Category: Family

Lessons from My Six-Year-Old Teacher: Presence, Patience, and Phones

In Noa’s classroom, my dog Gus and I both have lessons to learn—mine: “get off your phone”; his: “stop eating from the garbage.” We take our seats (mine…

A Celebration 95 Years in the Making

This past December, our family gathered to celebrate my dad’s 95th birthday—a milestone marked not just by years, but by love, generosity, humor, and the legacy he continues…

Warning: Buying a Sycamore Means You Can Never Move!

🦃ThanksGiving ThankFULL

My Thanksgiving ThankFULL list - GEEZ! I hope I didn't forget anybody—Heartfelt, Humorous, & always Personal - HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL! 🦃 #Thanksgiving #RaisingJess #Family #Tofurkey #TurkeyDay #BuffaloTurkeyTrot #Humor…

Diapers, Dishes & Delusions of Control – Happy Mother’s Day!

Diapers, Dishes, and Delusions of Control at Home— Written in ’90 -A Happy Mother’s Day Poem Updated By Nana Vickie – in 2025 The story continues with an…

Are Emojis Generational? 🤔 & Go Bills! 🦬❤️”

My texts with friends are emoji chaos, but with my millennial kids. It's like 🚫🥰 not ❤️. Where's the fun in that? & GO BILLS! 🏈🦬 #Emoji #Buffalo…

THE F-WORDs

The F-word?  Why does your mind immediately go there? That's not what I meant at all-Read to see the real meaning of F-words & some H-words!

Noa and Nana’s Birthday Extravaganza

Noa was due on my birthday but, of course, she had her own plans! Now we’re celebrating together—Noa style, adoring, adornment and all! #Birthday #Nana #Generation #Celebration #Diva…

Family Reunion 2024

It's noon, but "5 o'clock somewhere!" Playing UNO, and enjoying a too-early beer at our annual 13th (or maybe 10th or 11th) family reunion! #RaisingJess #CattaraugusCounty, #WesternNewYork, #FamilyReunion,…

NYT Quiz

"Ah, Friday – the day when I question my entire week's worth of news intake, hoping it's enough to secure victory in the family NYT quiz showdown.

Club Cuisine Crisis: Eating Interruptus

Crisis, also known as Eating Interruptus. Plus, a Cool Bill's Story! #RaisingJess #Eating #Humor #Blog #BuffaloBills #Football

We Did It MY WAY

A really short verse about marriage and compromise - The best scenario is when you both can say -We Did It MY WAY! #humor #marriage #compromise #MyWay #Poetry…

Three Glorious Moments-at the Baseball Field

Starting In the 1990s - Husband Mitch was our son Alex’s Little League Coach. It is now 2021; read to see 3 Glorious Moments at the diamond.

3 Inspirational Messages from Above: Thanks, Ben!

3 Inspirational Messages is a Powerful Story of being open to messages and signs from above. As told by my friend Chris.

A Positive Covid-19 Test Result on Our 41st Wedding Anniversary

A Positive Covid-19 Test Result on Our 41st Wedding Anniversary. As my Dad jokingly said, “even a hypochondriac can be right sometimes!”

How a Unique Toast to Mom Helped Us Continue a Family Tradition

How a Unique Toast to Mom Helped Us Begin to Heal