What the what is an #iPPP post? Have you wondered this to yourself? It occurred to me that you may not understand what the frick-n- frack #iPPP is.  Let me explain. 

Long ago in the blogosphere I happened upon a lady. Her name is Greta Funk. I immediately  crushed on her. She was cool and it seemed like she would make a most excellent neighbor (that's pretty much how I know that I like you. Ya know, could we be neighbors? If yes. I love you.)  Anyway, I loved her right away. I loved her blog. I loved her. Wait...this is going nowhere except for to Love Town. Etc etc etc. This and that. Blah blah blah....Greta does a weekly link up of posts with iPhone pictures in it. No rules, really,  beyond that the post needs to have pictures taken from a smartphone. Well, you guys know that I love the idea of no rules, right? 

I was game. And thus my love affair with the #iPPP link up began. The rest is Herstory (what what Vagina Monologues!). I link-up with Greta ( and now Sarah too!)




Scrolling through my pics from the weekend. This is what I found. And yes, I am a photo app junkie (I am particularly in love with Avery Photo app).

I love the snow. I love it as long as I am looking at it through my window with a glass of wine, wrapped up in a chunky sweater, a fireplace roaring, and some Barry White playing as I bounce walk  around the house singing to myself. I don't own snow pants or durable gloves. I'd have to look but I'm 90% sure that I don't own a hat that actually covers my ears. It's because I'm not cool with reindeer games. 

You know how when you are out in the cold and your nose starts to run? I hate that, dudes. Or how when a bit of snow finds its way between your sleeve and your glove? That makes me crazy. Or how no matter how hard you try, you will get slush on your thighs just walking to the car? That's been known to bring out my rage face.  So in the winter, I am an indoor kid doing my indoor things. It's where I am happy. And not wet. But I didn't always feel this way.

I remember loving the snow as a kid. How I felt invincible flying into a soft mound of snow without bracing myself. I remember the feeling of wet clothes and icy caked mud and the musty smelling closet that kept all the winter gear. I remember snow forts and snowmen and thick snow-packed gloves. I remember pink noses and the hot-wet part of my scarf that sat in front of my mouth. I remember snow angels and hot cocoa. And moon boots. I loved my moon boots. The child me loved the snow.

So now both of our kids are snow babies and I am not. Luckily for them, they have their dad. You see, there is a little boy that lives inside of their dad. We call him Timmy and he loves the snow. Yes, I am well aware that what I just typed is a bit creepy. Ok, it's a lot creepy. Forget I mentioned it.  

Moving on...

These two are lucky to have an adventurous dad. He doesn't just sit back and watch. He plays too. And watching these three through the window was just awesome. This has been a crud-acious winter filled with nose sludge and barfing and fevers. Every time it snowed, someone was sick. In fact, Plum had never played in the snow before because of it. Until yesterday. Yesterday, these lucky kids got to go outside and tear up the joint with their dad. And they had a blast.

And I stayed inside and made the hot cocoa. As it should be.

Recipe: Cocoa ala Plum (dairy-free)
almond milk, cocoa powder, honey and marshmallows

Did you love playing in the snow as a kid? What about now?

So I already told you how the lollipop morning came to be. But what I didn't tell you was that Plum had never had a lollipop before. And big brother was needed to explain the rules. Like most 3 year old big brothers, Pants tried to dictate which flavor Plum was allowed to choose. Mainly, he wanted her to choose a flavor that he didn't like.
Instead, Plum picked his favorite flavor. Duh. So luckily I had four cherry lollipops...

Sometimes, you have to break out the super-secret special treat and break your own rules. Even if it's 8 am. Just because, dude. Just because.

These are the things I think about when I open my eyes to see Ms. Plum staring back at me in the morning. These are the things I ask the Universe for before I get out of bed....


Today is a new day.

Yesterday has been written and sealed into the growing brains and physical memory of my kids. Please help me remember today to be conscious and careful and deliberate about what I am writing in there.

Help me to not be selfish.

Keep my hands gentle and my words sincere.

I will graciously accept any and all magic healing powers for all injuries that will occur on this day. 

Help me to slow down and be with them. I know these days will be gone before I am ready. Encourage me to let them guide us and call some shots. I want them to know they have a say.

It'd be cool if they would nap today but more importantly, please don't let me forget to feed them.

Help me to know that they are their own awesome selves. Not replicas of each other or of me. They have their own feelings, ideas, personalities and impulses. And they should. Help me encourage, support and respect their individuality.

Speaking of impulses, help me to remain calm when one of those impulses results in broken furniture or emptied boxes of cereal on the floor. Especially if it is my Oatmeal Squares.

If it is my Oatmeal Squares, please don't let anyone see me eat them anyway.

Help me to stay close to them but remind me to back off sometimes and give them room to explore their relationship with each other. But I'd appreciate ninja agility and speed to intervene when that exploration gets hairy.

If we are all three lucky enough to nap together today, please help me hear when Mr. Pants slinks out of bed and creeps quietly to the door, shutting it so softly as he leaves trying  desperately not to wake me so that he can destroy the house or flood the bathroom. Or dump my Oatmeal Squares on the floor. Pretty please, help me hear that.

But mostly, help them to know with every cell in their body that they are fiercely loved. And that my arms will always be ready to carry them when they need it. No matter how big they get.

And help me to never take a single day for granted. Because today, is the most important day. Make it count.


Amen. Let's do this.