In Case They Ever Wonder

It seems we will be adding another "story" to our treasury of tales this January. This is a surprise for our family, but we've learned that some of the very best things that have happened to us were things we didn't plan.  Matt is excited and helping out a ton. I am sick and praying a ton. Sophie is over-the-moon and coming up with "interesting" baby names. Will is oblivious and running wild as usual. All is as it should be. 

It has been a wet week around our house. It's not that it has rained that much. (swim lessons were never rained out, despite my fervent prayers...) But rather, our home has been a bit damp all week. Normally, I am a fan of water. I like to drink it, I love bathing in it, I love that it runs in our home. But this week, I've had enough. I can't remember exactly when the string of events began. Difficult to pinpoint because I am the mother of two spillers . I can hear people now telling me how all young children spill and make messes, and while I know this is true to a certain extent, I have observed other children. I have many friends with small children, I go to playgroups, I observe other children in public places. I believe people are either born spillers or not, and mine were both born spillers .  At any rate, I can't remember exactly when my exasperation with liquids began because my children spill each and every day. Multiple times. Will has figured out that no-spi...

Matt had the kids at the pool the other night, and as I started cleaning up the daily mess, I noticed several strange sights around our house... When Captain Hook's ship is in the shop, he uses Noah's ark.  A "Happy Birthday" sticker adorns our front door, just in case it is the UPS guy's birthday. You never know. All the villains are kept zipped up tight in a plastic bag, in the downstairs playcloset , far from the princesses and Sophie's bedroom. Actually, Maleficent and Ursula are kept in a more out-of-the-way maximum security prison. And, probably the strangest sight of all... I, Carrie White Roden , have a basketball goal in my living room. (Though I remain hopeful that this is not its permanent home!) When did this happen? How is it even possible? Oh, and though the picture doesn't reveal it, we also have about 72 balls, three large rolling vehicles, and four sets of blocks in the living room. It is officially Romper Room. I like this shot because,...

I had a very strange thing happened several weeks back. Just before we left for "Wedding Week" (I mean like while we were putting the last suitcases in our car), I decided to check the mail. Matt laughs at how excited I am to check the mail every day. I tell him that he doesn't understand the life of a stay at home mom. I mean, there are days when checking the mail may be one of the most exciting things we do.  Anyway, on this particular Monday afternoon, I checked the mail and found a card addressed to me in a handwriting that I did not recognize. We'd just sent a baby present, so I figured it was probably a thank you note. The outside of the card did read "Thank You," but inside was a simple note that almost looked like calligraphy that read "Thank you for making our world a better place." Also tucked inside were four $100 bills! It was kind of one of those time freezes for a couple of seconds type of moment. I almost couldn't speak. I ran in...