the OTHER mother

First Flash Mob

Pearl and Carrie, taking care of business.

On Thankfulness

Carrie and Pearl made these books over the Thanksgiving weekend. I chose a few pages from each book. The first four are Carrie's, and the last four are Pearl's.

I'm thankful for Ninjas spying.

I'm thankful for friendly dolphins.

 I'm thankful for rocks everywhere.

 I'm thankful for my sister.

 

A few pages from Pearl...

I'm thankful for my loco cats and screw-loose dog.

I'm thankful for amazing climbing trees.

I'm thankful for watermelon.

I'm thankful for homeschooling. 

Carrie Likes Karate

Here Carrie leads her karate class in the creed. [Video = 30 seconds]

Pearl Has a Guardian Angel

Transcription: 

I have an Angel

with a song. She has a

butterfly. She trails thunder.

Panthers dart around

her. A velvet mask is

in her hand. Silver breezes

whisper around her. Inchworms

and lemons are swirling

around her too! Her skin is like

the moon shining above her.

Then she fainted! Crash!!!!

 

P.S. She hit the flower pot.

by Pearl, age 7

Black Cat and Green Sprite Go A'Haunting

Halloween 2011

Caspar Goes Camping

The New Season Brings Soccer

This fall Pearl and Carrie are excited about soccer. Although they both have lime green Seattle jerseys in the pictures, they are on different teams because of their age difference. I guess they're on sister teams.

Carrie has this to say about the sport:

What I like about soccer is that I get to play front field. That means I get to kick the ball and score lots of goals for my team. But the kids follow you wherever you go! That's all of my report.

Lately she has me read books about Mia Hamm to her at bedtime. And when she wakes up the next morning, guess what Carrie's been dreaming about?

Pearl and Carrie Have a Deal for You

Pearl and Carrie are selling magazines with their Girl Scout troop. Here's their video sales pitch (time 1:30). If you'd like to make a purchase, click here please.

Heard in Grrrlville

On Facebook I often chronicle little things the kids say. Friends comment, "I hope you're writing all these down." But I'm not. So with the help of a little app called "My Year in Status" I made this collage which contains some of them. (Double click on the image to enlarge it.) Do you have a favorite?

Babysitting the Bunnies

This month we have been babysitting two huge bunnies for some friends. Here are a few things we have learned from this experience. According to Carrie and Pearl:

• They're very messy.
• They sit in their poo poo.
• They stomp.
• They scream.

Baba can a few more details.

• When you are told that bunnies are litter box trained, your follow-up question should be to request a percentage.
• When told that bunnies are large, you should ask if they attack cats and dogs.
• Remember the stories about goats eating anything and everything? Well, bunnies are similar. Bye, bye, cowboy hats. Bye, bye, wicker baskets.
• Baba and Pearl are allergic to bunnies. Or hay. Or both.
• Achoo!

Where Do All the Bad Cats End Up?

Yes, you guessed it! Kitty Alcatraz.

No Dogs Allowed.

Eliza came to play with Pearl and Carrie this day, and I'm sure she's to blame. Surely!

Behind the Scenes

Last weekend we had a fun dinner with our cousins, Erin and Abner. Afterwards we got to watch a movie being made. It was about the Pony Express. It was a production by the one and only HorseyWorks Studios. Is everybodoy ready? Lights, Camera, Action!

Note to longterm readers: you may recognize these actors.

 

 

My Chapbook "Dear Red Airplane" is Out!

Copies of my chapbook "Dear Red Airplane" arrived in today's mail. The book is published by Seven Kitchens Press. I say the chapbook is out--which is true--however it is already sold out. Seven Kitchens is a micro-press, and they specialize in publishing artful booklets in very small print runs. All the copies sold during the pre-order phase. If you'd like to encourage the editors to do a reprint, you can contact them here. 

The Kids 'R' All Write

Both girls attended the WITS Summer Camp again this summer. Here's a poem by each of them.

Dragonfly

I see an orange dragonfly

Fluttering softly

Its big eyes bulging like

Punch-out eyes

Four wings, light and see-through,

To help support it

It flutters on many things,

Even my dog!

The dragonfly spins through

the morning sky and

never tells its secrets.

By Pearl, age 7

 

Horse Brown

I see horses playing.

I hear horses running in the river.

I taste brown marshmallows.

I smell chocolate.

I feel safe.

My color is horse brown.

by Carrie, age 5

 

Arkansas Visit

The Crazy Cousins

 

 Marcia likes hiking.

There's nothing like a creek.

Our guide to Garvan Gardens reads her map.