Cape Elizabeth, Maine – It hasn’t felt much like winter around here… until TODAY! The cold weather and the date on the calendar are a double whammy that will have me up to my eyeballs in wrapping paper for most of the day. It’s day one of our unwrap-a-book-a-night-countdown-to-Christmas. To get ready, I’m wrapping up … Continue reading
We didn’t set out to study Antarctica. We stumbled onto it through a book, which is my favorite way to discover anything. And if you don’t have a copy of MAPS by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski, do WHATEVER you must do to add this book to your collection. It’s a children’s book, but honestly I’ve come close … Continue reading
Cape Elizabeth, Maine – Stop EVERYTHING and do this…. RIGHT NOW! People, I stumbled across an idea that has changed our countdown to Christmas. Instant family tradition material… to be passed down for generations. Normally our Advent Calendar is filled with chocolate. NOT THIS YEAR. Because someone mentioned a life changing concept… a BOOK. ADVENT. CALENDAR. … Continue reading
Swan Island, Maine (Not to be confused with Swan‘s Island, Maine) – When our boat left the banks of Richmond, Maine, crossed the Kennebec River, and docked on Swan Island, I had no idea that we’d just traveled back in time to the 18th century. But when we took the island’s only road up the … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – It’s Fall, Y’all! Okay, no one else in Maine is saying it quite like that… but the excitement of leaf peeping, pumpkin hunting, and all things Autumn is here. I was seriously daydreaming about whether I could travel the globe to spend an entire year in Autumn – an entire year. For … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – Well let’s just chalk this up to one of the ten thousand things I swore I would never do when I had kids. But here we are. We taped our trash to the walls. And it was awesome. For someone who used to iron her guest bedroom sheets, this is huge. Some … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – Want a colorful way to drive boredom from your house? We do! And, to tell you the truth, with the bitter arctic cold we’ve experienced this winter, I’m taking every chance I get to change our perspective on spending another day inside. All you need is some paint, freezer bags and tape. I … Continue reading
Time to dig through your recycling bin. This craft is easily made with bits of tissue paper, cardboard, ribbon, paint, and glue. Grab your munchkins and you’ll have this Valentine decor ready to display in no time at all. Paint your hearts. We cut ours out of cardboard boxes. Cereal boxes will work well, too. … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – I don’t know if you’ve been following our weather lately. But like a faithful metronome, we oscillate between windchill 28 below and 46 above. Either it’s unsafe to leave the house or it’s raining so hard that huge chunks of ice floating by also make it tricky to play outside with my … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – I guess it’s a week after Christmas when I think of an old friend I’ll call Sally. Sally told me that every year, she takes everyone’s holiday cards and puts them in an album. What a respectful thing to do, especially when you consider the thought, time, and expense spent on holiday … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – Nothing like combining reading and writing with a great big adventure! The falling leaves give us a great opportunity to find lots of words in the woods. Here’s what we are using to capture them! A DECOMPOSITION BOOK – I’m so glad we stumbled upon this decomposition book. It’s the perfect field … Continue reading
The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks tonight and tomorrow night (August 11-12). Tonight, I am going to repeat one of the most FUN things I’ve ever done as a mom. And you can too. Wake your munchkin up in the middle of the night and take that shocked little pumpkin outside to watch meteors streak across … Continue reading
Portland, Maine – From the working fishing wharves of Old Port where lobster are sold fresh every day to the island ferry boat rides to the shipping channel for cargo and crude oil, our port is a busy one. It’s one HUGE adventure to small boys… and mom… and dad. But the first time my … Continue reading
Washington, D.C. – Every children’s museum needs one of these! It’s an igloo building activity. And the best part about it? Your child CANNOT build it without the help of other children. It’s impossible to do ALONE. And it’s incredible when built TOGETHER! As any mother of a preschooler knows… this concept is HUGE! (and … Continue reading
Washington, D.C. – Our trek to Maine continues with a stop I couldn’t resist: Washington, D.C. I knew my nearly 4-year-old would love the National Air and Space Museum. The best surprise of all was when my 1-year-old’s busy brain morphed into a state of euphoric curiosity. His pointer finger was fully deployed as he … Continue reading
Pattern Me Mommy 