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.)