On Saturday I went and got my hair cut and colored, which is really my favorite day ever, next to manicure and pedicure day. I love my hairdresser. She is funny and fun and we always have the best conversations. It took me forever to find a hairdresser I adore. I recommend her to everyone. When I walked in she said "thank you so much for your email, but I thought I wasn't going to see you before I leave." And I said "I didn't email you." And she kept talking about what I said was so sweet but when... Continue reading

7. It seems unbelievable to me that today you are 7. Because 7 is no longer a little kid. 5 and 6 I could still say, "but he is little." But no, you are not little. You are 7. And you have opinions and thoughts and debates and you know what you want and what you don't want. You know right from wrong even thought sometimes, you still make the wrong choice. But you are trying so very hard to make the right one. Michael, you told me recently that "I am never proud of you" and that could not... Continue reading

The shoes my friend Liza wore on Valentine's Day. Continue reading

As we were walking to school yesterday, Michael said to me "I don't like school." "I'm sorry," I said. "Why not?" "It takes up all my time. I don't have time to play with my friends and live off the land." "What do you know from living off the land?" (Suburban DC is not so rural.) "Oh mom," he said, and I could hear the roll in his eyes. "You know what I mean. I want to go to the river and go hunting." (I'm an anti gun vegetarian.) "What river? And what do you know from HUNTING?" He just... Continue reading

The past two years, right before Michael's birthday, he has been evaluated for ADHD. And both times, with two different evaluators, we have gotten the exact some result. Maybe he has ADHD, maybe he doesn't. "He displays some characteristics of ADHD but not enough to warrant a diagnosis" is actually what both doctors said. "Reevaluate in a year." His birthday is in 2 weeks. I keep thinking I need to call and make an appointment. I keep not making an appointment. I am 100% positive Michael has ADHD. I am the only one on the planet that feels this way.... Continue reading

Michael had a make up belt test this weekend. He missed a belt test during one of his week long sickness routines a few weeks ago. And then we went on vacation. And the place we take karate is so wonderful they waited to schedule the makeups until we got back. Michael was the highest ranking belt at the make ups and they kept saying to the other kids "watch Michael" do whatever stance or whatever form they were working on. He had to do more sit ups and more push ups then everyone else because he was testing for... Continue reading

Elisa sent me these. Continue reading

When we were on the cruise, Michael got sick. He started sobbing hysterically that his ear hurt. Except I didn't believe him. He had been particularly bratty that day, and that night was formal night, and he didn't want to get dressed up. So I thought he was just screwing with us. I may have said something like "you are ruining this vacation. Your grandparents, who spent so much money on this, want us to do one thing. One thing. Take formal pictures. So put on your suit and suck it up." Yeah that. So he kicked and screamed and... Continue reading

1. 10% of girls "go for pirates." That piece of knowledge is courtesy of my 10 year old nephew who is just starting to be interested in "dating," Apparently, in order to get a 10 year old girl, you have to be a pirate. Or maybe a viking. I'm still trying to figure it out. 2. The best way to get a girl is with Strawberry Fields Tic Tacs. Also, courtesy of my 10 year old nephew. 3. Homework is not so bad when you can do it from the balcony of your cruise ship. 4. I am terrified of... Continue reading

WELL HELLO THERE. We are back, and by back, I mean I am sitting on my couch, in pajamas, fast forwarding through most of the Oscars typing this. So I guess I am back. It took me 2 tries to get Michael out the door this morning. First I forgot his backpack. And then I forgot his lunch. You know, vacation hangover. Vacation was wonderful, except for the minor hiccup which was a visit to the ship's doctor who was decidedly NOT Doc from the Love Boat. It did not help that the hour before I took Michael to the... Continue reading

The shoes I took- Too many for a week? Continue reading

Today's guest post is from Jessi, and is a topic near and dear to my heart. Siblings, who are different. If you have more than one child, there is a universal truth that cannot have escaped you – no two are alike. While I have heard this truism batted about, I never really understood the depth of it until I began raising my girls. They could not be more different if they were of separate species, and in fact, sometimes I wonder… Brynna, my oldest is seven and Spock. If Spock were a drama queen. Despite her constant histrionics, she... Continue reading

Today's Guest Post comes from my friend Lara. Dear Boobies, I’ve noticed that you’ve been looking a little droopy lately. We’ve been through so much together, I hate to see you (so far) down. From those early days -circa 12 years of age- when you arrived far ahead of schedule and much larger than those of girls older than I. Our first few years were rough. Were it not for you I may have been spared taunts as; “Look who’s wearing an over the shoulder boulder holder” and “Be careful or you’ll fall over”. Admittedly, we did not get of... Continue reading

