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More Than A Date On The Calendar
Today, my husband and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. Twenty-four years feels like a long time when you say it out loud, yet somehow it also feels like the blink of an eye. Time has a way of doing that, stretching and shrinking all at once. Anniversaries often get grouped in with holidays, marked by cards, dinners, or social media posts. But the older I get, the more I realize that anniversaries aren't really about the calendar at all. They're about accomplishments.
dneumann1972
2 days ago2 min read
Willow, The Unexpected Guest
My husband and I made it home from our winter road trip, and while the weather did everything it could to make the journey memorable—cold and slow—the real story happened inside the library. It was one of those blizzardy Michigan days where the snow seemed determined to convince everyone that staying home was the better choice. The library itself was calm and quiet, not the bustling event day you sometimes imagine when packing boxes of books and braving winter roads. But here
dneumann1972
2 days ago2 min read
Blizzard Chaos
Tomorrow, my husband and I are hitting the road...right into a blizzard! Yes, you read that right—a full-on, snowy, wind-whipping, cozy-chaos kind of blizzard. But honestly? We're kind of excited. Our car is packed with warm layers, snacks, playlists, and a tower of books for an upcoming event. Between navigating snow-covered roads and sneaking in a few laughs at our questionable driving skills in a storm, this winter road trip is shaping up to be an adventure we'll never for
dneumann1972
6 days ago1 min read
Here is to 2026!!
As we reach the final days of 2025, it's natural to look ahead to 2026 with hope. A better year. Maybe a better version of ourselves. A better job, a better attitude, a healthier body. New goals feel possible when a calendar turns. But before rushing forward, I want to pause and reflect on what made 2025 meaningful. This year brought new friendships and the chance to meet incredible people at events across the state and even as far as Missouri and Ohio. It included family tim
dneumann1972
Dec 25, 20251 min read
Carrot Cake Sheet Cake
I love carrot cake, but for a recent family holiday party, I wanted to change things up a bit. Instead of my usual layered carrot cake, I decided to turn my tried-and-true recipe into a sheet cake—and it turned out to be an amazing idea. Everyone loved it, and the biggest bonus? Every single bite had cream cheese frosting. No uneven layers, no missed frosting—just simple, delicious perfection. It was also incredibly easy, making it a great way to get my carrot cake fix withou
dneumann1972
Dec 22, 20252 min read
Inclusive Winter Celebrations
When someone recently asked me, "What all-inclusive holiday activities can we do?" it made me pause. We often jump straight to Christmas because it's familiar but the truth is, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Some families observe different cultural or religious holidays, and others choose not to celebrate at all. So the real question becomes: How do we create activities that honor everyone without leaving anyone out? The answer is simple: focus on themes everyone can en
dneumann1972
Dec 12, 20252 min read
Cody, The Miracle Baby
Cody is our youngest, and from the very beginning we have called him our miracle baby. Born at just 28+ weeks, he fought to survive. He was tiny and determined and wrapped in more tubes and wires than any parent should ever have to see. But he made it. And not only did he make it, he grew into the most gentle, big hearted young man you could ever hope to meet. When I began the journey of writing Annie the Porcupine, Cody was the person who kept me grounded. He believed in me
dneumann1972
Dec 8, 20252 min read
Carrot Walnut Bread: Annie Says... "Absolutely not."
