Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Feb 6, 2012, 5:00 am
Her mouth quirked upward and her hands shot to position to cover the smile before I could see it. Apple. Tree. Dejavous. My anger faltered, because my knee-jerk reaction is to smile in response when my personality's twin brings me a sunny-side up, but she knows this by now. She knows I'll ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Feb 1, 2012, 11:34 am
I can't believe I didn't remember my own anniversary. I am so bad at that. On January 23rd, Sprite's Keeper celebrated its fourth year, albeit very quietly. This site, one started out of desperation in an effort to find my voice again, which had been lost in a sea of motherhood, has b...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jan 26, 2012, 11:06 am
Ooh, that title is so deep. People kvetch about their work all the time. Hate what they do. Wish about what they want. Cultivate the green grass growing on the other side of the fence while their own real patch of lawn shrivels and dies from lack of care. I am not one of those people. I like wh...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jan 24, 2012, 5:00 am
... months that if no pregnancy occurred by the time we came back from our cruise in November, we would buckle down and submit ourselves for the extensive testing to figure out why, this being almost three years after starting ... pedicures would have been overkill.) At the end of the exam, we...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jan 18, 2012, 5:00 am
"Mommy, you want to play I Spy?" Ugh, no. Really, with all the power in my pinky finger, hell to the no. But we're stuck in traffic. We've already discussed her school day. I now know that Trey is in trouble. AGAIN. And I remind her once more not to play with Megan because Megan is evil wi...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jan 11, 2012, 5:00 am
  Every morning when I wake Sprite up, I ask her what her dreams were. Every morning, she tells me a variation of the same thing: "I was in Disney World with you and Daddy and Blue and Harry." "I was in Disney World with Daddy and he was making me go on the water slide (Splash Mount...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jan 6, 2012, 2:00 am
Luggage: check. Change of underwear: check.Change of IP address: um, check with the geek.. All right, folks. 2012 is bringing a whole new year and a whole new home for the Spin Cycle!  I KNOW! After 3+ years of standing at the helm of this sometimes popular forum, it's moving west an...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Dec 27, 2011, 1:35 pm
You do it too. I love this time of the year when the Internet is abuzz with "97 new photos" added to someones profile, along with the tantalizing teases of a three picture collage, a self promo to go ahead and click the link. "Check out Alison's new bracelet she got from Santa! And try to figur...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 28, 2011, 5:00 am
I read Alaina's Spin about costumes and thought this would be perfect for a debate. I'm thankful (and lucky) that Sprite has stuck to the original decision she made last year to be Alice in Wonderland for this Halloween. So far, she has not changed her mind, although, for her friend's birthday/...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 23, 2011, 8:54 pm
Ooh! A comparison study! I wonder if I'll get AP credit for this.. Our spooky investigation begins with: Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot Peg over at Square Peg in A Round Hole -Updated Monday! Kate over at Recommended Daily Dose -Updated Wednesday! Alaina over at View From Down...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 21, 2011, 5:00 am
..is recycling posts. I'm stuck in yet another chapter or biting off more than I can chew. Here's the saga: John and I have agreed that our room desperately needs to be painted. I've picked out the color (Basketry in the Behr section of Home Depot) (looks like coffee liberally splashed with cre...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 18, 2011, 12:41 pm
The stories begin with a dark and stormy night... (considering the weather conditions in my area as of right now, it might as well be) And the Spoooooooky Spinners are: Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Wednesday! Vandy over at The Testosterone Thr...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 18, 2011, 5:00 am
I spied her at the train table, kneeling slightly with her legs pressed together. The kid had to go. Quickening my pace, I rushed to her side. "Sprite, go to the bathroom!" As if my words were the key that unlocked her frozen status, she turned and bolted for the close by door to stop...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 14, 2011, 5:00 am
You HAD to know this Spin would be about meeting Michele from It's A Dog's Life! If you didn't, well, surprise! To make it more apropos, this was also the first solo trip I've done with Sprite. Yes, I've taken her out of town on my own before, but we usually hook up with friends, relatives, and...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 11, 2011, 8:41 am
Sorry, folks! I was out of town on Sunday and Monday so everything is all about catch up today. Tomorrow it will be about mustard. Sorry for the lame joke too. And sorry to our first Spinner as well! Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole CaJoh over at Ca-Joh Pseudo over at ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 7, 2011, 5:00 am
I was wondering how people would attack this Spin since you can pick a date you've been on, a date you'd want to be on, or you could think outside the obvious and go for a recipe starring the notorious date fruit. So far, I've been loving the entries, but when it came to my own, I had one date ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Oct 4, 2011, 9:01 am
We're starting to daydream around here! Here's a list of people who will need to snap back to reality soon: Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar Michele over at It's A Dog's Life KendraSue over at Life in The Slow Lane -Updated Wednesday! C...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 30, 2011, 5:00 am
How I love this time of year, the calls, cards, and Facebook messages that send out that annual message of "L'Shana Tova!" Happy New Year! Being of Jewish descent, and being that my birthday so adequately falls in and around Rosh Hashana and the beginning of the High Holy Days every year, ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 28, 2011, 5:00 am
3 posts in a row? Did I get my blogging mojo back? Do you even read this site anymore? Moving on. Jan posted a recipe yesterday for savory almond flour muffins on her site, and being the ardent follower I am, I HAD to make them that very evening and review them. You see, in our new l...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 27, 2011, 2:19 pm
"This is Jennifer." "Hey!" "Oh, hi. What's up?" "Were you on your other phone?" "Yes, but it was dragging so I used you as an excuse. Thanks for getting me off." "...." "The phone!" "Ha-" "Shut up." "-ha ha!" "Shutupshutupshutupshutupshutup!" "T...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 26, 2011, 10:46 am
Huh? Anyway, our Tradition Spins are coming in! Starting with Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole Gretchen over at Second Blooming Send those traditions in by Friday!
