Dana Burland

“How old are you, A?” A studies his left hand, splays his fingers widely, then slowly and studiously curls his pinky down to his palm. The thumb secures it down like the seal on an envelope. And with a big smile, he’ll show you: 3. 3 little fingers confident, strong and sure in the air. 3 years of spunk, silliness, determination, independence and self assuredness. A truly brings the party. He LOVES to be silly, he desperately wants to be in on all and any of the action. And he loves his family. At three I’m constantly impressed at what he knows, what he’s picked up, his observance at all around him, his “street smarts”. This past October when we were at a high school football game he asked me “what this is, Mama? Halloween?” I said, “No, not yet, in a few weeks”, and determined he reiterated: “Then WHAT THIS IS!? Fall?” I still laugh picturing him gesture around, foreign to the event of an all-town high school football game and trying to make sense of it. Recently his baby g...

This year I was hit with the trifecta: Hanukkah, A’s birthday and Christmas–all at once. Odds of mom survival this year: LOW. Very low. I’ll be back up right just in time for a mom magic Valentine’s Day. Here are some special things I’m putting together for the family this year which will all add up to an A+ holiday/birthday/holiday smash up week: Adult Family Secret Santa Assigned after Thanksgiving. Parents + adult siblings participate. $40 cap. It makes for a creative, fun and surprising Christmas morning! Holiday Card Every year a funny but true photo capturing a moment of what life is normally like in this house full of boys! Old neighbors holiday party It’s become tradition to get together with our old neighbors/family friends for a holiday party just before all the true madness begins. Bless Mr. Paul who kept the mom’s wine glasses full throughout this event! A Hanukkah Classroom Visitor Growing up my mom and mother-in-law both visited their kid’s elementary scho...