Year 5, Day 337

"This cake gave me REAL superpowers." - Miles's review of the treat Aunt Christine gave us

Year 5, Day 330

A couple months ago, all three of us sat down and created a list of house rules. Just knowing they exist was never enough for me though; I wanted something visual that I could point to as a reminder for certain people in our house. So I hired one of the most talented chalkboard designers … Continue reading Year 5, Day 330 →

Year 5, Day 305

After our drive back from Myrtle Beach yesterday, we were all exhausted by the time we arrived home. We grabbed some dinner and fell asleep quickly after that. When I woke up this morning, we were all still in bed, and Miles, as he often does, had come into our bedroom and joined us at … Continue reading Year 5, Day 305 →

Year 5, Day 304: Christmas ’22 in Review!

Christmas morning at my parents' house has long been a sluggish affair. Sure, there were the days of yore when I would wake up early (like, 3 AM) out of excitement for what was under the tree, but as my brothers and I got older (not to mention my parents), Christmas gradually became a late-morning … Continue reading Year 5, Day 304: Christmas ’22 in Review! →

Year 5, Day 303

Here's hoping all of your little ones were well-behaved enough to not end up on the naughty list this year!

Year 5, Day 302

As usual, Christmas brings with it a return to my boyhood home in Myrtle Beach. Even with a drive that took far longer than it should have (with the inclusion this year of a dog), Miles was all smiles as he walked up to the door of my parents' house last night. I was sort … Continue reading Year 5, Day 302 →

Year 5, Day 277

There aren't many uniquely Martin family Christmas traditions, but there is one long-standing holiday standard which, I discovered only a couple years ago, has muddied origins but is still something we all, in our own homes, carry on to this day. I tried to explain this to Miles. Did he understand the assignment? ELNO! Let … Continue reading Year 5, Day 277 →

Year 5, Day 272

It has been three years since we last made the trip to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, and it'll be at least one more since we stayed in Charlotte again this year. While, yes, that means I won't see my parents and siblings this year, it does mercifully mean that we got to enjoy a slow … Continue reading Year 5, Day 272 →

Year 5, Day 270

"Look at this card I made for Papa!" Miles said this morning, in yet another one of his attempts to delay leaving for school. And he knew it would work, because I'm always interested in seeing how is artistic ability is developing. ...my God. "What am I looking at here?" I asked, shaken by the … Continue reading Year 5, Day 270 →

Year 5, Day 253: Baby’s First Live Show!

Over the course of my years in Charlotte, I've had the pleasure of enjoying some outstanding shows at Ovens Auditorium. Sufjan Stevens. Rent. John Cleese and Eric Idle. John Prine, for God's sake. Well today, we took Miles to that same venue for his first live show ever, and Lord help me, it was PAW … Continue reading Year 5, Day 253: Baby’s First Live Show! →