why don't you just paint a tree on it?...

I didn't paint this tree but it cracks me up whenever I get that feeling...like I should be painting a tree. Matt and I have this, now infamous, argument we often refer to where he says, "you can't just make it all better by painting a tree on it!" Well, I think I can and that's one of the things I like about myself. So, now that the air is clearing over San Diego and the mists are rolling in thankfully, I will send out some TREE LOVE to all my friends and family...and if you look closely, this is a Halloween Tree...for the babes.
So far it looks like the kids have decided on very homemade costumes by the way, entirely salvaged from the dress-up chest and blessedly involving zero tweeking from me...a lost ghost girl and a chinese emperor. Silas is, as of yet, undecided. Amy will be happy to know I have committed to being a flower in honor of the garden which is NOT a flower-child and involves more than my usual clothes by the way, although not much. (Still think she should be Zsa Zsa from Green Acres!! ) I can't wait to see the Halloween posts...especially from you far away folks I won't get a chance to see. Hey, C&C&F...what are you guys gonna be...is Finley still a deer tick? (HILARIOUS and a bit twisted!)

FIRE!

Well, this is where I have spent the last few days. I have been working at the Harris Fire. I have done evacuations, coordinated rescues, drank a lot of stale coffee (Starbucks gave it to us for free!), inhaled some ash, patrolled for looters and lookie loos, and watched the mountains I work in burn to the ground. The Patrol usually doesn't get the credit for the amazing amount of work we do in these fires that the Fire and Cops get (we work the 16 to 24 to 36 hour shifts too!) but that's not what's important. I have seen some brave rescues and some amazingly stupid people refusing evacuation. I have seen charity and stubborn attachment to "things". Send good thoughts for the injured firefighters, and of course, for the folks who have lost everything.

Matt

just look at this picture of Mac and Morgan...

...came across it by accident and its just so sweet! First day of kindergarten!
Mac has grown so much and Morgan hasn't changed one bit...love 'em both!!!

Great Idea for all the Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles and Cousins and Brothers and Sisters and Baby-Sitters and Circus People out there...

(idea borrowed from my friend Lydia...)
The kids have a "jog-a-thon coming" up where you can pledge a certain amount of money per lap they run and it goes to their school. Keep in mind that last year Emmett ran 36 laps and Mac ran 19. (her course was bigger, she'll want you to know!)


Here's Emmett 'running for the money' last year!
It's a really fun event actually. I even LIKE it and that's saying a lot as I am not the hugest sports enthusiaste and generally avoid fundraisers.
So, if anyone is interested let us know your pledge!

we've only just begun...

Amy and I had this idea that after Oct 20th we would sleep like babes...the big project being over. But at about 2:00 am, with my mind racing I realized that this is the beginning.
I can't tell you how cool it was to see everyone working yesterday!

I always wanted to be a part of a "barn raising" and this felt like just that.
Unfortunately I didn't take very many good pictures...but Emil did and soon there should be some before-and-after shots at the sdccs garden blog.
Of course, nothing is planted yet (that's where the kids come in!!) so its a mere blank canvas...but thanks to some incredibly hard workers, its an awesome beginning.

Morning Noon and Night...

What have I been doing? Why are my posts so few and getting lamer and lamer? It's the garden that ate NY! The garden where I imagine spending a lot of time over the next 10 years (that's the minimum amount of time I will be at SDCCS... IF they don't add a highschool, then tag on four more years!) Right now I am having trouble sleeping, as is Amy Zink the garden coordinator, thinking about cubic feet of topsoil and wondering whether weeping mulberry will stain childrens hands etc...and mainly wondering how to do all there is to do with so little money and small children strapped to our hips...
if you haven't, check out the other blog, the one that makes this one jealous and pissy...

"lemme see your smile..."

wow!!

a little Abe for truth...

"How many legs does a dog have if you call a tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."


Abraham Lincoln from this months issue of 'The Sun' magazine

One Year Ago Today...

The Gift of Silas Loyal


















Just look at him now. At one year old he loves the swing and could sit there all day with a big sleepy smile on his face!
He likes to touch foreheads...he thinks it is a hug or kiss...like his lovable greeting.

He loves Nana and Mabel and being read to endlessly and will often follow us around on his knees holding out a book which is not easy with the heavy ones!

Mac and Emmett can make him laugh hysterically!

He loves birds, turtles, airplanes and golfers.

