“The beauty of origami will make you feel like a kid again. To fold the paper is to enjoy life.” — Akira Yoshizawa There’s something profoundly simple and joyful about turning a flat piece of paper into something round, floral, and full of life. Kusudama folding, one of the oldest forms of Japanese paper craft,…
Tag: Homeschooling
Coyotes in Texas: What They Eat, Where They Live, and How to Coexist
Not long ago, during a gathering at Babulya’s house to celebrate cousin Stella’s birthday, our family was unexpectedly serenaded by the untamed voices of the Texas plains coyotes. As dusk settled over the grass and trees, a chorus of howls echoed across the land. It was not a frightening sound, but rather something deeply stirring—a…
Lamb Rose Dumplings
Some meals leave your belly satisfied, others leave your heart full. This one did both. On March 8th—International Women’s Day—I was surprised with one of the most creative, thoughtful, and downright delicious gifts I’ve ever received: lamb rose dumplings. Dedulya and the boys worked side by side in the kitchen, carefully folding wonton wrappers into…
How to Make a Sculpture with White Clay
There’s something majestic about a statue, and something beautiful about capturing a moment in time with your hands—especially when it involves your children. Photographs are wonderful, but creating a sculpture brings an entirely new dimension to preserving their personality and smallness at a certain age. Recently, I set out to make a statue of my son Neil, who was three at the time.
A Magical Birthday in the Forbidden Forest
When I was nine years old, my world shifted forever. My parents gave me a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and I devoured it in a single weekend, sprawled on my bedroom floor with a flashlight long after bedtime. Those pages weren’t just a story—they were a portal. Suddenly, my childhood imagination…
How to Survive (and Maybe Even Enjoy) Life With 2 Under 2
If you’ve ever thought, “How hard could two under two really be?” I have news for you: you either already have them and are currently reading this while stress-eating a granola bar in the bathroom, or you’re still pregnant with your second and blissfully unaware of the storm that’s coming.
How to Make Tiny Wooden Furniture
(Furniture is 1:24 Scale for a Dollhouse) There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when children, imagination, and a bit of wood glue come together. For us, it began in the backyard when Neil and Leon joined their Grandpa at the picnic table, surrounded by tiny wooden cutouts, a cordless drill, and the promise…
Rustic Cherry Galette
When summer cherries find their way to the kitchen counter, there’s something deeply nostalgic about transforming them into a dessert that feels both rustic and celebratory. A galette—the French free-form cousin of pie—offers exactly that kind of charm: unpretentious, flavorful, and steeped in culinary history. Today, we’ll dive into the story behind tart cherries, explore…
The Black Grackle: Behavior, Diet, and Why They Thrive in Cities
This month, our family had more run-ins with grackles than ever before, and each one turned into a little adventure. The first happened at our neighborhood H-E-B. We were walking through the aisles when I heard the boys squealing and pointing upward. A shiny black bird was flying back and forth under the fluorescent lights,…
The DoSeum in San Antonio
If you’re ever in San Antonio and looking for a magical, hands-on place where kids can explore, create, and learn through play, The DoSeum should be at the top of your list. It’s not your average museum—it’s an interactive wonderland where every exhibit invites you to touch, build, play, and imagine. On our recent trip,…
Moonprint Academy 