Life on the Runn...

I have worked in three schools in two different districts during my tenure as an educator. And despite spending the first half of that time in an environment that was hard for many to see as a ‘good’ place, I never felt unsafe; I never questioned walking through those doors.  Though I felt completely comfortable in that environment, the last thing Brian would say to me each morning before we parted ways was, “Be careful.” As I transitioned to a new district, I think he felt a sense of security and hasn’t shown the same concerns as in the past, and I know that has been important to him. But two weeks ago, I heard those words again. My husband, like many people in this country, feared what would happen in what should be a safe and valued place, school.  As an educator and now a parent, I cannot deny that there is fear in the back of my mind, not for my safety, but for what may be done - or more likely what inaction we will see - to address this preventable tragedy from occurring

It has been just over five months since our duo became a trio, so when Valentine’s Day rolled around this week, Brian suggest we break with our norm (ignoring everything about it other than the heart-shaped Dove chocolates) and celebrate. He had a point. We were due for some adult time. So  Saturday , while Harper hung out with Grandpa Bill and Auntie Becky, BR and I had our first just-the-two-of-us dinner  in 23 weeks .  We settled on Maxi’s (cornbread and bourbon... YES, please!) and enjoyed a quiet corner table, the perfect spot for people watching (isn’t that half the fun of going out?!). And after our fill of southern food and my two sips of an adult beverage, we found a bit of room and a little more time for dessert. It would be be nearly impossible now enjoy fro yo while holding HQ as she’d surely steal all my toppings to smoosh around in her little paws, so it seemed a natural choice to head to Yo Mama to close out date night.  After dessert, it was back home to ou

What do you get when four brothers, their children, and their children's children get together?  Chaos, the very best kind of chaos, family time. This past weekend, the Unti family - most of them - got together for something of a belated Christmas gathering at my parents' house, and it was a full house.  There was plenty of wine, lasagna, Italian beef, and conversation, the staples of any good gathering.  I got to see many of my aunts and uncles, and Harper got to meet more of her extended family. With an ever-expanding family - weddings, new babies, babies on the way - it can be difficult to find the time to get everyone together, and while we were a few short, I know how important this past weekend's get-together was.  A promise was made to my grandma that time together would be a priority, and I should think she was mighty pleased with Saturday.  As some of the boys proudly wear on their arms, and as the saying goes, per sempre la famiglia!

I was extremely lucky to have spent some of my early childhood living with my maternal grandparents. I know my bond with my grandparents was shaped deeply by that extra and unique time we had together, and that makes me all the more appreciative of the fact that my mom so graciously and selflessly offered to spend her days with sweet Harper Quinn.  I know that the relationship HQ and my mom have already established during their time together will be one of the most cherished relationships that Harper has, and I know that I can count on my mom to agree to all my crazy parenting practices,  tell me what I need to hear and omit what I don’t (she's promised to deny seeing any of Harper's firsts, so I can think I've witnessed them all), send pictures when I need them most, and give Harper’s sweet, chubby cheeks endless smooches. How special is it to know that the place that I will always consider home is the same place Harper will know as her second home?! She lies down

They say that having a baby changes you, and it sure does. It changes a lot of things - not the least of which is your ability to see the other side of 7pm. While some things must change, we are working very hard to make sure the core of who we are, individually and as a team, does not.  So the adventure buddies are now an adventure trio... HQ's first international trip is just around the corner and coincides with her seven month birthday, and she has been to her parents' happy place, RMNP, a few times already.  She's mastered multiple modes of transportation - planes, trains, subways, sketchy NYC taxis, the Devil's Lake ferry - and is happiest when the breeze is blowing through her hair or her unicorn hat.  As for show her how to get after it, Brian did his part this weekend by jumping back into the broadcast booth for USAClimbing Bouldering Nationals. It’s always fun to watch the Climbing Narc do his thing, and Harper was quite entranced by the sound of h