Here it is, time to get the kids ready to go back to school. Besides new clothes and school supplies, you’ll have to deal with the five-day-a-week question of what to pack for lunches and snacks.

“You wind up e-mailing your friends to see what they’re packing,” says West University Place’s Bettina Siegel. “Because you run out of ideas.”

A …

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Keeping a watchful eye… As Taylor McKenzie, 9, and Faith Harding, 10, enjoyed their summer playtime, they noticed a man and a woman touring slowly up and down Taylor’s block. Peering out of their window, they spotted the man looking over his shoulder while he entered a neighbor’s property. Taylor described this to her mom, who called the …

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Reaching new heights in life
After 10 months of grueling preparation, Laura and Ces Guerra succeeded in the challenge of a lifetime – reaching the “Rooftop of Africa” known as Mount Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet. They joined a group of 14 other climbers from all over the United States lead by Dean Cardinale of World Wide Trekking, along with a …

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Some people look back on their high school years as ones of insecurity and hesitation. If they had the chance for a do-over, they say they would be more self assured and worry less what others think. Easier said than done, but perhaps a bit of anonymity helps.

By staying behind the mask, high school mascots get to do just …

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Each month, Jeanne Polocheck visits the snowy French Alps and a small village in Germany – all while sitting in her Spring Valley home with her husband and two young daughters. They chat with former nannies who spent a year caring for the girls and are back home.

“The hardest part about having these au pairs has always been when …

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During the summer of 1972 in Italy, 9-year-old Stefano Costantini watched his father, Mario, diligently build a model airplane. For months, Mario worked in his basement, crafting the glider from balsa wood. Stefano dreamed of the day they would launch the masterpiece.

Finally, father and son climbed a hill near their home and found the perfect place for takeoff. Mario …

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Madison, age 3
Australian Shepherd
North Wynden Estates Court

Hi. I’m Madison. I have an older sister, Summer, who is a Sheltie. She tolerates me as best she can. My favorite time of the day is when my mom throws me my frisbee. I jump high in the air to catch it. We also love going to the park on Woodway where I …

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Think school spirit is dead? Maybe it did appear to wane for a while. Just 20 years ago there was little else for teens to do for recreation not involving school. Those more mature readers will recall the pulse that ran through their school on game days. Not wearing school colors was a fashion faux pas, and anyone who was …

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Before we get set for another exciting season in high school sports, let’s put the final wrap on this past baseball season, which included a state championship for the St. Thomas Eagles. St. Thomas defeated district rival Houston Christian 7-5 in the state title game to win the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 5A State Championship.…

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A true global citizen

Like a nomad constantly traveling from one place to another, my life has been a constant move around the globe. My father is a diplomat, and I have lived in Korea, Singapore, Kuwait, Russia, Germany and now the United States. I was born in South Korea. When I was 2, I boarded a plane to Singapore, …

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If you’re not yet guilty of texting while driving – ever – then skip this article and go get in line with Mother Teresa, Gandhi and all the other saints.

But, if you’re like a majority of modern, mere mortals and have succumbed to the fierce temptation of TWD, then frankly, it’s high time for a reality check.

The fastest growing …

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Clear flowing rivers; towering cypress trees; Texas two-step in western dance halls and lazy summer days in the shade of the live oak trees.  There’s something about the Texas Hill Country that brings out the country girl in me – and I do mean girl.

Take, for example, the first time I went tubing down the Guadalupe River. It was …

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