Can-Phones, Pretty Pretty Princess, Sledding and Sleeping

this is, hands down, the best dog in the universe.

love this guy!

who will be the princess?? emmett wins this one but....

mac is the princess and the pea!

force of nature!!!

MARBLE SHOOOOOOTEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!


"copy that, stop copying me"

Nutmeg in the Garden

She loves to be outside and, so far, doesn't

venture past the side and backyard.

AND she hasn't peed on the couch once since

being FREEEEEEE!!! (knock on wood.)

Read this Book, Pass it On

This book is interesting and has a lot in it that

helps explain why I had such

a problem with the documentary

"Waiting for Superman" but

couldn't articulate it....it is very critical of charter schools (which is hard to take since my kids benefit from a great one...but I do understand and lean towards agreeing with her point...). The book is also about testing, report cards, the arts and sciences and how poverty is really the issue we need to address...and doesn't simply focus on rooting out the bad teachers.

(I am surprised they don't ALL go "bad" or at least get prematurely "burnt" after all the demoralizing treatment!... Can we please stop blaming teachers and

unions for everything now?)

My crazy idea (not in the book but I thought I'd put it out there!): Instead of asking for the bare minimum and continually losing ground...instead of continuing to cut-cut-cut... why don't we go completely in the opposite direction. Why not have a big public debate and PUSH for more money than we had in the last 10 years and more than we had in the 90's...what if instead of cutting the education budget... we double it!!! (cheers, applause, sighs of relief!!!)

Can you imagine TWO teachers per classroom, sharing the load. (2 1/2 days each in the classroom and the rest of the work week doing prep work/meeting with parents etc.) Instead of one teacher for every 30, how's about 2!?! If they work at the same salary as before the crazy cuts and with the normal expectation of a raise every couple of years and a decent amount of job security and full benefits...and YES, summers off to take that extra job or to take summer classes...hey, we might even be able to retain the talented ones!!

What could this do for our country?

It would INCREASE the deficit!!... but not much in comparison to everything else (war spending and tax cuts)....

It could REALLY educate ALL of our kids (not just the rich ones!) AND employ a whole lot more people who currently wouldn't even consider teaching as a viable option to support their family. (Rather than obsessing about maintaining the "perks" for wallstreet to attract "talent" why not apply some of that philosophy to those educating our kids! Brilliant!)

Thinking about the interactive 2012 budget pie chart from the NY Times online newspaper makes me think we could easily double spending in education. (So simple, ha!)

Maybe end some tax cuts, close some business loopholes or do what the republicans do....we could go ahead and increase the deficit for the stuff WE think is important.

spot on again.

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Plum Pottery, past and present....

1997 the first day of construction......1998 with baby Mac

2003 with Emmett in wagon , during the expansion


2004 on a first grade field trip with Mac's class....AND....last week.....
but.....
....changes are coming.....
Next week we PAINT!

happenings

Mac reading "Mists of Avalon" by the fire............and Silas during the Academy Awards (boring!)

Emmett and Sean's Nature House....And Emmett's last day with Dr. Kranz, 5 years!


Nana and Mac looking lovely!..........................and the official best gift ever, all the cartoons from 1940 until now. Wow!

The Waning Crescent Moon of February 26th, 2011

Could Banksy Please Hit Plum Pottery?!

First his work appeared in LA where he is NOT making actual appearances or doing interviews for the Academy Award nomination but instead making ART all over town.
I love the machine gun spraying crayons.


Then,Wow, he strikes again in Oceanside!
Arts up the backside of an Oceanside taco shop.


Lucky them!

Dream House

Do you recognize one of these rooms?

We Love You Megan!!

Meg,

Watching you grow from girl to woman has been one of the great privileges of my life!

Our house has been blessed by your presence.

Thank You, Thank You for all of your care and help and love.

Our Dreyer (and Lockee!) hearts go with you all the way to Indiana ....and BACK!

Annie

Please Pass This On

Worthwhile

Mac's Band, yet un-named

It's a Shame.They are cutting everything but the War Budget. Again.

sign the petition here

Babysitting Co-op Antics, Second Generation

Not Halloween, just another Saturday night!

Always Wanted to Grow a Bottle Tree

I love the history of Bottle Trees and colored glass always makes me happy. And it can't hurt to ward off an evil spirit or two. Here and here are some interesting websites with lots of pictures on the subject . And here is our blue bottle tree.

All these bottles came from all the many washed-out essential oil leftovers. So now our nectarine is extra beautiful, has good juju AND smells faintly of patchouli, vetiver, frankincense and rose. It's just starting to bud too!

Silas' New Favorite Book

I thought this was going to be one of those books grown-ups like but kids don't.
Nope.
Silas wants me to read this book over and over and over.

It's due at the library on Thursday.
We may have to own this one.

Thanks Cam for a great pick!

LMFAO (I think that means it's funny, yes? well, this is funny...can someone please tell me what "lmfao" means)

CC&F Awesome Blogpost

Check it OUT!

Finley We Love YOU!

You're such a great kid!
(your mama takes great pics too.)

Emmett is Double Digits!

(at one week old)

(at 4 years old)

We Love Everything About You Emmett!

Happy Happy Birthday!!

(at 10 years old, on his birthday morning! TEN is BIG!)

Ripping

First One Brother than the Other Brother

"We look like Papa now!"

Ballroom Showcase!

Oodles of Videos for YOU Bebe! And for anyone else who wants to see what a fun night was had by all. Yet another reason to love this school...middle school ballroom.

Mac dancing with Jordan and Sean




"FLASHMOB" Dance and Father Daughter Dance



Dr. Wendy (the principal!!!) and Mr. W (the ballroom teacher that all the kids love!)

thirteen...THIRTEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"thirteen years ago today...." as the story goes, "our shining star was born"....

We love you Mac. You were a beautiful and outstanding baby, a delightful and wonderful child and NOW you are INSPIRING and AWESOME teenager. TEENAGER!!! (yes, after 13 years we have earned the right to be completely and unabashedly MUSHY!!!)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooo

AND xxxxoooooooxoxxxxxxxxxoooo
AND


now let's party!!!

Emmett's New Haircut!!!!!!!!!!

human video game (in undies)

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

(Martin Luther King Jr.)

Received a great e-mail from Michelle Obama (we're pals, you know) asking me to participate in a day (or more!) of service to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday. The e-mail came with a link that makes it easy to volunteer in your neighborhood doing something...reading to foster kids, helping with afterschool homework, neighborhood clean-ups and garden projects, making brown bag lunches for those who are hungry etc etc. Check it out HERE. They make it really easy to find something we can all do be of service today!!!