I love name stories. The funny ones, the misunderstood ones, the weird ones. I have a lot of name stories. I’ve been Leanne Shirtliffe since the day I was born, and that same name will be etched into my tombstone one day. Life with this name is entertaining, to say the least. Here are 10 […]
Ironic Mom
Suburban CSI and Killer Rabbits
Last week, I stood on our porch and waved goodbye to visitors. After they drove off, I looked at the railing and noticed two things: (1) it is in desperate need of a paint job, and (2) there was a wishbone drying on it. It was a bit of a puzzle. I never save wishbones, […]
Math, Kids, and Fidelity
I like giving my kids math problems. It’s comedy in action. When Vivian and William were five, I blogged about fun-with-math. I wrote: A couple of years ago, in a good parenting moment, I started playing math with them while driving. I gave them number problems, and they figured out the answer (or not). The […]
School Photo Day: Remembering Kindergarten
I may not remember the last time my kids had a bath or when my van’s oil was changed, but I remember a lot about the year I was five. For whatever bizarre reason, I can still name all 25 kids in my Kindergarten class picture. And I can also remember the girl with the […]
The Birthday Party, by the numbers
If you’re a sports fan, you’ll know numbers don’t lie (especially if you cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs). Here are the numbers from William and Vivian’s 7th birthday party, which I bravely hosted yesterday. 10: Kids in attendance, including my own 2: Kids I temporarily lost sight of at the playground (including William) 5: […]
5 Announcements That Won't Change Your Life
ANNOUNCEMENT 1: Wednesday, June 1 is School Photo Day for bloggers. Join KB at Keenie Beanie, Clay at EduClaytion, me, and others as we post an embarrassing school picture from days gone by. Feel free to steal the above graphic if you wish to promote it. If you don’t wish to participate, just drop by […]
When Irony Ruins Your Day
I’m starting to think I have irony tattooed on my forehead. Either that or naive. Or idiot. Take your pick. Before I share greater irony than even Alanis could wail about, please click the link below to read the humor column that I wrote. It was published in The Calgary Herald this morning. It has […]
Business Tips from 6-Year-Old Twins
This weekend, William and Vivian each decided to open a store on opposite sides of the sofa. Here is the marketing plan they followed. Buy low. Take objects that belong to Mommy, including her hair band and her Thing One and Thing Two stuffies. Add some toys and books that Daddy bought them at garage […]
When 6 Year Olds Discuss Dead Animals
Mealtime with twins is generally entertaining. If they’re not demonstrating how saliva aids the digestive process, they’re partaking in accidental slapstick by falling off chairs mid-story. Last night, though, it was a conversation in two parts that garnered my attention. Part One Setting: Before dinner. I have just announced we’re having hamburgers for dinner. William […]
Inappropriate Books for Kids (if you know what I mean)
The hilarious new kids’ book, Get the F**k to Sleep, has been getting a lot of press lately. And why not? It’s funny, its theme is universal, and it even scans. Some people might think the book is inappropriate, but they also likely believe it’s meant for children. While on the subject of things that […]