You ever have one of those moments in the grocery store where something on the shelf calls your name? That was me, standing in front of a display of carrot walnut bread. I could practically hear it whispering, "You know you want to try me." And of course, since Annie the Porcupine is always on the lookout for new fruit-and-veggie-based treats, I figured she might approve. After all, carrots? Yes. Bread? Double yes. Walnuts? ...count me in. Spoiler: Annie did not approve. I di
dneumann1972
Dec 5, 20251 min read
A Tin of Buttons and a Box of Notes
My mom's most prized possessions? A tin of buttons and a box of handwritten notes. She never said it outright, but I don't think it was the buttons or the paper that mattered most — it was the memories they held. Each button told a story: one from the blouse she wore to my wedding, another from the dress Annie wore home from the hospital. Each note carried a heartbeat from the past ,a letter from Cody asking if angels have elbows, my childhood essay about why you should love
dneumann1972
Nov 10, 20251 min read
Annie the Porcupine's Crunchy Snack Adventures
Annie the Porcupine loves her fruits and veggies. From sweet carrot cake to green bean casserole, she's always munching on something wholesome. But even a veggie-loving porcupine sometimes wants that salty, crunchy snack. Lucky for Annie, she's already experimented with all kinds of crunchy goodies like banana chips and turnip fries, and now she's discovering carrot chips! Carrot Chips: Sweet, Salty, Crunchy Ingredients: • 4–5 large carrots, peeled • 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
dneumann1972
Nov 10, 20251 min read
November 5th
Today should have been another amazing day. But for me, it is always the day my sweet Julie took her first and last breath. Although I only held her in my arms for a moment, I have held her in my heart for all eternity. When I started writing I Want a Birthday Party , it only made sense to name Annie's new sweet porcupine friend Julie—birthday twins who together learn the true meaning of birthdays. The book is dedicated to my Julie, a small but lasting way to honor her memory
dneumann1972
Nov 3, 20251 min read
Autumn Road Trips
Last week my husband and I took a little road trip, just the two of us and the open road dressed in autumn's finest colors. The trees were bursting with golds, oranges, and deep reds, and that unmistakable freshness filled the air, reminding me why this has always been my favorite time of year. There's something about autumn that invites you to slow down. The pace of life softens, the days grow shorter, and everything feels calmer. As we drove through winding roads lined with
dneumann1972
Nov 3, 20251 min read
Full Circle Moments
This week, I was honored to receive an email from a former student. She was in my Young Fives class, and while it feels like just yesterday, in reality she's now in tenth grade. Time really does have a funny way of sneaking by. She explained that her teacher had given an assignment: reach out to your early education teacher, someone who made an impact on your life. I thought, what a great idea! As teachers, we pour so much of ourselves into those early years, but we rarely g
dneumann1972
Oct 23, 20252 min read
A Giant Mailbox Adventure
This weekend, I had the joy of traveling to Books Under the Arch, a wonderful book event in St. Louis that brought together readers, authors, and stories from all over. There's something so special about being surrounded by people who love books as much as I do, sharing stories, trading smiles, and celebrating the magic that happens when words come to life. Of course, no road trip would be complete without a little detour adventure . Somewhere between home and St. Louis, I fo
dneumann1972
Oct 14, 20251 min read
Swiftie Connection in My Books
I was recently challenged to find a Taylor Swift connection to my Annie the Porcupine books and honestly, it was one of the most...
dneumann1972
Oct 8, 20252 min read
A Mother's Love
I know I've talked before about my mom no longer being with us. And if you've lost your mom, you understand the hole that's left behind,...
dneumann1972
Oct 2, 20252 min read
My Dented Sign
I love little things that spark conversations—the kind you notice out of the corner of your eye and can't help but comment on. I never...
dneumann1972
Sep 23, 20251 min read
Buzzworthy News: Year Two and Better Than Ever
This is our second year of Buzzworthy News , our online news program for elementary students. Every Friday, a group of students joins me...
dneumann1972
Sep 23, 20251 min read
Laughing Wolfe Media Review
I had the pleasure of working with Laughing Wolfe Media ( https://www.laughingwolfemedia.com/ ) for voice-over services on all four of my...
dneumann1972
Sep 16, 20251 min read
Turkeyville in Marshall, MI
This weekend I was surrounded by a sensory paradise: turkeys singing, swings squeaking, mini horses pulling a wagon, the sun on my...
dneumann1972
Sep 15, 20251 min read
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