On the Rocks
Same rocks. Same kid. Six months later. Happy 19 months, big guy! Read more
Oma + Opa Visit
Every few months, Nick’s parents make the drive north from Alabama to see their littlest grandson. We don’t get to see them nearly enough, and we pack as much fun as possible into their short stays. During their visit this week, Sam and I took Oma and Opa to Twin Lakes park and playground. Sam showed off his sliding board... Read more
Pittsburgh Brewer’s Ball
I love an excuse to wear lipstick and heels. And when there’s beer involved? And drinking it supports a good cause? Sign me up! Last Friday night, Nick and I attended the Brewer’s Ball in Pittsburgh to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Western Pennsylvania Chapter. There were about 20 microbreweries in attendance — each with multiple brews on tap and... Read more
DIY: Magnetic Chalkboard Wall
Since we bought our house last May, I have been searching high and low — literally — for a place to paint a chalkboard wall for Sam. I considered a space in the kitchen beside the refrigerator and another area in the downstairs hallway. But when we decided to convert the basement into a playroom, I knew that was the... Read more
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
There’s a cookie monster in our house. And his name is Sam. If he hears the words cook or bake or chocolate or cookies or brownies, he immediately drags a chair across the kitchen and hops on top. He knows where to find the measuring spoons, and he gets upset if I try to use the whisk without him. He’s... Read more
Spring has Sprung
I believe it’s finally safe to say that spring is here to stay. Daytime temperatures have barely dropped below 50 degrees, and we’ve even seen the 70s several days. Trees are budding and daffodils are blooming, and I can almost hear the hum of the lawn mower. Sam was barely big enough to truly enjoy the outdoors last year. But,... Read more
A Letter to Samuel on the 50th Anniversary of the Loss of the USS Thresher
Dear Samuel Woodford, It’s no secret that you make your mother and I very proud. You are kind and generous. You are inquisitive. And you are devilishly cute. You certainly wear the Wiley name well. I want to tell you today about your Great Uncle John, another Wiley to be very proud of. John was born in Altoona — just... Read more
In Motion on Vine
Please tell me I’m not the only one whose iPhone is currently holding over 1,000 photos plus dozens of videos. Yes, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. Which means you get to enjoy a few videos from our wild and crazy and incredibly fun life. I created these short clips with the Vine app, which makes it really easy... Read more
Wednesday Randoms
I’m behind on blogging — about Lucy’s introduction to obedience class, Sam’s language development, the new color of our laundry room, and the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies I can’t stop eating. Until I have time to formulate my thoughts into a coherent post, here is an update via bullet points. • There is a wonderful little historic town adjacent... Read more
The Easter Bug … and Bunny, too
While we were expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny last weekend, we were also host to a very unwelcome guest: the stomach bug. It hit Sam first — fast and hard. And three days later it got to me — just hours after Nick left for Chicago, of course. How does a momma, who lives hundreds of miles away... Read more