http://denver.yourhub.comThe latest blog posts in The Denver Newspaper Agency YourHub.comen-usnews@yourhub.com(c) 2009, YourHub.com5Can someone tell me why I am always hungry at 10:00 at night? And why do I crave cheesecake, buffalo wings, chocolate or nachos at that hour? It has to be hormonal. Please tell me it can be fixed! I had to break down and buy a tankini this year! All of a sudden, a tiny roll hangs over the top of ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~299337.aspx4/24/2007 5:32:19 PMStephanie Blake I put on an orange T-shirt today. Why? To honor and remember the victims of Virginia Tech's shooting rampage this week. How could I know I would spend most of my morning on and off the phone with my son, Austin Koehn , a freshman at Ponderosa High School, worrying about a bomb scare in our ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~297569.aspx4/20/2007 2:15:32 PMStephanie Blake Spring has sprung! Know how I know? There are ants marching across the countertop in my kitchen, my nose is dripping like a faucet from seasonal allergies, and the kids want to play outside until dark. After the weird winter and a long recovery from surgery, I'm really looking forward to summ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~289451.aspx4/5/2007 9:45:02 AMStephanie Blake I promised Austin a dog once we moved into a house of our own. That day came in 2000, but I worked too much and my new house had new hardwood floors. I couldn't say no for long. We finally made a trip to the Denver Dumb Friends League in September 2001. I had a list of qualities. No shedd...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Obituaries/Blog~287542.aspx4/2/2007 8:50:08 AMStephanie Blake Just like Jack says in The Shining....I'm back! So, you thought I was back-packing through Europe. Nope. And I didn't check into Promises, like Britney Spears did, either. I was recovering from a little neck surgery. On February 9, 2007, I had Anterior Discectomy and Cervical Fusion (ADCF) on...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~287540.aspx4/2/2007 8:44:00 AMStephanie Blake When you become Mom-ish, as opposed to Amish, you really don't notice it at first. Like the Amish, I have my own little world. It is the world of the preschooler. I don't know anything else. The Wiggles and Laurie Berkner are my link to the outside. I am a pacifist until one of my kids n...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~168386.aspx1/9/2007 9:54:52 AMStephanie Blake Don't believe it when someone says that high school kids don't care about anyone but themselves. Because of the crappy plowing job our homeowner's sssociation has done in our neighborhood, I got our minivan stuck in a snow drift at the entrance to our cul-de-sac. Yes, I know I shouldn't have ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~165342.aspx12/29/2006 4:01:11 PMStephanie Blake Okay, so I wasn't really going to spread the word about this because I wanted it all for myself. You can't blame me really. If everyone goes, then it won't be so special. If you pay attention to the photos, you can find out where I went. Last week, I took Chase and Jett to the Reindeer Farm j...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~159473.aspx12/11/2006 8:44:31 AMStephanie Blake There's nothing like waiting for a parade to teach a kid patience. We attended the Parker Carriage Parade last Saturday, December 9th. My children couldn't wait to get a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer--or at least a glimpse of reindeer pooping in the street. We set off at 1:00 p.m.on Saturd...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~159469.aspx12/11/2006 8:20:13 AMStephanie Blake It isn't even officially December, but we are already waiting on Santa at our house. Everything revolves around Christmas these days because as Jett, says: "He is making his list." Austin made his wish list on Amazon.com in September and we've been telling Chase that "Santa's wat...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~155972.aspx11/30/2006 2:20:43 PMStephanie Blake I have been preparing for our annual trip to the in-laws. Traveling (when I didn't have kids) used to be so simple--and fun. I would fill a swanky black carry-on with a pair of jeans and 3 shirts, my makeup bag and hairdryer, and I was off. Cool as a cucumber in my cute traveling clothes, I w...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~141311.aspx10/23/2006 6:05:31 PMStephanie Blake 1. Collect all the laundry in the house. Do not just throw in your stinky gym clothes. Towels and sheets like to be washed once in a while. See that nasty washrag in the kitchen sink? Throw it in the garbage. 2. Sort the laundry into small piles. Whites and Darks and Towels should be washed s...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~129553.aspx9/26/2006 7:38:43 AMStephanie Blake The other day at MOPS, one of the gals leaned over uncomfortably in her seat and I asked her if she was doing okay. She winced and replied, "Other than a hemorrhoid the size of a grape, I'm just great." I simply nodded my support and tried not to laugh. You see, it doesn't matter if your ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~129285.aspx9/25/2006 12:26:57 PMStephanie Blake Sometimes on really tough days with my boys, I'll wear a t-shirt that says Super Mom in pink letters. I bought it at Old Navy one summer, and although it is getting pretty worn, something about wearing it makes me more confident when my children are throwing a monster fit in the shoe store. ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~124565.aspx9/13/2006 9:19:20 AMStephanie Blake I don't know about you, but seasonal allergies are kicking my butt. You know how I know it is allergy season? Everyone at my house has green snot; we are out of tissues, and when I sneeze, I practically pee my pants. (Little something special no one tells you about until after you've birthed 3 k...