For once in my life I’ll make a long story short: this blog is a hybrid of all the topics I’ve written about on all the various blogs I’ve created and maintained since 2007.  Mostly I write about my kids and our family.  Sometimes I post a recipe I’ve found and want to share.  Other times I’ll put out a book review of what I’ve just finished reading.  And then there will be the unlucky occasions where I do a brain dump (hopefully a tastefully edited version) of whatever’s on my mind.

Things you should know: this particular version of Critter Chronicles came together in July 2011.  Prior to that I was publishing on Blogger, and when that no longer worked for my needs migrated and merged them all here in what I’ll call a DITY move (that’s a “Do It Yourself” move in military-speak).  That’s why you’re likely to find post titles and entries with ‘>’ in front, and dead links here, there and everywhere.  It’s a work in progress.

This is our family.  Left to right:

Me, the author of the blog:  Heather.  31.  Stay-at-home-mom, proud Army wife to my husband of 10 years, extreme reader, bountiful blogger, semi-crunchy home cook, aspiring runner, and a MWAC (mom with a camera).  Powered by coffee and chocolate, both preferably with a hazelnut influence. I’ve got an undergraduate degree in English and creative writing and this (ad and revenue-free) blog is how I’m putting it to use.

Brenna:  8.  In second grade and loving ever minute of it.  Enjoys gymnastics, karate, swimming, running, tomatoes, sushi, and reading.  Sociable; sweet; an all-around wonderful little girl who loves mermaids, glitter, and her kitty cat.

Tony:  33.  Soldier.  Family breadwinner.  Plays golf, softball, and bowling; watches college football when allowed control of the remote.  Lover of Ben & Jerry’s Dave Matthews Band ice cream and most of my cooking attempts; would love very much to own and ride a motorcycle, thankyouverymuch.

Anthony: 4. In his second year of preschool and has told us he’s ready for kindergarten next year.  Loves baseball, football, karate, and his mama.  Slow to warm to new (and even not so new) people, places, things, and foods; makes me alternate between laughing and sighing all day long; a drama king/cuddle bug who wants to become a Soldier like his daddy, as well as a pilot, dentist, but mostly a doctor.

Collectively we refer to ourselves as The Critter Family.  Partly because my children (a.k.a. The Critters, and whom I used to write about using the pseudonyms Bear and Bug) always seem to be underfoot and around, and partly because we’ve got a rotating menagerie living with us.  Right now the latter includes:

Tony and I have been married for ten years, together for twelve.  In that time we’ve lived apart in Virginia & Georgia, and together in Germany, South Carolina, Colorado, Okinawa, and back to Colorado.  Where we go next – and when – is anyone’s guess, really.

This blog chronicles the stories of my children’s lives, of our family’s experiences, of recipes and the books I’ve read and my frustrations and all the other things that make me who I am.  Yes, this blog is about me and my version of all of the above.  We’ve got good, bad, ugly, and beautiful, all gathered together here in what I like to refer to as my life.  That’s what this blog is for.  (Well, that and as a reminder of all the things I will surely otherwise forget someday.)

So please, drop by Every Single Day! now and again and please feel free to leave a comment if you don’t want me to cry myself to sleep at night something I’ve written strikes your fancy.   Thanks for visiting!