Smellyann Strikes Again

2017 Birthday Season Continues...

Birthdays, birthdays, everywhere! On Thursday, my darling firstborn child, Chloë Raine, turned 16 years old! I cannot believe it; I'm in stupendous shock. How can it be? And yet it is. Though her birthday was on the 7th, we decided... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Spirit Of Boise Balloon Classic

Hey, y'all! Make sure you link up with Claudya over on her blog today to show off your hometown, so we can travel the world together! So, here in Boise, Idaho, there is an annual hot air balloon festival, called... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Movies On The Field #Vineyard #Boise

Welcome back! This week, I am participating again in this fun blog hop invented by Claudya (formerly known as the Unknown Mami); be sure and click on over here to visit more participating blogs this week! Last weekend, we ventured... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Art History Meme

Welcome back! Link up here if you want to play along with Sunday Stealing this week. Let's begin: ~*~*~*~*~ Do you look forward to the spring? Oh yes, very definitely! In Miami, it didn't make much difference, but here in... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Music On The Water #Boise #Idaho

Hey everyone! I'm joining in with Claudya over here on her blog for this week's edition of (her) Sundays in my City. Saturday night (so yesterday), I took the kids to Boise's Esther Simplot Park for the first time, to... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Something Different Meme

Welcome back! Link up here if you're playing along with Sunday Stealing today. Here we go: ~*~*~*~*~ Writes Bev: "Here's something different for this week. "There is a woman named "Wendy Weetabix" who wrote a blog called That's My Bix,... Read more →

Field Trip: Lucky Peak Beach @ Barclay Bay

On July 7th, Team Odette headed out to a new locale, set up as a playdate for Sophia with one of her new friends from a local homeschoolers' group. We visited Lucky Peak Reservoir, also known as Barclay Bay. This... Read more →

Field Trip: Fort Running Bear Park

On Thursday, Team Odette had the pleasure of heading out eastward in Idaho, past Mountain Home where a there is a heavier military presence, to Fort Running Bear RV Park. It seemed like a cool place to visit, so I... Read more →

Saturday 9: I Will Never Let You Down

Saturday 9: I Will Never Let You Down (2017) ... because Smellyann recommended Fastball [woohoo, I'm famous!] Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. ~*~*~*~*~ 1) Fastball is a trio from Austin, Texas. Austin is the capital of Texas.... Read more →

Family Field Trip: Art Lesson at Young Art in Boise, Idaho

On Monday, Team Odette was invited into Young Art for a 60-minute drawing lesson, complimentary of Young Art in Boise, Idaho, and the fun and amazing manager, Shayla Putnam. [Full Disclosure: Our five-member family received the lesson for no charge,... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Getting Lost In Downtown Boise

Okay, so I have a two-days-late entry for this week's Sundays in my City, hosted By Claudya, but here I am better late than never! Right? Right??! Ten days after we arrived in Boise, Idaho, on March 20th, we decided... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Getting Lost In Downtown Boise

Okay, so I have a two-days-late entry for this week's Sundays in my City, hosted By Claudya, but here I am better late than never! Right? Right??! Ten days after we arrived in Boise, Idaho, on March 20th, we decided... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Backyard Surprises

Hi again! I'm playing two weeks in a row, y'all! This must be a record for me. Link up here if you want to play along with Claudya and the rest of the SiMC gang this week!This weekend, I have... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Field Trip To Babby Farms

Welcome back, those of you here from By Claudya's weekly carnival, Sundays in my City. I haven't been posting in a while, and now we've moved from Miami, Florida, to Boise, Idaho. Big leap of faith and huge culture shock,... Read more →

Field Trip: The Peregrine Fund At The World Center For Birds Of Prey

Way back on March 20th, before Jack's 14th birthday, Team Odette was invited to visit The World Center for Birds of Prey in order to learn about the important work being done by The Peregrine Fund. I feel absolutely awful... Read more →

Saturday 9: Mama Can't Buy You Love

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! Link up here if you're playing along this weekend. ~*~*~*~*~ Mama Can't Buy You Love (1979) Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. 1) This week's artist, Elton John,... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Crazy Chicago Questions

Hey there! Link up here if you're playing along this weekend, too! ~*~*~*~*~ Cheers to all of us thieves! Sunday Stealing: The Chicago Crazy Questions 1) What was your dream growing up? Forever, I wanted to be a marine biologist.... Read more →

Backyard Bonfire

Jack is very suggestible. You put an idea in the kid's head that sounds like it might be a good one, and he latches onto it and mentions the thing at least daily. When, recently, I brought home some graham... Read more →

Jack's 14th Birthday

Okay, so, considering Jack's birthday was March 22nd, I'm a little late,.. but better late than never?? The first thing he wanted to do when he woke up was make us some pancakes. That's right; he wanted to cook for... Read more →

A Walk With My Curly Girly

Today, I needed some caffeine and rustled up enough change to go get some kind of diet cola from someplace. Chloë decided to go with me, so we could have a little mommy-and-me time. It's harder to come by now... Read more →