Liz Johnson
Liz is mom to second grader Jonah, preschooler Gwendolyn, and toddler Theo. She and Troy married and bought a Beaverdale home in 2010. A teacher on maternal hiatus, Liz prefers reading to housekeeping and uses West Wing reruns to settle her mind. She believes any problem can be solved with fiction but loves to explore her reality in Des Moines.
Ode to My Nursing Chair
As we watched our 4-year-old vomit onto my beloved nursing chair last month, a thought occurred to me: This chair has seen some stuff.
That was the non-expletive thought, anyway. There were other inappropriate thoughts...
Tired of Stuff? Try Experience Gifts Instead!
We received a holiday toy catalog in the mail in mid-September. I quickly took it straight from the mailbox to my super secret hiding space so the kids wouldn’t find it. I should’ve known...
Do Your Kids Share a Room?
Our family of five lives in a three-bedroom Beaverdale ranch. My husband and I bought the house as newlyweds and were delighted by all the space.
We’ve since been blessed with three kids. There is...
What Should I Read Next? Book Recommendations for Fall
As the kids return to school and cooler air makes for cozy couch nests, you might be looking for a new book to help you relax, teach you a little something, or just distract...
This is 40, Mom Edition
Turning 40 is a moment. It doesn’t have to be a big moment but it is one, nonetheless.
I’m having that moment.
Thoughts on Turning 40
One thing I’ve learned in raising children is that you must...
The Power of a Family Project: 6 Ideas for Togetherness
Memorial Day weekend hit and my husband was in major organization mode.
Again.
“Let’s organize all the Legos!” he said. “It’ll be so much fun!” he said.
I sighed, rolled my eyes, and made a...
I Am Not a Soccer Mom
I am not a soccer mom.
At the moment.
By that, I mean that my children (aged 3, 6, and 9) are not currently involved in a soccer league or camp. In fact, they are in...
The 5 Text Threads Every Mom Needs
Yes, we all stare at our screens too much. That being said, sometimes you need to share, vent, celebrate, or record, immediately.
And sometimes you need a response, immediately, perhaps paired with a timely and...
Life after Stay-at-Home Momming: Grad School
In my 40th year and as a mother of three, I applied to grad school. It was unexpectedly terrifying.
Our children are growing, as children do, and though I was convinced we’d have nursing, diapered...
26+ Things to Do Outside in Des Moines
We look for the alphabet in many things: car rides, neighborhood walks, songs from Encanto. The kids and I challenged ourselves to come up with the Des Moines ABCs to highlight some of our...