him twirling out of the corner of my eye. On the table, in socks, arms raised like a praise dancer. I opened my mouth to tell him to get off, but the words got stuck. Why not let … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play
Tagged baseball, Baseball card, Pippi Longstocking, praise dancing, Sports, United States
3 Comments
Building Trust in the Small Things
When the lights fall and I’m lying motionless in a smudge of darkness, my prayers become loose and frayed and worry sets in. While many contend that worrying is “normal,” I know that many more would suggest it reveals my … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged aluminum in deodorant, Christian, computers, God, hyperactivity, Jesus, Luke 16:10, Parent, Playboy, red meat, Television program, Trust, Worry
4 Comments
Shovel It In, Kids. And Quiet Down While You’re At It.
How long does it take you to eat your lunch? And what’s on your lunch menu, generally speaking? Today I surprised my oldest and snuck up to school with a bag of processed goodness from a certain “Clown-Based Establishment” in … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Education, Family, Food, Kids in School, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Rants, Things I Don't Understand Thursday, Things that are STUPID
Tagged Capri Sun, Chips 'Ahoy, cookies, Eating, Food, Golden Arches, Lunch, lunch box, McDonald's, Potato chip, school, school cafeteria
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Your Baby Doesn’t Come With Instructions
Do you find it rather unbelievable that we are asked to fill out nearly every detail of our existence to rent a movie from Blockbuster, that we are legally bound to take hunting and boating safety classes if we wish … Continue reading
Posted in Book Lists, Book Review, CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Faith, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Baby Wise, Bible, Blockbuster, Bringing Up Boys, Bringing Up Girls, Child abuse, David Staal, Discipline, James Dobson, Parent, parenting, purposeful parenting, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Shepherding a Child's Heart, Tedd Tripp, United States, Words Kids Need to Hear
15 Comments
Valentine’s Day Part 2: Hunting for Treasure
It’s probably the hibernating teacher within that brings me round to setting up riddles and scavenger hunts for my kids. Yes, after all these years of standing in slippers wiping butts and noses, there are moments when that alter-ego is … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Silly Lists, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged alter-ego, Bible, Bible verses, bingo, Classroom, Genesis, gift, Holiday, Home, John 3:16, Kids, look up 3:16, Opinions, Religion and Spirituality, Riddle, scavenger hunt, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, teacher, the story of St. Valentine, valentine day
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Valentine’s Day Part 1: Spread Some Love
Don’t we all wish there was a fool-proof recipe or some sort of silicon mold that promised to shape our children into the caring, generous, love-filled humans we want them to be? Or perhaps some magic powder we could sprinkle … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discipline Issues, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, God, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!
Tagged Awana, character education, compassion, cookies, Family Fun, Family Time, generosity, Home, kindness, Love Wins, sharing love, Spreading Love, teaching your kids, Valentine's Day
2 Comments
Family Friday: Compassion Project
I don’t know about where you live, but the past few weeks have blasted West Michigan with painfully icy wind and record-breaking snowfall. I wish I could say that I’m loving it, but in truth, I’m counting the days until … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, CRAZY kids, Education, Faith, Family, Family Friday, Following Jesus, Gifts, gratitude, Home, Kids, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Things I Love!
Tagged blankets, donations, faith training, Florida, God, Homeless, homeless shelter, Homelessness, Jesus, Love, Mel Trotter, Michigan, projects, quilts, sharing love, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, United States, West Michigan
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Peanuts in the Morning
Do you remember the sound of Charlie Brown‘s teacher on The Peanuts? She had that muffled “whaa-whaa-whaa” of an expertly muted trumpet combined with some sort of nasally resonance never before heard on earth–much less in a classroom. How Linus ever … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Rants, Seasons of Life, Silly Lists, Uncategorized
Tagged Arts, Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown, Christmas, crazy mornings, Kids, miss the bus, Peanuts, Peppermint Patty, school, shopping, Snoopy
4 Comments
Family Friday: Indoor Skeet Shooting
I have to give major props to my husband for this one–it’s totally his brain and creativity that adds so much color and life to our home. What can I say–he has a PhD. I guess you have to be … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Family Friday, Holidays, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged Balloon, chew, Christmas, Claire-Modern Family, cowboy, Family Fun, games, Guns, Kentucky, Luke-Modern Family, Modern Family, Nerf, Nerf Guns, Recreation, skeet shoot, Skeet shooting, Toy
7 Comments
Family Friday: Spiritual Formation
I’ve been thinking about posting this for awhile now, and thanks to the encouragement of a friend am finally getting around to it. This Friday I thought I’d share an idea I had for bringing Scripture into the kitchen–which we … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, crafts, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Family Friday, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Candice Olsen, Christian, Divine Design, Family, Genevieve Gorder, God, Holland, Home, Home and Company, Kids, MI, Mothers, Parents, prayer, Scripture, spiritual formation, teaching your kids
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Meet Rob and Kelly…
One thing I so appreciate about our family is that we try to be purposeful about planning special nights together where TV and telephones fall to the wayside, and imagination and teamwork grab the spotlight. They are nights when we … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Family, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Things I Love!
