My name is Melissa Choate and I’m a native Phoenician but I hate the heat. It’s true what they say about Phoenix… in the summer people really do drive with oven mitts and the chickens lay hard-boiled eggs.

I started Nouns and Violets in January 2010 to write about my interests and what’s important to me, from family and parenting to reading and pop culture, and a whole lot in between. And always, always to include the laughs along the way. The title of this blog comes from a poem by e.e. cummings, one of my all-time favorite writers.

I am married to Lucas, an amazing husband/father/computer geek. He’s funny and always up for a road trip. It’s been a running joke between us that Eharmony wouldn’t have matched us.

We have two children (and one on the way!). Madison, our teenager, is outrageous, fun and fabulous. She keeps life interesting and me laughing.

Our two year-old Hudson rarely ever sleeps through the night but he’s a cuddle bug and pretty much the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

We also have two dogs, both rescues, who are known to sometimes bark at nothing and occasionally poop on the floor. Tatum is our German Shepard. She likes to play fetch, eat whatever you are eating, and sneak into the garbage.

Jack is a black lab mix and definitely the alpha dog. If you let him he will jump in the pool in the dead of winter. He was an adorable puppy…

In 2007 I left my career in Accounting, with the support of my adoring husband, to stay at home with this brood and pursue my dreams of writing. Although I miss some things about having a job – adult interaction! birthday cake! – I wouldn’t trade being a stay at home mother for anything.

To contact me… Find me on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter. Email me at melissa dot choate at gmail dot com. Check me out on Today’s Mama.

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