I've been finding myself sharing posts on my Facebook page about how big kids are sweethearts, too. About how we often attribute malice or disinterest to the gangly tweens and teens with the earbuds in and the cool scowl on their faces, and we don't look further to see the tender, thoughtful souls beneath.

Living with a sweetheart of a 12-year-old who's now wearing men's shoes and is about to outgrow his aunt by height, I know firsthand that appearances can be deceiving and that the warmest hearts can beat beneath the pulled-up hoodies of adolescence.

Leading up to Christmas Eve, Mikko had been making jokes about staying up all night to ambush Santa. He thinks Danny Gonzalez's take on the movie The Santa Clause is hilarious, and he bought the single of Danny's song where he states his intention of murdering Santa so he can take over.

Wishing you and your family all the best
this year and always!

In the category of Things No One Asked Me For, I bring you a family Mad Lib to act out. Wondering what family activity to settle into on Christmas Eve? Trying to head off political arguments when relatives are over? Break out this little giggle starter.

I was inspired by Jimmy Fallon's Mad Lib Theater and thought: We definitely all need this in our very own living rooms. Because this is not just any Mad Libs. This is a DRAMA. Stand up! Emote! Bellow to the back of the theater!


Print the doc out from this link.

It's just a couple days before Christmas.Want a last-minute craft for the holidays?Here's a simple and meaningful keepsake that'sso easy and inexpensive to makethat you can keep one for youand send a bunch off to loved ones.


Start with blank ornaments. You can use whatever you have around,or you can find some at craft stores or online. Round ones work, but I preferred the ease of useof these flat wooden ones I found here.

Next you need at least three colors of paint. Easy peasy!I went with tempera because that's what I had.


Red, yellow, and green are nice and bright,but of course you can choose whatever you like.Don't forget your paintbrushes.

Breastfeeding the third and final nursling


After eleven years of breastfeeding three babies, with part of a year off for one pregnancy, I have officially weaned: myself, my babies, my body. I no longer lactate. I have no nurslings. I am done with my breastfeeding time.

Of course, this is bittersweet. I thought a lot about what I did and didn't want to do to commemorate this change in my life. I didn't want to know when the exact last nursing was, for instance. Karsten petered off around age three and a half, and I let that be vague in my mind. I didn't want to know: This is how it ends. I didn't want to worry it wasn't the bestest nursing session ever or wonder if it would repeat. I don't know when the last time was, and that's fine by me.

Every autumn, we take photos in front of
a sweet maple tree outside our home
as the leaves change colors.




Mikko: 12 years
Alrik: 8 years
Karsten: 4.75 years