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~120522.aspx9/1/2006 9:36:36 AMStephanie Blake I have two of the most annoying dogs on the planet. The old one is fat and can't move very fast. I swear he ignores me when I tell him to get outside, or maybe he is going deaf. The young and crazy one just hides under the deck until the kids lose interest. When my little ones get bored, they sta...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~119553.aspx8/30/2006 9:50:21 AMStephanie Blake Whoo hoo! School started for my teenager last week. I love back to school. Don't you? It really signifies the "new year" to me. My kids always get two things in August. New shoes and a new backpack. Who doesn't walk down the aisle at Walmart and admire the new school supplies? I am itching fo...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~115948.aspx8/21/2006 7:43:01 AMStephanie Blake I have a hidden talent which won't ever appear on a resume. I can smell poop a mile away, whether it is in someone's diaper, or on my shoe. Like the Sid the Sloth on "Ice Age" says: "Why am I the poop checker? If you haven't noticed, we parents seem to talk about poop a lot. We discuss baby po...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~114190.aspx8/15/2006 8:20:34 PMStephanie Blake How many times this week have you wrested your kid to the ground, pried his mouth open, and vigorously brushed his little teeth? I have for four days in a row, which is a world record at our house. Brushing your kid's teeth should be an Olympic sport. Screaming during the process actually help...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~109361.aspx8/2/2006 8:49:35 AMStephanie Blake So, I realize you are probably missing me lately. I've been busy. A girl has to have a dream after all. I have been editing my novel and meeting with agents and editors all in an attempt to sell the thing. So far, two requests for partials. No rejections. Whew! I haven't mentioned this novel ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~109258.aspx8/1/2006 8:51:56 PMStephanie Blake Is summer over yet? Because seriously, I am sick of it. I am mostly sick of the guilt that I feel because I refuse to take my kids to the pool by myself. I would rather get a root canal than sit by a pool for the afternoon. Oh sure, I have done my share of basking in the sun, but it's over no...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~105431.aspx7/20/2006 9:12:41 AMStephanie Blake A popular discipline strategy at our house is bribing the children with candy. I have a high expectation for good behavior when each of my kids has a piece of candy in their hand. Bribing works because children want candy at all hours of the day. Candy is a food group at my house. I keep dark cho...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~105419.aspx7/20/2006 8:38:59 AMStephanie Blake Guilt is a huge part of parenting. No one ever told me that I would feel guilty all the time about weird things like not-enough-teeth brushing, balanced-meal missing, non-book reading, and too much yelling, oh yes, lots of yelling. Every time I leave the house alone, I am filled with guilt. Wh...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~102990.aspx7/11/2006 1:09:00 PMStephanie Blake My name is Stephanie, and I am a chocoholic. (NOTE: I didn't say alcoholic.) I have to admit, though, there have been times I'm checking my email or folding some laundry, and my preschooler will come walking in with a bottle of beer at 9 in the morning. What am I teaching him about drinking ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~100702.aspx7/3/2006 12:46:43 PMStephanie Blake Several years back, one of my brood developed pinworms. (I won't name names) It is a nasty little thing that crawls out of your "you know what" at night to lay eggs. The whole cycle is repeated when Junior scratches and puts his hands in his mouth. He was an only child at that time, so I know he ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~98934.aspx6/28/2006 7:44:02 AMStephanie Blake Superman called and he wants his pull-ups back...well that is what we told our 3 year old, Jett. He traded his pull-ups for brand new Superman undies, and lo and behold we have had some success with #2 on the potty in the past couple days. I only mention this to update my blog entitled: "...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~98938.aspx6/28/2006 7:54:22 AMStephanie Blake I enjoy trapping my oldest and interrogating him while we ride together in the mini-van. It starts out casually, I ask how school is going, who he is hanging out with, and then I get to the heart of the discussion when I stare at him with my lie-detecting mom eyes and say, "Have you or any of ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~97955.aspx6/25/2006 1:15:59 PMStephanie Blake I usually drive about 2.3 miles to Walmart and back each week. It's not that often that I get to drive on I-25. Today, however I did get to go faster than 55 miles per hour. It terrified me. It thrilled me. Mostly, I stayed in the far lane and let everyone whiz by me while I chatted on my cel...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~96985.aspx6/21/2006 6:15:58 PMStephanie Blake Potty training boys might be the most frustrating thing in the world! My kid will not poop in the toilet even though there is no medical reason why he can't. We've tried stickers and candy and charts and simply ignoring him. We have watched the poop movies, and read the "everybody poops" book. We...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~95990.aspx6/19/2006 8:32:49 AMStephanie Blake It might be a cliche but I drive a mini-van--a red one, but still it's a minivan. I had to put a butterfly sticker on the back window, so I can recognize it in the parking lot at Walmart. It is so embarrassing to break into a van that doesn't belong to you. I should be called a stay-in-the-va...http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Archive/Blog~95429.aspx6/15/2006 9:56:36 PMStephanie Blake