Bebe Time!!

We did so much in such a short time...it went so fast...we miss you already!

Here are just a few of the pictures...of course there are none of Bebe and 

me watching it all with silly smiles on our faces.

after hours of the pool and the sun...

...Silas passes out!

Bebe treated us to an awesome day and night in a hotel on the bay with a beautiful pool and room service and it was just great! The kids were fish and I was a bit of a pig and in the end were all as snug as bugs, watching movies! I felt completely spoiled and loved every minute of it!
Thanks BEBE!
(I didn't really take many pics because this little guy was all over the place and I couldn't take my eyes off him until he collapsed! He is most definitely a bit too free around water...almost gave me a heart attack!)

Happy Fathers Day !!

May

All

Your

FATHERS DAY
wishes come true Papa!!!

(we know one wish came true...Nappy-Time...he really knows how to fill up a king size bed, doesn't he!?)

WE LOVE YOU!

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER !!!!

What a year! I am exhausted! I really love our school community and will miss hanging out there every morning. I will not miss making lunches and getting us all out the door by 7:45 however. Hurray for summer. Mac and Emmett have expressed concerns that they won't see their school friends much this summer...that's happened in the past...well not this year. Expect a phone call to hang at the beach, sleepover in our backyard in a tent or go on a day hike. We will be avoiding the word BORED if at all possible. WAAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!












Great teachers and great friends! (I took one of Mac's class and awesome teachers but it was completely blurry. I need a camera lesson...Lydia? Lauren? Cami? Emil?)

Silas update, for the record...

Things that have changed:
Silas now has FEAR where their used to be none. It just hit him all of a sudden and I remember this with M and E...after swinging for 15 minutes he'll suddenly realize he's up so high and freak out...Also, fear of being alone... He'll be in one room perfectly contented and when he realizes he's by himself he'll yell, "HELP! HELP!"

Silas sometimes ASKS to go to sleep but sometimes just can't seem to get there. He'll be exhausted, basically begging for help in this area but his active little brain won't let him. Poor kid. This problem runs in the family. So, of course, lots of singing and dancing is involved.

Silas now calls Mac "SISSYMAC" ...one word.

Silas says in the morning to nana , "Nana, take a shower?" This is his greeting for her.

Silas doesn't like baths. Bummer.

Silas can turn "MINE" into a 3 syllable word.

...there's more, I know, perhaps I will add to this post as I think of it. One thing is for sure. He is uniquely Silas and quite hilarious.
This is a very long video...mainly for me and the grandparents. (And I just can't stop apologizing for the narration.)

a poem or lyrics, can't decide... (for Emmett)

Collection

Fossil of a beetle
Manzanita waxed and polished
Leather satchel full of treasure
Feathers from a stellar jay

Cigar boxes filled with beads of glass
Moss growing in a jar
An old weathered compass
In this marble, fleck of star

Painted buttons in a coconut husk
Ink made of dragons blood
A lock of pilgrim baby hair
The nest of a hummingbird

Six pointed shark teeth
Twisted braids of velvet ribbon
Magic stones and celtic runes
This nail from the desk of Lincoln

Seven years, this collection
See this tarnished cup from long ago?
It might just look like water now
But it once was snow


(I made a museum in my room, buy a ticket, come and see
No wait, for you and only you, it's free.)

Obama!!!!!!!

I was talking to my mom last night, watching bits and pieces of Obama's speech ...we were saying that for the first time we actually felt that this candidate represented us and seems to be truthful and ethical. Can it be true?? Can he really be intelligent and clear? A man who doesn't pander or get into dirty tricks yet stands up for himself...A man who writes many of these great speeches that inspires so many ...
Thinking back to his speech at the John Kerry convention I remember thinking, as did many...wishing that "that guy" was our candidate. Incredible that it's true!!

(If you google image "obama" you can't believe all the insane pics...like this one that I rather like but I am sure it's part of the problem, not the solution...obama as superstar rather than president...but I had to do it anyway!)

June 3rd...time to VOTE!

Mike Copass is our man...Democrat for US Congress, 53rd district.

No more Susan Davis...voting with Bush every chance she got when it came to Iraq!!

camping '08

We had a great time! It was freezing at night which made the whole trip a bit like one of those Alaska experiences...ok not really, but we were really, really cold at night!!
Kids had a blast running around in the woods. I barely even got a picture of Emmett...he and Indie disappeared for hours at a time....every now and then we would hear them laughing or shouting or they would check-in to hydrate and sneak sugar-cubes.
Food was great, music was too.
See you next year, same time, same place!








...and we're beat! (you must click on this picture for the full effect!)

Had to include this video...it was the only one I
took...the volume should probably be turned way down.
Silas and Ry (especially Silas) can really hit some
high notes in this one!

"CUTE!"

correction...

In the last post I mentioned warm and sunny weather...well, yes, during the day it will be a lovely 70 degrees. But at night it supposed to get down to 32 degrees. So, folks, bring your gloves, scarves, hats, uggs, hot water bottles and extra blankets. And lot and lots of wood!

Last year ...