The words we can all (sort of) understand are by-by, mama, nana, papa, emmett, mac, boo, ball, bird, mabel, tick tock, quack, moo and he's really working on elephant.

















He has a really cute serious face!
P.S. Papa reads over my shoulder and says, "I am so glad he is here. I love that little man!"

His favorite toys are elephants, lions and giraffes...really most little plastic animals (the best toys ever in my opinion!) and he LOVES his Richard Scary book with a word for everything!



He's also quite fond of his new car!




None of us will ever forget this boys first year and what a sweet One Year Old he is!!

SDCCS Garden Blog!!!

This picture is on the new SDCCS garden blog (not our school, obviously, but an inspiring one!) Right now its all about plans and ideas. But the dig date is set for Oct. 20th and soon there will be some pictures of our actual garden being "born". I am guessing that the blog will also be used to update everyone on upcoming events, the garden chores calendar, classroom activities... and,of course, lots of pictures as our school garden grows... So...
check it out!

growing girl!...

expectations...

While driving home from dropping the kids off at school this morning, a sleeping Silas in the back, I noticed a pregnant mama walking down the street with her dog. First baby, I thought. This always makes me smile. She is expecting.
Expecting to cuddle and snuggle and play in the sprinklers and rock endlessly in a rocking chair while humming lullabies. And she will do all those things.

Last year at this time I was "expecting"...to be a third time around mothering expert who doesn't sweat the small stuff. The mama of a mellow (that's what "they" say) third baby. I expected to have all the help in the world from my eager and doting older children and lots of time to watch and marvel at their sibling-hood.
Well, I expected too much. Silas is his own guy with all sorts of his own ideas about where he is going and at what speed...and at what ear shattering pitch. He is NOT mellow but driven, curious beyond curious, insistent, full of FEELINGS, he is intense and physical and relentless. He is wearing all of us out. He is an incredibly spirited kid. As was Mac and Emmett...each in their own ways.
I definitely never would have predicted this level of chaos (Matt did!) and I truly did believe that no one would ever feel neglected or left out the way Mac and Emmett can sometimes feel when Silas NEEDS me NOW! (Matt knew that too!)
I just never thought it would be so hard.
Now his first year is over and I feel a bit guilty to breath a sigh of relief. After all, aren't I supposed to be sad that the time has gone so quickly? Well, maybe...but each day as, little by little, I learn more about this boy...his baby-thought-process, his likes (elephants, airplanes) and dislikes (tomatos, getting off the swings)...I fall deeper in love with him...the REAL him...not the expectation.

I am blessed with three uniqely awesome people who I am privelaged to get to watch grow, from scratch!

...and when I go upstairs after hearing, "mamama!" on the monitor, I can't help but feel lovelovelove when I see that face!
.

a must watch for the MOMS out there...

...had to steal this from RubySoho (linked from Laurens blog)...this truly feels like my daily blabbing mouth. Sometimes I get so sick of my own voice...maybe I just need background music!!

Do you have a Torino?

I have mine!!!!!!

Matt

johnny and george...

blast from the past...

mammoth 1999 (these are dark because they are
pictures of pictures!)

Here's Johnny now at the studio!

...and a shot of the cabin to tempt!

It was so fun hanging out with you!!!!

emmett did his own hair for picture day...

...need I say more!!

amazing woman doing peaceful things...

...we missed it but Rhea didn't!!...
...for those of you who don't know Rhea, she used to teach kids classes at Plum Pottery and continues to inspire kids at the Peace Fair in Narragansett, Rhode Island! Check out her blog if you haven't already! We miss you...and the kids really wish you still had clay camps here!

Finley, watch out...

...we are gonna have to put a protective bubble around you. Silas is a maniac! If you are cute, small, defenseless and fuzzy (ok you're not fuzzy), Silas wants to taste you, (aka bite or lick!). We spent much of Ry's b-day party chasing Silas around as he stalked a sweet 18 month old trying to hug her (aka pop off her head). Don't worry, we are researching every effective parenting technique and testing it out on the cats (who are daily victims of his baby enthusiasm). If we can not find the answer we will be equipping your mama with some sort of force field. (Emmett's idea)
Can't wait to see you.
Start doing some baby self defense work outs!
Love, Aunt Annie

another great book!!

Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk!!...kinda Harry Potter meets Deltora with a twist!! Mac loves it, Emmett is really trying not to, but it's hard...and Silas is buried in Boo so who cares but I think he does appreciate that Septimus Heap's father is named Silas!