Our Family

Looking at my sidebar I realized I have not updated our family bio in almost 3 years!!! Some of this will be repeat information for some of you. For the others, welcome and enjoy visiting with our family.


There is Serona (the dad), soon to turn 33. He is a director of product management for a software company. He has two undergrad degrees in Political Science and Philosophy and a graduate degree in Communications, and is also a former debater. His interests are reading, writing and blogging, keeping up with current events, technology and politics, wine tasting, anything and everything Star Wars, and of course his Xbox 360.

Then there is me, Mother Tenn, also 33 and a Stay at Home Mom. I am fairy active in our homeschool co-op especially in planning field trips. My undergrad studies were in Environmental Politics and I have an MA in Communications with an emphasis on Social Movements and Argumentation. My current interests are: reading, blogging and writing,journaling (I maintain 4 journals actively: a prayer journal and a journal for each of my children), research (especially technology, current events and homeschooling), knitting and crocheting and when I find time water aerobics.

Next come the children: Rhiannon, Ciaran, and Sirah.

Rhiannon is 8. She is an avid reader and at times it is difficult to get her head out of a book. She loves horses and her horseback riding lessons. She has recently taken up sewing and 9 patch quilts. She enjoys history and hates long division. She is developing her friendships and doesn't understand why boys and girls don't want to be friends anymore. Her current favorite music is Relient K and Vivaldi (interesting mix). She is a very inquisitive and intelligent child and always keeps life interesting.

Next meet Ciaran, 6 and a half. Ciaran is full of energy and has a passion for nature. He still loves frogs with a passion, though his interest in nature has expanded to include other creatures and nature in general. He still prays at night "God thank you for making all things good and for this world you created. He enjoys video games just like his dad. His current favorite is Disney Extreme Skate for his Gamecube. He will do anything for a half hour of video game time. He is getting ready to start basketball and snowboarding this winter. He has a wonderful personality and is always smiling that contagious smile he has.

Then there is Sirah our four year old. She has a personality all her own and a comfort with that. She asks me "Is today a matching day?" She can often be found wearing multi-colored stripes, with a clashing shirt and something sparkly or shiny on her had - somehow it works on her though it would not for so many other people. She is the kind of kid that makes all adults want to have another one like her. But she has her fiesty and stubborn side too that she saves just for me and Serona, complete with hands on hips and sighing. Being a third child she is very content to do her own thing and just be around us. If a disney princess is involved she is all over it. She also loves her sisters horses, fairies, Bitty twins and being read to all day long. She enjoys playing "foods food" where she makes us cookies, tea, etc while we do school. She also really LOVES being my assistant in the kitchen and has the biggest servant heart of the family. She has been known to get up and make everyones bed in the house, or clean a room and then tell us about it. She has a genuine, loving personality and another great smile.

Rounding out our family are our Australian Shepherds, a five year old male and a 3 year old female. They are loving, patient with our children (I am amazed at what they tolerate from them, especially Sirah) though these same dogs are fiercely protective of the kids and very loud barkers. They love to run ruts and spend time in the yard.

We are Christian environmentalists, social justice advocates, vegetarians, right-leaning, techies, outdoors loving, geo-caching, non tv watching, attachment parenting, extended breastfeeding, crunchy granola, readers, researchers, life-long learners, Guinness and wine drinking and sometimes funny and enjoyable to be around. So come get to know us and stay awhile. We love having you.

Why I love Serona

I am blessed with a husband who is also my best friend. We began our relationship as friends and our friendship has always grown stronger. We are confidants, we are lovers, we are spouses, we are parents, we are partners and we are best friends among other things. Over the years Serona has demonstrated his very romantic side from having a barbershop quarter serenade me to writing me his own music for me. He has surprised me with a limo and a night on the town with my girlfriends, with flowers just because and now with a trip to Ireland.

But it is the little every day things that make our marriage so strong. It is when he makes time for me in the middle of a busy day at work just so I can talk. It is when he calls on his way home every day to see if there is anything he can stop to get or we need. It is the way he rubs my back at the end of a long day. The way he lets me read the new Harry Potter first. The way he supports and encourages my newest crazy hobby. The way he puts up with the fact that I just simply don't see cobwebs or some messes in corners. The way he lets me have 6 bags, one for each different activity and several for knitting. It is the fact that he works really crazy hours in an intense job and then gives us 100% at home. The way he adjusted to not watching television. The way he accepts "The little kid lived in look" as our home decorating style right now.

It is the fact that he lets me sleep in without complaint. It is the way he nurses me when I am sick. The way he argues with me when I am wrong. The way he helps me improve the person I am (even when I don't think I need to). It is the way he leads our home spiritually. It is the way he keeps me up to date technologically. It is the way he reads bedtime stories to the kids (I will never be able to compete with the voices). It is the way he wrestles with Ciaran and gives all three kids camel rides on the floor. It is the way he embraces the Mall of America as a fun family day. The fact that he eats the same simple convenient meals over and over again and then again as leftovers.

The way he accepts that I listen to country music and he listens to heavy music I can't even classify. It is the way he sings Fireflies in the car with the kids. The way he takes the kids on dates. The way he keeps me as a priority. The way he has kept loving me through all my downs and temper tantrums. The way he cleans the house when I am away or behind. The fact that he really does completely take care of the dogs. It is the way we got married to argue more conveniently.

There are simply too many reasons to list. Sure we have our downs and our fights and our battles too. That is when our Irish make-up bell comes in. What is that you ask? It is essential to any stubborn couple. When we are both unwilling to bend or break first (think George and Christina in Grey's Anatomy) it settles the battle for us. When we are too angry or frustrated or sure we are right to give in but really just want to stop arguing and have it all be over, we ring our little bell.

This is a china bell we got for our wedding (actually it has been replaced once due to kids) and it is our make-up bell. Whenever one of us rings it somewhere in the house the other person needs to come right away to where they are. The bell signifies a truce I suppose, but it is much more than that. It is an automatic apology on both sides and an agreement that we have now reached the stupid point in arguing/discussing and we need to move on. It is a concession of our wrongs and a forgiveness of the other persons. It is an automatic get out of jail free card. However you want to look at it or put it - it means the argument is over no more question or discussion. Neither person won, but we have both agreed to not make our marriage be the loser.

It may sound crazy or trivial but it really works for us. At least it has for almost 10 years so far. And we have had some stubborn moments and fights that do not want to end. Sometimes it takes a lot of strength to ring that bell and sometimes we are so thankful the other person did it first but overall we are just thankful that our marriage is strong enough and we love each other so much that the little sound of a bell can remind us what it is all about.

So yes to be sure I love Serona's romantic side and all the wonderful creative and sweet things he thinks up to do for me to show his love. But mostly I just love him, the good, the bad and yes even the ugly moments of our fights. I am so thankful to be his wife and to be parents together and to be walking along this path of life together holding hands still as best friends.