We are getting ready for the re-enactment. I hate the packing and figuring-it-all-out part but hanging-in-the-woods, playing-music-and-hiking-around part I like. Let's just hope Silas likes it too. At this stage in his development we often feel like we are at his mercy much of the time. But he is a nature boy and spends much of the day asking, "outside? walk?" (and of course, "boo") so we should be ok.
It poured rain at Mt. Laguna last week and even snowed a bit but the forecast is for warm, sunny weather so it should be green and all the creeks should be flowing. And we've got hats and mittens for cold mornings!

Happy Birthday Finley!!

We love you Finley and we are soooooooooo happy to watch you grow into this super-sweet
one year old! Have a great party...we expect video of some cake eating. Love all around!!

favorite new silas word...

...."shampoop" .....as in "I wash my hair with shampoop".
Gets me everytime he says it.

Remembering last year right about now!!

Cami was going in to labor... We lit the candle. Little did we know that we would need 10 of them!!....I keep thinking about how excited and anxious we all were,
waiting to hear word from Craig about how Cami was doing...
and the best part is that NOW WE KNOW...
All is well and that little baby is just the best!!

Flowers in Marron Valley

I figured since we have a lot of garden friends some of you might know the names of the flowers I found in Marron Valley (halfway between Otay and Tecate Mountain).

These next two are from the top of Otay.


You can't imagine the crap I took for taking pictures of flowers...........
Matt

more great mural pictures...

....over at Poppy heart. Check it out!

reading room...

Sometimes the collection of books sitting toilet-side perfectly represents our families current intellectual pursuits ...this is not one of those times...afterall there is no "Hobbit" for Emmett or parenting-your-spirited-child books or WWII books for Matt or Emmett's other fav, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (hilarious to hear him laughing on the pot hysterically) ...not even a Harry P or Artemis Fowl for Mac.
The addition of Silas' potty reading material, "Grovers 10 Best Ways to Help the Earth" and the low-brow but hilarious "Curiously Compelling Bathroom Book" and especially the Judy Blume sitting up top...well, these are the reasons for this post.

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. " is well rifled through and I perused it the other day...it's been 27 years since I've done that...and all those pre-teen issues came flooding back. It has been a hormonal hurricane around here lately. Lots of feelings and changes and...late night snuggling conversations about every little thing. Growing up is hard. I forgot about a lot of it. Judy nailed it in so many ways.

As for Silas' on the potty...we are no where near the goal, not even trying yet really... it's still diaper on, sitting and reading. And occasionally I will catch him pulling out the little potty bowl and wearing it as a hat. That is a sure sign he has no idea at all what's supposed to go in there.
And here's a fact for you from "Compelling..."
did you know that King Tut was buried with 145 pairs of loin cloth underwear...
and...the shortest complete sentence in the english language is "Go."????

the mural

Our new school mural is finally complete after much planning and help from many families. It was designed by a kindergarten dad, Rafael Lopez, who is an awesome artist and has illustrated childrens books and has even designed a postage stamp.)...
I wish this were a better picture...Emil will put one up eventually on the garden blog...a panorama...but I just couldnt wait to show all of "you" out there. I just think its beautiful.

Totems

ok Cami, we have been
hunting far and wide
for these for Finley's
Big 1rst B-Day and they
just are so cool we had
to give you a Natural
History Museum
Diorama-like preview...

the catch is that the rabbit is only
1 3/4 inches tall and a definite chokable...but it was the only cool rabbit we could find...so we may be turning this into some sort of mobile...

I think we should add a chicken, ladybug and toad to add the effect don't you?

For all of us!

I know many great mamas, my
mom being at the top of the list!
So, Happy Mothers Day to all...from
those of us who get slobbery baby kisses
and bizarre breakfasts in bed, or
awesome glued heart cards, or
the "Chronicles of Narnia" to be
read aloud, or clean cars (I am
keeping my fingers crossed
on this one...), or watch batteries
replaced (in our house the
wishes are practical!) or simply a day
of relaxation that involves only a few
loads of laundry...and especially to those
celebrating their first mother's day with
cutie little toddling red-heads
or brand newies in their arms...

And a humongous thankyou to those
little people who made us all moms
in the first place.
(Matt, you get a shout out for that too!)

the Men in my life ROCK!!!!!!

Crimson Butterflies and Mexican Orchids

The prettiest 'guara' I have ever seen, called crimson butterflies...much prettier than the white...


















...and I definitely put 'epiphyllum', aka mexican orchids, on my list...for home and the succulent garden ay school!

Ry and Si...

This one is for you Lydia and Sean! Ry is so much fun and Silas seriously worships that cute boy. This mornings conversation was all about him! Check out the mayhem...
(I apologize for the annoying mama narration...again.)

cats cradle...

mac is back!!
here are just a few of the many things she learned at camp...

the teacup and eiffel tower

cats whiskers and jacobs ladder

witchs broom

Hide-and-Seek Hysteria

They could do this all day. This is why the noise level in our house is sooooo outta hand!

love these...

It's amazing how English-Garden-Looking you can get with some of these drought tolerant perennials!




