How to Just Be in Graeagle

– Posted in: Blogging Betties Podcast, Bright Side of Life, Family, Jasper, Logan's Story, Me Time, Memories, Momless, Things To Do with Kids, Travel, Vacation
Graeagle Chalet View Lodge

About a month ago, I hit a bit of a breaking point. The kids were home for the summer, and I'd been running myself ragged, trying to keep up with social media for the Blogging Betties Podcast. Unfortunately, as we all know, there's no such thing as keeping up with social media. It's like the mail. [...]

Reno to Portland Road Trip — AKA Why I Will Never Be on “Survivor”

– Posted in: Chronic Pain, Complaining, Family, First World Problems, Jasper, Personal Insanity, Road Trip, The Great Outdoors, Things To Do with Kids, This Is Supposed to be Fun, Travel, Vacation, Worst Mom Randomness
Kids at beach, Nehalem Bay, Oregon

So I'm home from camping. Yesterday, when my friend hadn't heard from me, she emailed to make sure I hadn't crawled into a hole or gotten trapped under a porta potty. Sadly, she wasn't too far off (from the hole part). I've been in full-on meltdown mode: exhausted, killer headaches, vertigo. Stuff that makes you [...]

How I Let My Dog Fall Out of the Car

– Posted in: Accidents, Dogs, Injuries, Jasper, Personal Insanity, This Is Supposed to be Fun, Worst Mom Moments
Yellow dog with cut lip

So today, Jasper fell out of the car. Just to be clear, Jasper isn't our kid -- he's our one-year-old Lab/Finnish Lapphund. And we weren't going very fast. Fortunately, we were driving back from a walk in the woods on a small, paved service road. Jasper likes to stick his head out the window like [...]

Happy Adoption Day — To the Dog

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Dogs, Grosser than Gross, Holidays, Jasper, Personal Insanity, Puppies, Tammy Thinks, Worst Mom Randomness
Yellow dog in car -- Lab Finnish Lapphund

Today is Jasper Adoption Day. One year ago, we brought home our little 10-pound puppy. Now he's a whopping 70+ (frankly not sure of the exact amount because I hurt my back trying to weigh him the last time). I love having a dog. And I wouldn't exchange Jasper for any other one, even though [...]

Puerto Vallarta Vacation: The Good, The Bad, and The TSA Agent

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Elfie, Family, First World Problems, Jasper, Losin' It, Mean People, Newt, Personal Insanity, Things To Do with Kids, Travel, Vacation, Worst Mom Randomness, Worst Mom Rants
Boy riding floating blue seal raft in swimming pool

So we're back from Mexico. We failed to get pictures of us swimming with dolphins, ate one of the best meals of our lives, and almost got in a fist fight with a TSA agent. Just your typical spring break... A little background: Tenzin, my husband, and I made the monumentally bad decision to purchase [...]

How to Have a Birthday Party for the Dog

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Dogs, Family, Gratitude, Growing Up, Holidays, Jasper, Personal Insanity, Puppies, Things To Do with Kids, Worst Mom Randomness
Birthday party for the Honda Pilot

Yesterday was my dog's first birthday. We actually thought it was this coming Monday (based on our best estimates), but our friend* who got a puppy from the same litter posted her dog's picture on Facebook and, well, oops. I'm guessing most people don't celebrate their dogs' birthdays. We're a little odd**. On the one [...]

Eating Big, Playing Hard, and Shopping Small

– Posted in: Elfie, Grosser than Gross, Holidays, Jasper, Logan's Story, Newt, Reno, Shopping Hell, Vacation, Worst Mom Randomness, Worst Mom Reviews
Elfie's bright new snow gear

Well, we've survived Thanksgiving weekend (so far). I'm not calling it a complete success until we get everybody out of bed and off to school Monday morning after nine late nights and Wii-filled days. Here are a few highlights from the last few days... •I finally put a crowbar in it and got Elfie some new [...]

Some Small Moments in the Great Outdoors

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Elfie, Family, Growing Up, Jasper, Newt, Parenting, Personal Insanity, The Great Outdoors, Things To Do with Kids
girl on swing

My kids drive me crazy for so many reasons, but one of my major beefs is how they'll fight me about going outside and then become horribly devastated when it's time to come in. Yesterday, we walked (the kids rode their bikes) to the field by our house. It's not far, but because we live [...]