Today's guest post comes from my dear friend Janine, who always gives the best advice. I am the mom whose kids get straight As, Os (Outstanding) and Is (works independently with no prompting). My children receive yellow tickets that they can redeem for prizes on a daily basis. Mine are the kids that receive praise from teachers, other parents, and even strangers. They are well behaved, have lots of friends, are smart and apply themselves. They also have an enormous fear of getting a ‘try harder’ stamp. A ‘try harder’ is given out if you forget your homework, or if... Continue reading

While I am away, various voices from around the blogosphere have offered up guests posts. Today's is from Adam. Hi there, Jodifurbians, which is the name I just made up to describe the readers of the awesome Jodi Fur. Some of you may know me, and most of you probably do not. My name is Adam Avitable. This is what I look like: As you can obviously see, I am a model for pacifiers for baby vampires. It's a rewarding job, but that's not the reason I'm here. The reason I'm here is that Jodi's not. She's on vacation, cruising... Continue reading

I'm off, on that kind of magical vacation where there is no internet access and no way for anyone to get in touch with you. My friend Amy recently asked me "but what are we going to do if we need you?" And I said "deal," because really, I'm going off the grid. For "true life" as my sister used to say. She said she would try smoke signals. I always say I'm going to do this, turn off the phone, turn off the computer, turn off social media, and truly enjoy my family and vacation, and I never do.... Continue reading

Bill's work boots. Continue reading

I have this reputation among certain people (cough, my family, cough, my BFF) of being chronically early. Of being chronically over prepared. Of being on time, or early, for everything. Of doing everything in advance. I am here to confess that that is not even a little bit true. I ride my car down to THE VERY LAST GAS DROP. I have been known to get to the point where your car says "5 miles to go" and think "shit, I have no idea where a gas station" is. I never ever go to the ATM and if Doug didn't... Continue reading

I'm not a Valentine's Day lover. I never really have been. My philosophy is pretty much, if someone loves me they can love me everyday of the year, not just one. Doug and I always mark it in some way though. A dinner out, or in, or something. But it is never a huge big deal. This year, plans got canceled by sickness, an upcoming vacation, and the endless money we seem to be spending on things like home improvement. On Sunday, Michael went out and bought my flowers "with his own money." You have some moments as a parent... Continue reading

I am officially declaring last week the worst week ever. There was the obvious , Michael came down with strep AND croup and was out of school for a full week. Doug and I did that working parent jockey of you stay home then I stay home, then he goes back to school, than health room call of no, just kidding! Friday I was volunteering in the classroom and ended up pulling him out because he looked so sick and pitiful and was trying so hard to not put his head on his desk and just cry. I ran him... Continue reading

Kate sent me these. Continue reading

I've been a little quiet about the running lately, because well, I haven't been running as much as I would like. I've been doing a wonderful exercise class called Cage Fitness at the same time Michael takes karate, but I still had this goal in mind of running a 10k. And there is this race in April I really wanted to run, but I'm not sure I will be ready for it. And then the people behind a race called Zooma in Annapolis, Md. contacted me and asked me to partner with them in promoting their race. Zooma includes both... Continue reading

I was driving home from Susan's funeral today and "No More" from Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods" came through my iphone onto the stereo. And once again, I was sobbing. No more giants waging war! Can't we just pursue our lives, with our children and our wives, 'Til that happy day arrives, how do you ignore All the witches, all the curses, All the wolves, all the lies, the false hopes, the good-bye's, The reverses, All the wondering what even worse is still in store! All the children. All the giants.. No more. I came home and donated to the... Continue reading

Susan was one of my first blogging friends. We met long ago, at a wine tasting at Sarah's house. And she glowed with a light and a warmth from her. Susan was one of the people I most looked forward to seeing at every blogging event since, near and far, from Chicago to New York City, to just this past summer, at my house, where she brought the famous red dress. She always, always, lit up a room. Last fall, at Blogalicious, I spent a majority of the time with Susan. I listened to a gospel choir with my arms... Continue reading

On Friday Michael got to have lunch with his teacher as a reward. I would think lunch with your teacher would be a punishment, but not lunch with this teacher. We spent all week talking about lunch. Where would they eat? Would they eat with the other teachers? What would they talk about? I swear to you it was like he was going on his first date. And then he decided he wanted to make her cookies. Star Wars cookies. Last year I would have mortgaged my house to pay for my private school. Instead we found a reading tutor... Continue reading