A Friendly Holiday Reminder for Busy Parents Everywhere

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 27, 2018November 28, 2018 motherhood, personal reflections christmas, holiday Leave a comment

You do not have to do all the things. Seriously. You don’t. I heard this from a fellow busy mom today: Busy Mom: Yeah, my friend C was asking about my Christmas decorations today….

Grown-up Christmas List

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 14, 2015November 4, 2018 Uncategorized christmas, motherhood 3 Comments

In 1992, I was 10 years old and over the moon to find (what we called) a stereo under the tree with “To: Sarah, From: Santa” scrawled in suspiciously familiar script. And in my stocking,…

Christmas 2014 :: the pre-party

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 3, 2015September 17, 2016 motherhood, northwest arkansas #nodramamamaclub, christmas, colt, elf, fayetteville, jeff, lights of the ozarks, scout, silver dollar city, wreaths across america 3 Comments

I’m not crafty or particularly Pinteresty. Our Elf on the Shelf doesn’t make cute messes and sometimes hangs out in the same spot for days in a row. I don’t really bake and my Christmas…

Santa, this is a test.

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 17, 2013September 4, 2016 motherhood christmas, colt, paw patrol, santa 1 Comment

I think my child has commitment issues. My suspicions started before Halloween, when he was agonizing over the Ninja Turtle vs. Power Ranger costume decision. And no more than two months before that, I was…

Best Laid Plans

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 21, 2012September 4, 2016 motherhood, northwest arkansas becky, christmas, colt, fayetteville, jeff, lights of the ozarks, santa 2 Comments

It’s been unseasonably warm here for weeks. Months, even. We decorated the tree in shorts, we baked cookies with warm sunshine streaming in the windows — we’ve been enjoying weather in the 60s! But winter had to get here…

Slow as Christmas

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 10, 2012September 4, 2016 motherhood christmas, colt, elf on the shelf, razorbacks, tyler wilson 3 Comments

We haven’t baked cookies, wrapped presents, seen many Christmas lights, or decorated anything built out of gingerbread. And we have yet to visit Santa. But not because Colt hasn’t asked about at least one of…

This Christmas

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 3, 2011September 4, 2016 Uncategorized christmas, colt, crazy aunt laura, daycare, god love grandparents, jeff, video 3 Comments

"We still do both," I answered in the weeks leading up to Christmas when asked about our plans. I would usually get a scrunched face and a knowing, sympathetic look. Evidently, it's the thing to…

Ok, Christmas. We’re ready now.

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 22, 2015November 4, 2018 motherhood, northwest arkansas christmas, colt, fayetteville, jeff, lights of the ozarks 1 Comment

Growing up in this town is spoiling this kid. A month ago, on a whim and ill-prepared for the weather, Colt and I wandered downtown for the official kick-off of the Lights of the Ozarks….

Christmas 2014 :: the PARTY

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 4, 2015September 17, 2016 motherhood christmas, colt, jeff, legos Leave a comment

Our Christmases tend to have a theme. We’ve had firemen Christmases and we’ve had worker bee Christmases — and this year we had LEGOS. He doesn’t like it when I call them cute. I’ve also…

This was the Christmas

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 8, 2014September 18, 2016 motherhood #firstworldproblems, arkadelphia, becky, christmas, colt, crazy aunt laura, god love grandparents, holidays, jeff, San Antonio, scout Leave a comment

This was the Christmas… I smiled. A lot. Don’t get me wrong, I smile every Christmas. But it’s also a time of traveling and stress and anything-but-routine which leads to frazzled nerves and shortened patience….

Christmas Road Trip | 2012

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 31, 2012September 18, 2016 motherhood, Uncategorized christmas, colt, god love grandparents, jeff, video 1 Comment

We really outdid ourselves this year. 8 days, 3 states, 1850 miles, 2 Christmases, ENDLESS food — 3 Hoods and 1 car. Add 1 dodged snowstorm, 2 dangerous cows, 1 NBA game, 5 miniature horses,…

Death by Sprinkles

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 19, 2012September 4, 2016 motherhood becky, christmas, colt Leave a comment

The cookies never saw it coming. And Amanda’s kitchen will never be the same. But the kiddos made flour and sprinkles into a new art form. The only downside — deciding halfway through the afternoon…

Merry Christmas!

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 4, 2012September 4, 2016 Uncategorized christmas, colt, jeff, video 1 Comment

It’s true! We celebrated Christmas around here! Cookies for Santa, road trips to visit family, back in the car to visit MORE family, and of course presents and food (and football!). It is well into…

Holiday Recap

By Sarah Martin HoodJanuary 1, 2010September 4, 2016 Uncategorized christmas, colt, crazy aunt laura, god love grandparents, jeff, snow, video 4 Comments

So I feel like I may have slacked a little on the holidays this year and I can't quite put my finger on it. Let's see, I spent Thanksgiving – the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season…