Veronica Longifolia "eveline" (left)
Catmint (right)

you must must MUST check this out...

...Cami's most recent post!
This is one of the many reasons you gotta love Cami...that she was and is this girl!!
Just classic!

and off she goes...

Mac and her 5th grade class are off on their "Science Camp" adventure.
She spent last night alternately worrying about being homesick and packing meticulously.
She thought up every possible scenario of what could go wrong and only then could she relax. She takes after her mama AND her papa that way. Prepare for the worst, expect the best. I got the feeling she realized that it was actually going to be ok when she waved "bye" from that enormous bus with the biggest smile. I heard she and Isabel talking..."this is the first day of the rest of our lives"...and "we start our adventure!"
Ahhhhh, the freedom!
The difference a year makes...
I didn't even get teary-eyed. As with all things, when the time is right it isn't hard, just natural!

Two Guys in Corduroy

Emmett and I woke up one day and realized we had similar taste in clothes, and attitude.

Papa

out with the crock-pot, in with the juicer

oh yeah baby

We made juice twice today. Rhea introduced me to the JackLaLane Juicer a few years back...I think it was her apple/ginger that hooked me...anyway, it's time to start 'er up again. The kids were initially very excited to make alotta noise and have pulp for the compost.

This afternoon we made apple-carrot- cantalope-strawberry-raspberry-tangerine.
Wow.

Tonight with dinner we nixed the carrot and cantalope and added lime.

Both awesome to Emmett and Nana and me...we are mixers of all things edible.

Mac and Matt are purists and would prefer one or two fruits at a time max...and nothing on the plate touching, thankyou!

Good-bye soup, hello juice!

California Native of the Week...

Agastache "Summer Breeze" (left). This is the kind I got today at the City Farmer. The one on the right is Agastache "Apricot Harvest" but many of the different varieties make tall pretty bushes like this. Great cut flowers too!
Hardy, tall blooms, the leaves smell awesome...kind of like a lemon thyme/desert sage smell.

a not-that-profound moment of clarity...

what makes happiness?
For me...time spent listening to music, creating art, making things grow, learning from someone and teaching what I know ...time alone in quiet, time with children...working hard for something that matters with time to observe the fruits of my labor...all of this shared with people I love in the most natural environment possible...

When I boil it down, it's simple.

If we each could define our 'happiness list' and keep these ideas in the forefront of our minds...steer clear of activities that lead us away from these basic concepts...life would be so clear.

These have been my thoughts from today and yesterday and everyday since I saw the movie "Into the Wild"...I really loved it because it made me think about where my happiness comes from. If you haven't seen it... do.

Girls...Join the Revolution!!!

From my "sista" Megan...a mid-wife-to-be...a Planned Parenthood employee...my feminist connection...
the lady in the vaginal know...

She highly recommends the DIVA cup!! What is it? It is a tampon alternative that you buy ONCE and only ONCE unless you're me and then TWICE after I lose it the first time...

It is easy and cool and doesn't leak EVER (Megan is right here and put the emphasis on the EVER)!
The awesome company, lunapads.com, also makes a girls starter kit for our up-and-coming generation of feminists. You can also buy it at Whole Foods or online. Megan is so enthusiastic about this product I had to stop her from doing a demo. (JOKE.)

Be Eco-Friendly, Never mess with Tampons again,
Stop Giving Your Money to The MAN

(Embrace your inner woman. don't be the one who says, "ewwww")
Dare to comment.

the ultimite starwars post...by emmett

starwars was an atractting sceince fiction movie because of
the invention of the LIGHT SABOR and the DEATH STAR. it made kids move from
dungeons and dragons to light sabors and planets. it really
evovled and here is my impresion of a droid.





and my mom wont let me do generel greivus and mase windou or r2d2 or imperial walker
because she said"one violent video is enough." phooey.
she is acting like lord sideus, i need to summon yoda.

let's worship!

Today is Silas' Half B-day!

18 months is the best!
When Silas wakes up saying "Hello bed! This is mama, here's silas... walk?"
And then proceeds to introduce me to every inanimate object between my bed and the coffeemaker...then says "sowwy" for sorry when he bumps me and "shanks" for thankyou when I hand him his cereal...and says, "of cose" to just about any question...it's just great fun all day long.








This picture cracks me up because he is making that sort of baby-drunk face that comes from too much time in the same room...the slap-happy-because-we-have-been-in-the-house-for-5-days-with-sick-siblings-and-their-sick-friends-face...He has been a trooper but he definitely misses the playground at school!

For all you real men out there!!!!!!!

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~thoffman/videos/mansong.swf

Open this link if you are a real man....
or married to one. Or even know one....

Matt

greats...

Mom and I have been trying to remember the name of this awesome, prolific, low-growing perennial...and mom found it in the new Sunset book today...GENTIAN! (click to enlarge)

We planted this from seed, just threw it around, last year or even the year before...it is so beautiful!!









These are two California Natives that I think are really beautiful...California Wild Lilac (aka Mountain Lilac) and Sweet Broom....that smells so good like lemony roses!