New on HuffPo today:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annmarie-kellyharbaugh/mom-vs-food_b_5833580.html
Category: Uncategorized
Ken, Katie, and Lizzie spent a good portion of the day trying to make supercooled liquids turn into instant slushies. They watched YouTube videos. They walked to the store to get bottles of tonic water and Sprite. While the liquids chilled, they made corn starch ‘magic mud,’ and talked through the science of molecules lining up when they freeze, but sliding around in a liquid. And at 8pm tonight, after two fails and a family bike ride, they tried it one more time.
Together, we watched the supercooled liquid freeze instantly.
And together, we at the slushy with three spoons. Good stuff.
(Nope. Not what ours actually looked like. But, to the kids, I think they seemed just like this.)
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The Sound of Their Music
September 9, 2014
Katie’s favorite song: “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know,” by Selena Gomez
Lizzie’s favorite song: “Fearless,” by Olivia Holt
Henry’s favorite song: “Grenade,” by Bruno Mars
I’m sure the singers are lovely people, but Mom and Dad hate all of these songs.
How do we get our kids to like better music?
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Two words: Heebie…Jeebies
Found this under the tree tonight just as I was about to pick an orange. Spider keeps her oranges (for now).
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Church(s)hopping
Wanted: One Church
Description: I am seeking a spiritual home for my family.
Qualifications: Acceptance — Emphasize the Love and Goodness that Unites Us All.
Community – Welcome us. Value us. Help us share our gifts with others.
Guidance — Help me teach my children how to be good people. Help me be good people.
Disqualifications: Bleakness, snobbery, or a rude guy in the parking lot who pounds on my car. A mumbling minister or a prayer leader who repeatedly insists, “It’s a terrible, terrible world out there” will also get nowhere with me.
Ideal candidate would possess a sense of humor about all of this. Pretty music would also be a plus. Maybe some donuts after the service.
Location: Southern California.
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What’s Mine Is Theirs
We have a lot of toothbrushes. Even though only five of us have teeth, I counted six near my bathroom sink alone. I did not count the sandy one in the bathtub or the blue one on the floor.
My brush is yellow. It is often damp when I reach for it before bed. I never thought much about this, until tonight, when I glanced in the bathroom and saw Katie loading it up with paste.
“Hey, that’s my toothbrush!” I yelled.
“No, it’s MY toothbrush!” she replied. “How long have you been using it?”
“I have used it since I bought it,” I said, “for ME. How long have YOU been using it?”
Katie shrugged, “Maybe a month or two.” Then she turned away and started brushing.
I’m not sure what bothered me most: that she had been using it for so long or that I hadn’t noticed until now.
Guess I’m using the one on the floor tonight.
Kids are gross.
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Our Trained Monkey
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Lessons Learned inside an Ear
Lizzie has had an ear infection for nearly a week. We tried riding it out. We tried an antibiotic. If we can’t get ahead of this thing by tomorrow, we’ll be off to an ENT to get her ear suctioned.
It happens.
Except today was her birthday. Her fifth birthday, the first one celebrated here in California, and a day she has been looking forward to for months. The poor kid spent it on the couch. She said ‘No thanks’ to a visit to the candy store, and rejected a trip to the Santa Monica pier. Instead, she cuddled with her stuffed kitty, Whiskers, watched movies she had already seen, and napped.
All things considered, it was a pretty bogus birthday.
But tonight, when Katie asked, “Was today one of your best birthdays ever?” Lizzie nodded. I looked at her face for confirmation, and she was smiling. She and her sister listed today’s good points:
Lizzie requested and received oatmeal for breakfast.
She opened presents from her aunt, uncle, and grandparents, and her sister gave her a bracelet and a unicorn t-shirt.
Lizzie got to drink half a cup of Sprite to wash the taste of medicine out of her mouth.
Dad came home early from work and they snuggled.
We all sang “Happy Birthday” and ate pumpkin pie.
Lizzie blew out the candles the moment she saw them, and she wore that unicorn t-shirt all day long. We rented no bounce houses and hosted no friends. It was just us here at the house with Lizzie.
I was sad most of the day thinking about all she was missing, but it turned out that Lizzie was happy most of the day thinking about all that she has.
Happy birthday, my sweet little mouse. 
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