Coffee CubBuster

Whenever I bake or cook, I do dishes as I go. Sort of part of my motto: maintain as I go. I never like a complete disaster that takes more time to remedy than needed. If I clean as I go, there’s less built up for later. It’s definitely not a perfect system. Some people prefer to focus on one thing at a time in order to do that one thing really well. Multitasking means I do lots of things, but not all that well. Yet, organization brings me great peace, and I like to think I do it pretty well.  Summer thunderstorms also provide me with a strange sense of peace. There’s something simple and still about the raging storm rolling through unexpectedly. It’s quite an oxymoron. When we lost our power from a quick thunder bolt a few weeks back, it was really peaceful. The normal sounds ceased: no hum of the fridge,  no sound of screens, and no tumble in the laundry room. These noises  were replaced by flickers of candles, whispers of little boys holding flashlights, and s...

Whenever I take one of my boys to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, I'm always asked (as if it changes each month) how I best receive instructions. Do I prefer paper, verbal, demonstration, or hands-on tutorials? I think I frequently respond, "all of the above depending on the day, sleep deprivation and amount of children with me." Then, I receive a pity chuckle, and they hand me paper copies, but I appreciate their consideration that not everyone absorbs and processes information identically. There are plenty of personality tests, enneagrams, and other assessment indicators created to help people identify their learning styles, but most teachers of little ones can pinpoint character traits after the first week of preschool. When little Levi was lying helplessly in the NICU for one hundred and fifty days, similar to a teacher, his nurses began telling me that his eyes were "very expressive." They seem to believe, after watching all types of fragile babies, ...

Happy Birthday America! In honor of Independence Day, my boys stretched their own independence.... Levi is finally "fully" potty trained with all the numbers ;) So he got to try his hand at audio books via the iPod during nap time. This is his excited and proud face now that he is more like big brother! Luca isn't quite walking independently, but he will be there very soon! Ever since Silas started piano lessons, everyone is very interested in this old instrument. Big boys stayed up late for the Smith fireworks Roman didn't mind the pop its and sparklers... But he ended up hating the real deal! Levi didn't cry this year!  And Silas got to light them with daddy! A quick trip to Lake Keowee to visit family after the 4th is always a blast for the boys Silas' cousin showing him paddle board independence Not quite ready for independent driving boys Sometimes pretend is even more fun th...

It would be very easy to idolize one . One is not the loneliest number in our house, but the cutest. One means (usually) you are sleeping great, eating well, and becoming a babbling brook of muse. Learning to walk, inquiring your surroundings, and innocently seeking understanding   brings joy to any one.  We love one, but for that reason we are always given equally frustrating areas surrounding the second year of our babies' lives in order to keep us from placing that one on a pedestal. Isn't that kind of the case in every area of life? Our spouses need to disappoint us so that we don't deify them; our jobs always provide grounds for grievances; our pets poo; and our children always require discipline. In little Luca's case, one is happy, simple, and somewhat sublime. He still has the baby-proofing, exploratory woes that require their own form of discipline, but overall, he's a beautiful baby. Thus, his constant colds, and strategic sleeplessness curb that cuteness...