Sturm Haustag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-315442009-12-22T08:25:00-05:00TypePadSturmHaushttp://feedburner.google.comshoesapaloozatag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e201287672a38e970c2009-12-22T08:25:00-05:002009-12-22T08:25:00-05:00Otto has never been that excited about shoes. I have to work to get him into new tennis shoes, and dress shoes? forget it. His little sister, though, is a big fan of cute shoes (I have no idea where she gets it). We were in a department store last...Ha poem for the seasontag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20120a76df982970b2009-12-21T21:21:00-05:002009-12-21T21:21:00-05:00American Life in Poetry: Column 248 BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006 Many if not all of us have had the pleasure of watching choruses of young people sing. It’s an experience rich with affirmation, it seems to me. Here is a lovely poem by Tim Nolan, an attorney...Hinterview with a preschoolertag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20120a761b99b970b2009-12-17T23:44:30-05:002009-12-17T23:44:30-05:00Otto and I sat down last night with the Flip for a little interview about his day. Check out Mr. Charming: Isn't he the cutest? Tonight he was spouting off French at the dinner table - the little French rhyming/counting song I learned ages ago in high school from Madam...Hfavorite thingstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20128765552d4970c2009-12-14T23:45:00-05:002009-12-14T23:45:00-05:00I love Etsy. Really, I do. I curate my Etsy favorites lists the way some of my colleagues curate archival collections. This year, the holiday shopping has been especially good. Don't you agree? Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade sturm95.etsy.com Otto and his classmates went singing...Hevergreentag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20128764cadbf970c2009-12-13T01:10:04-05:002009-12-13T09:31:06-05:00I have a very important job around here. See, I'm the one who organizes tree-shopping outings. I like a fresh tree -- one we've cut ourselves in a lot near home. It smells great and the tree stays fresh for weeks. Jon grumbles about this every year. "Can't we get...HSanta!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20120a717d329970b2009-12-05T08:10:18-05:002009-12-05T08:10:18-05:00It took us a couple of tries, but Otto did sit with Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. Here he is holding Santa's keys (to the Workshop? to the reindeer barn? Santa didn't say). We got home last night and I asked him to describe Santa for...Hrelated much?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e201287609b1e6970c2009-12-03T20:08:00-05:002009-12-03T20:08:00-05:00Otto, August 2006 (19 months) Annabel, now (17 months) This cracks me up. So different, and yet so alike! Tomorrow we (mom, me and the kids) are going up to what shall henceforth be known as Christmas Town (Frankenmuth) to see that store of Christmas Wonder (Bronner's) and do a...Hone of those thingstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e2012876054dfc970c2009-12-02T23:10:36-05:002009-12-02T23:10:36-05:00I'm having one of those weeks at work... you know, where you wonder what the heck you're doing? Things have been in transition lately, so some uncertainty is only to be expected. I'm doing my best to keep up and stay up, but it's tiring, and most days I just...HIowatag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e20120a6e6614d970b2009-11-28T14:50:54-05:002009-11-28T14:50:54-05:00The kids are having a good time at Nana's house. Otto pretty much gets unlimited TV here, which he finds thrilling. So thrilling that he told me this morning he didn't want to go anywhere, and that I had to stay here all day to take care of him and...Hfresh starttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452883d69e2012875cac7ec970c2009-11-23T12:01:23-05:002009-11-23T12:01:23-05:00We had a fun weekend with Otto's class mascot, High Tops. We wrote in the journal every night. And Otto didn't really want to take him back today, but I reassured him that he'd get to see High Tops at school during the week. Plus I printed extra pictures of...H