Eleven Dogs, One Storm, and No One Got Pregnant: A Quiet Weekend Gone Feral While Megan, Austin, and Alida took off for a sunny (and slightly soggy) weekend in Wilmington, Jamie and I stayed behind for what was supposed to be our “quiet weekend.” You know the kind. The mythical, never-actually-real weekend where you get to sleep in, maybe take a peaceful walk, eat food that didn’t come out of a paper bag, wasn’t microwaved, and didn’t involve stepping over a bowl of kibble or someone’s tail to eat it. Instead, we got: One tropical storm system Four additional dogs Seven regulars already living here Mud, fur, and emotional instability (mostly mine) And the sudden realization that “quiet weekend” is just a phrase people use when they hate themselves It Always Starts with Good Intentions Jamie’s been rescuing dogs for years. She’s placed more unwanted mutts into loving homes than some shelters do in a fiscal year. She does it all with a sixth sense, like a psychic w...

  Two Years Ago Today… We Did the Thing Two years ago today, our entire crew rolled into Disney World—America’s favorite family fun park, money pit, and childhood memory factory. It was one of those trips that Jamie planned, and I tolerated. Mostly. Like a lot of the best things we’ve done together, this one didn’t start with me jumping up and down with excitement. I was more in the “do we really need to do this right now?” phase of my Disney journey. But let’s be honest—once she gets that look in her eyes, there’s no stopping her. We’ve got a blended family of five kids, and when Jamie gets an idea in her head that’s going to bring everyone together—even if it involves logistical nightmares and hemorrhaging money—I usually know better than to fight it too hard. Eventually. It just takes me a little while to come around. The Planning Phase (aka: Watching Jamie Spiral in Real Time) Our travel routine typically starts with a destination idea and quickly escalates into a full-blo...

Packing for vacation is easy. Said no one with a big family, five dogs, and a 3-row SUV ever. There’s an art to it. A science. A delicate balance between geometry, physics, hope, and delusion. And in our case, just enough chaos to keep things spicy. Let me paint the picture: we had seven passengers. Five dogs minimum. A Ford Expedition that, despite its name, was not designed for actual expeditions. And a family that couldn’t travel light if their lives depended on it. Let’s start with the girls. Now, I love my daughters. I would do anything for them. But these women pack like they’re fleeing a war zone and heading into a five-season reality show. Alida once packed two full suitcases, a duffle bag, and a backpack for a five-day trip. Five. Days. I asked her what was in there. She said, “Options.” I said, “What are you, a pop star on tour?” Meanwhile, Jamie’s trying to fit the dogs’ food, treats, travel crates, blankies, and “special bowls” because God forbid they drink out of ...