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 26, 2011, 5:00 am
It didn't even hit me until I was showering. "Hey, John, I think I understand now what happened between Sprite and Kayla." "Really?" (Yes, he was in the bathroom while I was showering. We're married, It's okay. With a kid, the ONLY time we get to talk is when we're showering or sleeping....
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 23, 2011, 5:00 am
As I write this, I am also helping my kid finish her homework by painstakingly spelling out each word for her to "write" her book report. She should be doing this on her own, but who am I (and most other VPK parents out there) kidding? It would take all night if I were to leave it to her to actually...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 19, 2011, 9:38 am
For MURALS, go here. For MORALS, you've reached the right place! And here are the Moral Spinners for this week: Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole  Kathy over at My space.. my blog... my life...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 16, 2011, 5:00 am
Or so it feels. Any family worth its foundations has rules for childrearing. And even if that family maintains they have no rules, therein lies rule #1 and only. (Wanna talk semantics? I have time.) We have laid rules down since our little Sprite was no more than a Sprit. (Um, don't look t...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 12, 2011, 11:27 am
And we have our first Spin of the week! Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot -Updated Tuesday! Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Tuesday! Alaina over at View From Down Here -Updated Wednesday! SuziCate over at The Water Witch's Daughter -Upd...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 9, 2011, 5:00 am
Gah, I'm such a lightweight. I had to LOOK up the word breathalyzer since I knew there should be a Y in there somewhere, but couldn't be absolutely certain.. I've been diagnosed with bronchitis today, but I'm such an old hat at this condition by now that I only go to the doctor's office just to...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 8, 2011, 5:00 am
We thoroughly enjoyed our annual Labor Day vacation in Disney World, but while basking in the relative anonymity of being tourists #43456-43458, John, Sprite, and I noticed some new attractions that have never been promoted before, although we don't know why they haven't for they made our vacation t...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 5, 2011, 9:51 pm
I hope everyone's Labor Day went well! The Spinners have been working through their holiday weekend! Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot - PLEASE read this! Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole Grab those memory cards and see what you'd like to Spin up! An...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Sep 2, 2011, 5:00 am
Summers these days just aren't what they used to be. I remember summers consisting of camp, games, anything involving water so as to lower our temperatures just a bit even if the sun wasn't cooperating, ice cream trucks, forgiving bedtimes so we could see the Cosby show reruns that normally ran...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 30, 2011, 5:00 am
"What did you do at school today, Sprite?" "I played with friends." "Anything else?" "No." ********************************** "Keep the hula hoop away from my van please." She obediently scoots toward the edge of the driveway, closer to me and the dogs, farther from the...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 29, 2011, 11:48 am
The school bell is still vibrating from the morning pledge and already our first Spin is in! Kate over at Recommended Daily Dose Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... CaJoh over at Ca-Joh Peg over at Square Peg In A Round Hole -Updated Tuesday! Kat...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 26, 2011, 5:00 am
You only have to spend a few minutes on this site and read through some posts to know that I am all about word play. I love to place similar sounding words together in order to tease the brain's tongue, because sometimes, it just flows. And yes, I like to rhyme. To an extent. You also would kn...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 24, 2011, 5:00 am
"Mommy, do we have any gluesticks?" "Yes, why?" "I need it for my homework." "What's your homework?" "I have to glue stuff." "That's your homework? Gluing stuff?" "Yes." "Like paper stuff or pictures or toys or dogs stuff?" "Mommy, you ask too many questions."...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 23, 2011, 10:57 am
I was out on Saturday for a girl's night out, leaving John and Sprite to continue with their tradition of "Daddy/Daughter Date Night", even though Sprite is leery (understandably) of the phrase right now. Since I was going to be out all night, and I was out ALL night, yeah, that would be best ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 21, 2011, 8:56 am
The Language Spins are coming in! Starting with: KendraSue over at Life in the Slow Lane Square Peg in a Round Hole -Updated Monday! Stacy over at Life- A Memoir of Existence -Updated Monday! Camille over at Archives of Our Lives -Updated Wednesday! Remember to get thos...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 19, 2011, 5:00 am
