Deanna Hoak

Evan’s school photo came this year with a note attached saying that the school was sure I’d want the photo retaken, because it hadn’t come out well.
Here it is:

So…yeah, the photographer didn’t do the best job cropping; and yeah, Evan is squinting in the sun. But all I can think of when I look at [...]

Him: Mom, are boys and girls different species?
Me: Species? No, we’re the same species. Why do you ask?
Him: Well, because, like, boys like video games and girls like–
Me: But I like video games, and I’m a girl.
Him: I don’t mean you. But aren’t boys and girls different species? Because boys like video games, and girls [...]

My son turned four today, and I’m amazed at how much he’s grown up, even in the last few weeks. I conducted a birthday interview with him over a period of several days, because his body is as physically active as his imagination is mentally!
And no, I didn’t make any of this up. To be [...]

So my darling daughter turned eight today, and I was so enamored of John Scalzi’s “Exit Interview for the Seventh Year” that he did with his daughter that I thought I would like to do one with Blaine as well (and probably for Evan in a week, on his birthday, so brace yourself for kid [...]

The best gifts in the world are these two wonderful, beautiful kids I have.

I had an utterly lovely Christmas, and I hope all of you did, too, whatever the day means to you.

While Blaine was in space camp at Kennedy Space Center, she and I got matching T-shirts, and we just had the opportunity the other day to dress up in them!

Are we not adorable? And we match my blog! :-D The shirts, in case you can’t see, say “I Need My Space” followed by a NASA [...]

Note: None of the below is to be taken as any indication that I don’t absolutely adore my kids. I love them dearly, but it would be nice to be able to talk openly about the challenges of being a parent working at home without the fear that you’re going to be accused of not [...]

I have my daughter signed up for this really cool camp at the Kennedy Space Center. The kids get to ride in motion-based simulators, work on designing space vehicles, talk to an astronaut, perform a space shuttle mission simulation, and all kinds of other fascinating stuff. Blaine, of course, is thrilled with it.
But when I [...]

It’s a day for pulling pictures off the camera. :-)
Evan was giving me a concert the other day with the guitar I bought him while shopping with the inimitable Esther Friesner at WFC last year. He and I were playing and having fun; I took some pics of him, and he took some of me.
Here [...]

A friend of Blaine’s had a birthday party this past weekend where the kids got to ride a horse. Blaine had been astride one before, but it was Evan’s first time. He was hugely excited. :-)
The horse got caught right in the middle of licking its lips after a drink of water. It looks [...]