Close to Home: A Fond Farewell

The time has come for some of my plates to stop spinning. This will be my last post, as I'm no longer so close to home after all. We are moving to Ohio.

Close to Home: Beauty and the Beast

Live on stage this summer at Navy Pier is "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." We are big fans of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and can not wait to see the show!

Close to Home: Key Lime Cove Waterpark

This was our third vacation to Key Lime Cove and our kids are huge fans of the lazy river, kiddie pool, basketball pool, and Toukie's Big Deluge, the massive water-filled playground.

Close to Home: Listen to Your Mother 2012

Listen to Your Mother/Northwest Indiana is in search of original essays on any aspect of motherhood for its second annual show at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso on Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m.

Close to Home: What does your house look like at dinnertime?

As I prepare something I think is pretty fabulous and not-microwaved for dinner, I wonder how in the world moms in the past did it without trashing the place.

Close to Home: 5 ways I'm going to be a better mom in 2012

I'm not big on making New Year's resolutions anymore, mainly because I can never keep them. But, I do have some ideas in my head that I hope can happen in the coming year.

Close to Home: Dear Santa (ALREADY?)

I am NOT the kind of person that skips Thanksgiving and goes straight to Christmas as soon as we hit November. I actually really wish people and STORES would slow it down. Sheesh. But. It's hard not to be influenced by the things around us.

Family memories: A veteran is honored through the generations

In all of my earliest childhood memories, my grandfather (I called him Poppal) is there. And of course he'd tell me about the things I was too young to recall, how he'd prop me up in the corner of the couch cushions when I was just a baby, and I'd sit and coo and watch -- I'd hear this story…

Close to Home: Life with kids

Hilarious author Ann Wilson will be hanging out at Dream Dinners in Chicago.

Close to Home: Awesome library programs

I have always dreamed of taking my kids to those fun story hours at the library but it just never happened. But this time around, with only one at home now, I find it do-able and quite appealing.

Back-to-school products for all ages

Backpacks 101

Close to Home: The pianos are back!

The pianos are back, situated around the downtown Valparaiso area. We chilled at the one in front of Pat's Parlor tonight and the kids banged away as mostly approving passers-by looked on. One of these nights I hope to hear someone that can really play. The summer is just moving too fast.

Close to Home: The Sunday night blues

On our way home from all the exciting Mother's Day activities (Lake George in Hobart, then Dari Dip in Portage) we noticed Noah had a bit of the sads. When we asked him about it, he got full-on weepy. I whispered to Jeff, it might be the Sunday Night Blues. You know?

Hop and Shop: Where to buy Easter gifts for your children

Try these local merchants for springtime shopping:

Easter gifts: creative alternatives to candy

It's the same every year: a cute stuffed bunny and a vat of candy. This year, why not explore the offerings at some local merchants and change it up a little?

Close to Home: Park days are here again!

With one squint of my eyes, the sun made me forgive the long winter like it was nothing, and we were off to meet friends at the park yesterday. It was in the 50's! And the sun was so warm. It was awesome.

Close to Home: Spend a day at the nature museum

We explored trees inside out at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - you can check it out now until February 6. We might be heading back just one last time before it ends- that's how much Ivy and Gray loved it.

Close to Home: Just Dance

So, we are still TV-free, however, during the big snow storms a couple weeks ago I did let the kids set up the Wii again. And, they've been playing it non-stop all Christmas Break. I'm not too thrilled about it and was just about ready to box it up again until...