peskypippi.comBecause I have a lot to say…

My son is about to graduate from the eighth grade. There is to be a graduation ceremony at school.

My husband and I joked that we’re not really celebrating the academic accomplishments of his completing the 8th grade. Indeed, we are awfully proud of our son, but we sort of have higher academic aspirations for him that go beyond the eighth grade. We’re not exactly living in Little House on the Prairie times. It’s almost a redneck joke, “I’m so proud of you son! You’re an Eighth Grade Graduate!”

No, not that.

Regardless. I know I will cry when Pomp and Circumstance starts playing.

I will cry because I know that this is a milestone in my son’s young adulthood. The letter from the principal summed it up: “this marks the end of your child’s elementary education.” My son will soon close his elementary chapter, and will start the next chapter in his life: high school. That’s it. Tears are hitting already.

Graduations always get me. I can’t help it. They are both endings and beginnings.

But I know that while I will be tearing up, I will also be bursting with pride, and looking forward–supporting my son–as he makes his way ahead.

My eight-year-old son wrote three reasons why he loves me:

1. She hugs me.
2. Cooks delecius spaggeti. [sic]
3. Signs me up for stuff like gymnastics.

Aw! I’m touched that he singled out three things I think mothering is all about:

1. Love.
2. Nourishment.
3. Support.

Happy Mother’s Day, y’all!

How many plastic spider rings does it take to raise a child from toddler to teenager? In our case, 500.

I invested in a whopping bag of plastic spider rings, when my oldest son was about three. Five hundred of them. “These will come in handy to top cupcakes, to add to goody bags, and to play jokes on people,” I had thought. Whoa! So many fun times ahead!

Well. My oldest son just turned 14 years old this week. When it was time to decorate his cake, I rummaged through the bin where I keep cupcake papers, food coloring, sprinkles, birthday candles, and plastic spider rings.

There was only one spider ring left. What?!

We had finally exhausted our supply. I had baked an abundance of cupcakes over the years to deliver to school functions, added the rings to birthday goody bags, and distributed them at Halloween.

The rings marked milestones in my son’s life. They took him from toddler to teen. And now, the spiders are gone.

But the other day, as my son stood there in the kitchen–standing 6 ft. 1 in. tall–he tasted his mud pie birthday cake and giddily shrieked, “This is your best cake yet, Mom!”

His enthusiasm and kindness are reminders that despite age (and height), he is still the same on the inside.

However you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, may you get lucky.

Wink.

I just love my toothless boy.

As soon as my seven-year-old son’s teeth showed an inkling of being loose, he worked and worked them until they were out. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 teeth are now gone. The Tooth Fairy has been busy.

As a result, I slice his apples for him. Yogurt and pudding are also popular choices. But I think he’s pulling my leg when he claims cherry Pop-Tarts make his teeth feel better.

My son has been sporting a jack-o-lantern grin for months now. There are no signs of grown-up teeth. And with a smile and charisma like that? That’s just fine with me.

May today be the day that you frolic naked in a field. And water the heart flowers with green watering cans.

Or whatever makes your heart sing.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

XO,
Pippi

I’m impressed with artsy-and-crafty people and their creations. See below for some very cool ideas I have spotted for Valentine’s Day. But let it be known that I am not one of them. Sure, I make giant cookies. Sure, I made Valentines for my classmates out of doilies when I was a kid. But that’s where my crafty talents end. Read my Screw You, Martha Stewart post here if you’d like elaboration.

Are you looking for a really simple Valentine’s Day project to do with your kids? Simply, pack them into the car and drive to the grocery store. Have them select their favorite boxed Valentine’s Day cards to give to their classmates.

We opted for “Furry Animals” and “Star Wars” Valentines. Tape on a ring pop. And…we’re done.

And, really, nothing says I love you quite like Darth Vader.

Chocolate-chip cookies…again?

No way!

Do you want to be the coolest Mom ever? How about making one giant cookie…with giant impact. What ’til your kids see this! They will be stunned and awed, just like in Uncle Buck. Remember the giant pancake?

Click here for my best chocolate-chip-cookies-on-Earth recipe.

So, instead of plopping the dough as you would for individual cookies, make one giant plop onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and smash down and smooth out with a spatula. Bake at 350 degrees about 12 minutes and keep an eye on it. Take it out just before you think it’s done (the one in the pic is a little overcooked…my bad…I was on Twitter).

Once cooled, you can frost it to make a smiley face, as in my birthday “cake” last year. Click here to see that beauty. Or you can cut into a heart. Brilliant…just in time for Valentine’s Day!

C is for Cookie. Or for “Crap, I just ate too much damn cookie.”

2013 brings another fresh start. This year, I decided to make four more or less resolutions.

• More love, less hate.
• More spinach, less Oreos.
• More laughs, less stress.
• More thanks, less complaints.

May your 2013 bring you more love, spinach, laughs, and thanks.

Happy New Year!

XO,

Pippi

Andy Warhol once said “I think everybody should like everybody.”

Yeah…that’s not possible.

So I edited it.

“I think everybody should like everybody on Christmas.”

-Pippi

Merry Christmas!