Brrrr. This morning, Chicago officially hit -24 degrees. Today’s high is -10 degrees and that was already reached at midnight. We’re warm enough in our house, but the outside air is actually deadly. It is so cold that the door handle INSIDE our house looks like this: The kids are home from school for at […]

Last week during a chilly walk home from school, Ben informed me that today would be the shared birthday for two of his little stuffed animals, Cubby and Beary. His adorable declaration reminded me of a similar celebration Vivian requested more than four years ago: a Hello Kitty Birthday. His request was earnest and enthusiastic so […]

Last month, The Little Village Solidarity Network, a local organization here in Chicago, collected basic items needed by the Central American refugees traveling north in the migrant caravan. Several sites in the city opened their doors to compassionate Chicagoans who wanted to do something to show support for our desperate fellow humans marching towards our border. […]

Winter in our household can be a challenge. With so many people comes SO MUCH winter gear. Hats, mittens, coats, snowpants, boots…multiply all those things by 8 people (plus an extra back up set for the inevitable lost items) and we have a LOT of stuff. Fortunately, we are really good about using hand-me-downs. As […]

Last week Chris took the bigs (Evie and Mack) to a Jingle Ball concert hosted by a local radio station. He loaded up the car with their friends, watched five pop acts sing their one hit wonders, and returned home close to midnight. On a school night! It was a special memory for them to […]

Normally, Chicagoans enjoy very fine autumn weather. It isn’t unusual for the kids to play in the sidewalk sprinkler well into October. But, this year, winter came in early November and hasn’t left. Last Monday the kids even had a very unexpected snow day from school. We were coming off a long week off for the […]

Sometime last weekend, later Saturday or Sunday night, I took the four rings I always wear on my left hand off to apply lotion. I normally – always! – ONLY put them in a certain box in my closet, but since the lotion was in the kitchen I decided to put the rings in a […]

November in Chicago. The month starts and the clouds roll in and the temperatures drop. We’re still early enough in the season where I find the weather to be somewhat delightful and oddly charming: cozy socks, cuddly blankets, hot tea. Hygge to the max!! Last month the kids and I carved pumpkins in the courtyard […]

With six kids, I carry constant guilt because they are always forced to make sacrifices on behalf of their siblings. Many times throughout the day, I have at least two kids needing my time and attention, and I wish so bad I could give them each exactly what they need exactly when they need it. Some […]

Chris and I took a trip out west earlier this month to celebrate my cousin’s wedding at an idyllic California vineyard. We left the kids at home while we enjoyed four days in the sunshine. The last time Chris and I took a kid-free trip was SEVEN years ago when I was pregnant with Vivian. Preparing for […]