My Sweet Lucy Girl, It is your last night of being three. We have been counting down the days all week. Tonight you wanted an extra book for bedtime, and I caved because, well, “It’s your last night of being three.” I tell you this as if to set a precedent, a proper expectation. But […]
Author: Alex Hanson
The Communion of Scrambled Eggs
The act of making breakfast this morning was the most sacred moment of my week by far. Maybe of the last month. Nothing fancy, just the usual buttered toast and scrambled eggs (salted please, Mommy). That’s not generally the way I would describe cooking with a 3 year old alongside “helping,” but once again, I’m […]
A Warm Welcome
It is the first day of spring, but it has been creeping up on us for weeks it seems, so close I’ve been able to taste it. I can feel it beckoning me outside every opportunity it gets. Birds chirp in what was just weeks ago the dead silence of winter. Fragrant, breathtaking flowers bloom […]
Adjusting the Lens
This week marked a turning point after two weeks of sickness in our home. Sickness is monotony at its finest – especially when kids are involved. It has a way of making time obsolete. Two weeks, but really, it felt like one continuous day that simply built on itself every 24 hours. Not only is every […]
One Word
Happy New Year, dear ones! I realize I’m a little late to the resolution game, but that doesn’t mean there’s been a lack of some serious reflection. In 2015, I started recognizing how unsuccessful big, lofty goals can be come the beginning of a new year. Before you deem me as a pessimistic skeptic, let […]
Take Up Your Space
Growing up, my childhood best friend (still one of my most cherished humans on the planet) was (and still is) one of the most creative people I know. I remember we would sit in her room as young girls and each draw pictures of dance costumes for imaginary dances that we choreographed, or pictures of […]
Mourning and Bright
Every year since we’ve been married, I’ve saved extra clippings from our tree after cutting it down and have made them into a wreath. Now, I’ve never considered myself to be much of the creative type, so when I originally had the idea.. it was sketchy, to say the least. Four years and wreaths later, […]
Let Life Be Messy
Yesterday was the first day of Fall. So today, naturally, I was itching to make my favorite butternut squash soup (as usual, shoutout to Pinterest: http://cincyshopper.com/copycat-panera-autumn-squash-soup-recipe/ ). You’re welcome. “Yes!” I thought. “A good playlist, a glass of wine, and a good, long, therapeutic cooking session. It’ll be marvelous.” This idea lasted about two seconds. “Help please […]
When the Loss is Too Heavy
Pain – we all have an aversion to it. We avoid it at all costs, both for ourselves and for our loved ones. But there’s a really big problem with having an aversion to pain: It’s inevitable. There is so much in life that we cannot control, so much we don’t get a say in. And […]
Parents, Lighten Up
“STOP, LUCY! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!” My teeth were grated, my hands clenched her tiny little arms, my voice was loud. After telling her several times to stop tugging at the table cloth and her only response being laughing and proceeding to pull it off the table, I had had it. Beyond had it. So I […]