Tagged Family Challenge, Family Time, Saturday Nights at Home, Wii
1 Comment
A Slow Unraveling
This fall my kitchen windows have seen more than just leaves changing color outside; they have stood witness to exhausting and unwelcome changes happening within our walls, around our table, in our kitchen. It’s taken me a more than a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Rants, Seasons of Life
Tagged BSF, BUSY FAMILY, calendars/schedules, College and University, College football, Help!, parisian tourist, preschool, rocket football, school, subway, Time
7 Comments
Balance Beams at Summer’s End
A Confession: Lately I feel as though I’ve been walking a balance beam–clumsily and epically unsuccessfully. Locked between walls of my own architecture and construction, I find myself scurrying from thing 1 to thing 2, trying to fit it all … Continue reading
Practicing Silence
“Sometimes we need silence. Not always, but definitely sometimes. If we will comply, if we will receive the moments of quiet contemplation and rest, we might be surprised by what emerges. As much as I didn’t want to engage in … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Faith, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life
Tagged Found Art, Leeana Tankersley, quiet, silence, solitude, unplug, Zondervan Publishers
10 Comments
Yoga With Kids is Soooo [NOT] Relaxing…
Yoga. The word, even to non-practicers, seems to evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. It conjures up images of super-fit Californians poured into black yoga pants, lean muscles taught and glistening on some Pacific cliff overlooking the gorgeous, sparkling … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Education, Family, Fitness, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Bob Harper, by Poppy, California, calm, focus, football, Plank Position, serenity, The Biggest Loser, Triangle Pose, Weight Loss Yoga DVD, yoga, Yoga is Yummy
4 Comments
Ice Tunnels and Secret Caves
As the snow continues to threaten and temps stay frosty, cabin fever can set in and cause temporary insanity. To combat mental decline, we planned an adventure to Lake Michigan this weekend [free fun!] and the kids are already asking … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Travel
Tagged beach, caves, Frozen water, ice tunnels, Lake Michigan, Little House on the Prairie, snow
2 Comments
Crazy for Brains
I lay there with one eye open, watching the TV move in blurry sequence. By now two kids warmed the sheets next to me so I could “rest my eyes.” Whatever cartoon Nick Jr. was peddling at that hour of … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Music, Play, Random Fun
Tagged gnomes, I Feel Crazy, Laurie Berkner, Nick Jr., So I Jump in the Soup, TV
3 Comments
Quote, Unquote…Again
Yesterday my youngest had a couple of cute moments–have to record them since I’ve done a pathetic job with his baby book share them with you! 1. Our little guy has an adorable lisp [s's] and can’t quite seem to … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun
Tagged candy, chiropractor, Dr. Kik, medieval, skeleton
1 Comment
Quote, Unquote
A couple of funny comments from my sweet daughter today: “Mom, I bet Jesus is shrinking down again getting ready to be a baby at Christmas.” And, during our search for “Euro Shams” at the mall today, she loudly conveyed … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun
Tagged Christmas, Euro Sham, Jesus, mall, urine
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Soul Care & Simplicity
Today [November 18] I listened to another perfectly-timed radio broadcast on Midday Connection [Moody Radio]. The guest speaker was Mindy Caliguire, an author and speaker from Chicago who was discussing soul care & simplicity. This got my attention. As a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Friends, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Soul Care", author, Chicago, disorder, I Corinthians 14:33, Isaiah 30:15, Midday Connection, Mindy Caliguire, Moody Radio, peace, Shalom, simplicity, social networking, solitude, speaker, volunteering
2 Comments
Crack-Up Chicken
It must be said: I have the best husband ever. I know, you’re ready to fight and give me 10 reasons why your significant other is better, but no. Tonight my daughter was in “a mood.” Are you picking up … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Food, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged craziness, dinner, laughing, parenting, smiles
9 Comments
Nothing to Say
Last spring I went to a writer’s conference in Chicago that was packed with all kinds of wonderful seminars, advice from published authors, and meetings with editors. For me it was a fantastic learning experience and a handy excuse to … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Family, Home, Illness, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged blogging, Chicago, Coke, facebook, mountains, Santa, seminars, twitter/tweeting, Washington, writer's conference
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O-for-2: What’s new?!
Prepare yourself for shocking news. My little recipe experiment is heading straight for the toilet. Do not pass, go, do not collect $200–head straight for the toilet. On the double. Episode 1 Tuesday night I made mushroom-Swiss burgers with sweet … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Family, Food, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Rants, Uncategorized
Tagged allergic reaction, Antitrust, Asian food, Dinner flops, Ezekiel bread, fresh mozzarella, Mushroom-Swiss Burgers, poison, Ryan Phillipe, sesame seeds, sweet Potatoes, Tim Robbins, Wednesday Nights
4 Comments
Tales of Kitchen Woes [take 61]
Our attempts at trying to eat healthier have basically translated into simply using less cheese and more grill. I’m trying, really I am. Trying to stick to proteins and vegetables, occasionally some bread, but making an effort at reducing creamy-ish, … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Food, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
2 Comments
Found Alter-Egos and Lost Kids
Strange things seem to be happening to my kids lately. Strange as in: 1. Possibly being possessed by ADD alter-egos 2. Morphing into a skeleton-free mass of squishy flesh and falling to the floor in front of perfect strangers [we’ll … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Family, Growing Pains, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged ADD, chai, chain smoking, Chubby Checker, Danny Boy, delinquent, diapers, dragons, fire-breathing, GPS, Helen Keller, Jo Frost, kidnapping, leper, Mexico, Miss Sullivan, Monarch Butterflies, People Magazine, Pharmacy, Pull-ups, skivvies, Supernanny, Target
3 Comments
