Comments on: Getting Dinner on the Table, Now THAT’S Hard

By: michelle waters

michelle waters — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:34:51 +0000

Thank you! The girls were delighted to hear right from the author. Just knowing Martha got married on her birthday was a big hit. I really appreciate your response!

By: Melissa Wiley » Blog Archive » Comments on Comments

Melissa Wiley » Blog Archive » Comments on Comments — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:28:01 +0000

[...] replied to a few questions in my own comments last night: Michelle’s daughters had a question about the Martha books, Hannah was curious about how we make read-alouds work with noisy little [...]

By: Melissa Wiley

Melissa Wiley — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:09:39 +0000

“Here’s a question my girls CANNOT leave alone though. I promised them I’d at least ask you. They want the Martha and Lewis Tucker wedding story!!! We just finished the 2nd Charlotte book, and they still ask - every night - “do you think this will be the flashback of the wedding chapter?” Help!! Make one up now if you have to!”

Oh, your sweet girls! I know exactly how the scene would have been written, but alas, I never wrote that book. I plotted it out and planted seeds for it in each of the Charlotte and Martha books (and indeed, one important detail was to be a reference all the way back to Little House in the Big Woods). I’m sorry to disappoint your girls. I can tell them this much: the historical record shows that the wedding took place in Boston, on Martha’s birthday. More than that exists only in my imagination!

By: Willa

Willa — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:31:27 +0000

For some reason I thought of this discussion while we were all driving home this evening after a homeschool group meeting. My teenager started quizzing the 5 year old on Star Wars trivia and tickling him every time he said a wrong answer. Then they switched to Pokemon trivia and my two little ones were impressing the elders by how much they remembered. They were all having such a good time — ages from 5 to 18. It made me feel happy that we have time as a family to just enjoy the journey.

By: Melissa Wiley

Melissa Wiley — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:12:17 +0000

The most popular CDs by far on our cross-country were two Tom Chapin albums, Moonboat and Family Tree, going-away presents from a sweet friend. We’d never listened to Tom before and it was love at first listen! Those are still frequently requested. I keep meaning to check more of his CDs.

Jim Henson! Someone gave us a Sesame Street video when Jane was in the hospital (age 2). I bet we watched it 500 times. Put Down the Duckie was on it, and the dreamy fairy alphabet song–that was her favorite. Scott found that clip on YouTube last year and we were all goosebumpy.

By: Sandra Dodd

Sandra Dodd — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:02:35 +0000

We did a lot of car trips where we listened to Raffi and Disney stuff and sang and sang. We stopped frequently to explore a big (stretch our legs, but any rest stop is a big explore for little kids).

I’m glad I read this and the comments. I’ve had a little trepidation about a drive to Austin later this month, with Keith and Holly and possibly Marty (though he’s about to start a new job), and being here reminds me to buck up and not even THINK about sighing or whining. Holly’s 16 years old and can drive! No carseats. We only need to listen to Raffi if we WANT TO. And we might. Or at least Jim Henson as Ernie and Kermit.

By: Sarah N.

Sarah N. — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:31:13 +0000

Shaun, I really like what you said about being too hard on yourself. I have several friends that I look at and wonder how they do all they do and then when someone asks me that question I’m startled that they think I’m capable of something amazing. I think we all wonder how different families manage what they do since we all have different skills and resources but in some way we are all amazing.