Blogging

Our Wheel Throwing Playdate Review

| Patti Webb

It’s the last week of the school year and the last posts before our annual summer blog break. So we’re keeping it fun with a playdate review.

With the kids getting older, there isn’t much that they haven’t tried. So, play dates have been harder to brainstorm and plan. One of the first things I wanted to do when we came up with this blog series is wheel pottery. I had never done it before, and the girls have done kids clay sculpting classes many times. Now, all three kids are finally old enough to take it on.

Most pottery wheel studios have a minimum age for their beginner wheel classes, or they want you to buy several sessions or weekly course. In my cursory Google search, I found Mudfire, an open community pottery studio built around creativity, inclusivity, and shared space. They offer single Wheel 101 and 102 classes, capped at 12 people with a minimum age of 6 years old. They also have kids summer camps and special kids-only pottery wheel classes starting in June.

  • “It’s called wheel throwing, not wheel gently tossing.”
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Our First Theme Park Survival Guide

| Patti Webb

Growing up in Florida, Troy and I would go to Disney at least once a year for school field trips. Gradually, that grew to loving roller coasters, fandoms, drinking around the world, and staying in the parks late at night. We were always with friends, had very little cash, and ended up passing out on the ride home.

Making a big to-do about Disney World was never a thing for our families. But, we thought long and hard about how we wanted to navigate Disney with the girls, knowing that it is probably worth it to do one big magical trip to Florida while they are still little princesses.

So for this year’s Spring Break, we decided to give them an amuse bouche while we were in California. In addition to Joshua Tree, Carlsbad, and sightseeing around LA, we took the girls to Universal Studios Hollywood. They are on the fifth Harry Potter book. Super Mario Galaxy just came out. Z just got over 42 inches tall. It seemed like the best time to test the waters.

  • Screenshot
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Things We Loved: February 2026

| Patti Webb

The mom juggling act is disconcerting. On one hand, we have icy storms and virtual days. On the other, we’re planning spring schedules and summer camp. This month, for me in particular, it is one day at a time. So in an attempt to slow down and talk about some things that have been making our days a smidge brighter, here are some of the things we loved so far in 2026.

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Patti’s New Year’s Resolutions: 2026

| Patti Webb

Last week, I passed my PMP certification exam. This was my biggest goal from 2025, and I’m so relieved and excited to have that under my belt. Last year (hopefully) was the end of a tumultuous couple retrograde years and I’m happy to put it all in the rear view with something tangible to show for it.

Now that I’m out from underneath the studying, I’m faced with a million different TikToks of young 20-somethings figuring out planners and annual productivity goals for the first time…

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Mary’s New Year Resolutions: 2026

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

I’m proud to say that I accomplished most of my resolutions from last year. 2025 became a real reset for me, serving as a chance to recharge and rethink how I want to move through this next phase of life.

This year is about real follow‑through, committing to making progress on the goals I’ve let slide in the past. In the clinic, I used SMART goals to help ensure that care is clear, measurable, and aligned with my clients’ needs:

  • Specific – the goal is clear and focused
  • Measurable – progress can be tracked and know when it’s achieved
  • Achievable – realistic to one’s current capacity and circumstances
  • Relevant – aligns with one’s values and priorities
  • Time-bound – the deadline or time frame for the goal to be met

Using this method for my resolutions, I’m aiming to lock these habits in for good. It’s a lifestyle change; a deliberate break from routines that just don’t fit me anymore.

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