"Glad you're home early." "Me too. It's not often I'm home before Sprite's asleep anymore these days." "And you can help me write my Spin." "Um, okay. What's it about?" "Nature versus nurture." "What the hell is that?" "It's what we're inherently born with against how w...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 15, 2011, 12:50 pm
A comment came in from Jenn over at Flights of Fancy reminding me to buy another car seat for Sprite since it was in the van during the impact. And she's right. It should be common knowledge, but it's not, that any car seat in a vehicle that is involved in a crash, whether or not the car seat is occ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 15, 2011, 11:49 am
My grandmother didn't leave me her smile in the will, but I got it anyway. And the Nature vs Nurture Spins are beginning! Stacy over at Life- A Memoir of Existence -Bad Habits! New to the Spin Cycle! CaJoh over at Ca-Joh Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole -Updated Tuesday!&#...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 12, 2011, 5:00 am
My bad habit is not unique. It's not extremely bad like Strange Addictions bad, and yes, I would call anything involving eating furniture or chalk or drinking laundry detergent a habit, albeit a dangerous one, don't try this at home, but it can break up marriages, invoke wars, and even prolong conve...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 9, 2011, 8:46 am
I've told you before that our top of the line Cuisinart processor stopped working while I was making hummus a few months ago, right? No, not the one where I inserted a plastic spoon into the bowl while the motor was still running and chopped off the tip of the utensil, not that one. This was later. ...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 8, 2011, 10:06 am
...and often the last. The Spins can begin! Peg over at Square Ped in a Round Hole Gretchen over at Second Blooming Alaina over at View From Down Here -Updated Tuesday! Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot -Updated Wednesday! Camille over at Archives of Our Lives -Updated Thurs...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 5, 2011, 5:00 am
A special thanks to Stacy for inspiring this Spin.. A lot of you know me and my culinary quirks by now. I don't like cheesecake, I'm not a fan of flan (maybe it's the "l",  maybe it's the texture), oh fine, let's add greek yogurt to the mix as well. (Seriously, I've tried different flavors but...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Aug 4, 2011, 2:25 pm
I've written my Spin for tomorrow, but noticed when I was editing it, I had an excessive amount of parentheses going on. So, an idea came to me: What if I were to delete the entire body of the Spin and just leave the parentheses? Would any of it make sense? Would you think less of me tomorrow when y...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 14, 2011, 5:00 am
I should have known that the day I posted about Sprite's long hair and my love/hate/we can be Facebook friends but don't expect me to invite you over relationship, this would happen. John had joined Sprite for her school's annual Father's Day event, conveniently held at 4PM so parents would get...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 12, 2011, 5:00 am
  I find it funny that my dad has commented on my blog maybe a handful of times in the over three years I've been writing it, yet asked me why I haven't written a Random Tuesday Thoughts in so long. Of course, my answer of "busy/child/work/sleep/zombie watching" is a standard reply, but for h...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 11, 2011, 3:29 pm
...and all those things... This is going to be an interesting Spin Cycle depending on who takes the assignment literally and who doesn't! The first Spin is someone who's clocking the second week in a row at Number 1! Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updat...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 8, 2011, 5:00 am
(That song has been floating around in my head all week and yet, every time I sat down to write my Spin, it eluded me...) "What the hell?" "Sprite!" "Sorry!" Her answer comes quickly. Too quickly. As soon as the epiphet left her lips, her eyes had darted to me to watch for my respons...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 6, 2011, 8:44 pm
...but were you aware we are having a Spin Cycle this week? And the first Spin is in! Pseudo over at Pseudo's Spot KendraSue over at Life in the Slow Lane -Updated Thursday! Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Thursday! Kate over at Recommended Daily Dose -Updated Thursday!...
Comment - Like

Jennifer C. posted an article on Sprite's Keeper - Jul 1, 2011, 5:00 am
Then my line's not biting. I admit it, I'm pretty frivolous with my wishes. They are usually for inane things like "I wish Sprite would stop asking 'why' to every answer" or "I wish this traffic would just clear already" or "I hope this brownie doesn't show up on tomorrow's weigh-in". (The wi...
Comment - Like