Grasshopper New Media Presents...

About 11 months ago, I went from joking about doing a triathlon to actually training to do a triathlon followed by doing some triathlons. I remember the time because I announced that I had been in training for a few weeks to my family during a reunion in Disney World over Columbus Day Weekend. […]

Now that we’ve covered getting the house ready, preparing food, and buying gifts, let’s talk about holiday traditions.
I remember our Christmas celebrations growing up.  We always opened gifts from youngest to oldest, and we’d take lots of time doing it.  There was plenty of time to see everyone open and appreciate what they’d been given.  […]

Damp auburn hair. Blue
butterflies stamped on her cheeks,
nose, didn’t wash off.
“I miss my childrens
in Russia!” our daughter wept
at lights-out. Again.
Older than her brother,
she recalls the orphanage—
and, maybe, life before.
She learns directions, moves
furniture, decorates,
to control her world.
Butterflies on arms,
my son sleeps with books, all closed
except for Pirates;
Knobby knees at chin,
pj’s and pull-up thrown off.
His boy-doll’s nude, […]

I was visiting my Mom this weekend, and she was cleaning out her basement.  She gave me several boxes of my childhood mementos to take home.  Some of these things, like the stamps made out of old linoleum, and the prints on manilla paper are clearly destined for the trash bin.  But what do I […]

We visited my parents’ new home today ( they’re blogging about it here), to see how things were coming along. It’s due to be ready in a few weeks, and so we wanted to see some of the “behind the scene” stuff. What we discovered when we got there touched my heart more than I […]

Time is passing all too quickly and my boys are growing up. The little guys are 5 now, while the older ones just celebrated their 10th birthday this week. (Happy Birthday again, sweeties.) It suddenly hit me the other day: I don’t have little kids anymore. They are all […]