Lemonade Stand
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Lemonade Stand






The big boy played hookie from school today because I was too lazy to actually get him there on time. It was an unusual choice.

We wandered into our neighbor’s yard and just happened to have a big box with us. (That is something that would never happen to an adult: having a big empty box in your hands for no reason whatsoever. But kids are masters at carrying things to and fro). The big boy started gathering all the lemons beneath the lemon tree. It smelled so good under there. The exotic perfume of lemon and orange blossoms always makes me feel as if I live in a magical far-off land. But that same smell is the harbinger of the intense desert heat to come. It is bittersweet and too short lived. read more

April 16, 2011
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The things they say

We had one of those talks today…you know…those “I-need-you-to-listen-to-me-because-you-are-not-too-young-to-understand-the-meaning-of-the-word-respect” talks. I was talking to the big boy about not using his water bottle as a g u n at school. And about not using that insolent tone with me or his elders…and I was saying it is disrespectful and it can hurt a person’s feelings and blah, blah, blah…mwah, mwah, mwah, wahwah, wah (insert Charlie Brown grown-up trumpet voice here.) read more

March 7, 2011
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Valentines surprise
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Valentines surprise


from Mer Mag

I was fairly excited to drop-off the big boy today at school because it is Valentine’s Day. He picked out some cute valentines cards at Target and he signed each one by himself. His classroom was all excitement with bustling mamas everywhere. Tables were covered with pink & red hearts and decorations. I asked where I should put our Valentines and the teacher instructed me to put my bag “over there on that table…with all the other bags.” Umm. What bag? We just have this tiny stack of two inch cards. Wait, weren’t we given a mandate to not bring candy? read more

February 14, 2011
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a birthday card for my mom
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a birthday card for my mom



Tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’m not saying which one- but it is a biggie. I thought I’d blog her a birthday card because she is the only person I can count on to actually read my blog. That is what a mom does…a mom reads her 38-year-old daughter’s blog. At least, usually. And then sometimes she writes me little emails telling me how wonderful and talented I am. And whether that is true or not, it always feels good to read. Without my mom, the phone might not ring for days sometimes. I mean, I have a lot of friends…I do. But my mom is the only one who calls for no reason…as we are rushing out to school…as we are doing bathtime…all the time. And no matter how scrunched-up or snarky or sideways I get with her…she still loves me. read more

January 20, 2011
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winter break at the Lego Table
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winter break at the Lego Table

The Holidays are here. And here we are. Hours and hours every day at the Lego Table. It is rather peaceful…shared connection, creativity, togetherness, intimacy…just what the holidays are all about. The big boy and his pa have been here for at least 2-3 hours every day during the break making trucks. And I am here, too…usually making something out of the pink bricks. And baby girl busies herself finding heads and hats and walking them over to me to put them together for her. Everyone sits on little stools, sometimes in conversation, sometimes in silent concentration and we all make stuff. The four of us around the old train table. If my memory had a camera set to remember the feeling of the best of days with my young children, I’d hope that it would remember these days…precisely because they are so forgettable. These hours are our abundant currency. Not much really happens for all these hours. There is no drama..no melting down…just plain-old grade A contentment…almost boring, really. read more

December 22, 2010
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Hand-painted ornaments for PCH
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Hand-painted ornaments for PCH

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is nearly finished with their new building expansion. And while we don’t want to believe that the business of sick kids is a growth industry… it is. Fortunately, we live in a city that has a place like PCH because we needed it three years ago when our son received a year of treatment there (c h e m o t h e r a p y) for a rare illness. I am grateful to the incredible staff, the excellent doctors and the kind nurses at the hospital every day for healing my son. So when my dear friend and interior designer, Colleen Pawling, asked me to create whimsical paintings on her gigantic ornaments for a tree lighting ceremony and christmas tree auction to celebrate the new building which will benefit the hospital, I didn’t even blink. The title of the tree is Hope Glows. read more

November 30, 2010
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