defrocked...

So Daniel has started a family newsletter. Should I be afraid? Here's a copy of an article from his first issue. It's called Tooth or Fraud...

The question has always been asked by young children when they lose a tooth, "Will the tooth fairy come tonight?" Startling new evidence has appeared that the tooth fairy in question is a fairy who was laid off by Fairy Inc. The fairy in question is actually fairy number 13520 of work group 12z. She was laid off by her boss for being late almost every time.
"She was such a good fairy, but one day she started only doing part time so she could work for a school, ever since she hasn't been the same."
All of this matches with why teeth have been left under pillows and have not disappeared like they should. An interview with a victim named Emmeli gives more insight into the matter. Emmeli, what do you have to say about the tooth fairy?
"Booooo! The tooth fairy never came to get my tooth, now it is lost in my bed."
And what do you have to say about the money swing the tooth fairy gives?
"My Mom told me that the longer the tooth stays the more money you get, now that my tooth is lost, it will have to stay longer."
Is Mom an expert on the tooth fairy?
"I don't know, but what I do know is that Mom said that when she found the tooth fairy she would tell it to come that night, but she never came."
Thank you for your time.
We will now get an exclusive interview with Emmeli's sister, Hannah. Hannah, what do you have to say about the tooth fairy not coming for people's teeth?
"Well Emmeli's tooth is missing. Anyway, Mom says the tooth fairy is on vacation...a very long vacation."
And what do you have to say about this very long vacation?
"I think she just doesn't want to do her job anymore. I'm not sure what she's up to, really, maybe she got sick on her vacation and isn't sick anymore, but is still on vacation."
Thank you. There you have it folks. A tooth fairy gone odd- leaving victims of the tooth fraud- who really is the tooth fairy?

a traipsing, gallivanting, meanderer...

I'm feeling very vulnerable in regards to my writing today for some reason. I almost feel like someone may read this, not that my usual someones don't count, but I know that my favourites won't judge me. Noone knows what those other eyes might think. Anyway, I have to make an honest confession, because this truth is aching to be told. I have, and always have had, for as long as I can remember, a seriously mysterious affinity for gypsies. I think if my life had been different I would be a gypsy, even now, only I wouldn't be the superstitious, thieving sort that you may have read about in books. I once took a personality test which revealed that if I had lived in Medieval Times, I would've been a traveling minstrel. I put great stock in that test. It had pages of questions, so it was very thorough, and it rightly pegged my dear friend who was to have been the prime minister, as I know she would have been. Anyway, I liked the outcome, though I'm not sure they got it quite right, because I don't know of any musical talents as of yet. I think if there had only been a little deeper investigation, accompanied by a proper understanding of the facts, the like would have proved me to be, quite simply, a traveling nomadic bohemian wanderer, or gypsy as they are called. I'm well aware that such a life is far more beautiful in a picture or a movie, which is why that role is for another time, and another me- the me that didn't make it to here and now, because in this life it was never meant to be.

May you be brave, and have the strong head to think with, and the strong heart to love with, and the strong hands to work with, and the strong feet to travel with, and always come home to your own.
(a gypsy's blessing- taken from Five Children and It- a perfectly delightful book for small people)

freedom riders...

Freedom is a great motivator. I've always secretly thought myself to be a bit rebellious, maybe I am, but what lead me to this idea is that, often if someone tries to tell me to do something that I'm already doing or planning to do, it strangles the idea right out of me. I'm completely dead. Well, based upon new evidence, I'm changing this idea about myself. Who doesn't gasp at the idea of being trapped in a cage, perched on a little wooden dowel, consuming limited assigned rations, and repeating the same catch phrases day after day? Recently I started letting the kids get up as early as they like to get their independent school work done, so that they can finish early and have some free time. They're allowed to do school in their pj's, before breakfast, before they make their beds, whatever... Wow! Look at them go! It's not that they were rebelling against the system before. It was just stifling them, sucking the life right out of them, and I know the feeling. Be free little birds... fly free and take me with you.

moving on...

So it has happened, as I knew it would, all of the colour has gone out of this world; but as in winter, we see a new kind of beauty and absence makes the heart grow fonder.

rodeo clown...

Life is a bucking bronco, untamable, unabated, unabashedly unbridled. If I were a clown, I'd dress up real fancy, and paint on a happy face. But I'm not a clown, so I'll just watch from here.

sounds crazy, no?...

I have no idea what to say this morning. I just wanted to say something, for no particular reason- probably because I want to color a picture, or because posting often generates an email response from one or more of my favorite people in the world. Good morning fan club! I love you all! On a side note- the whole fam watched Fiddler on the Roof last night. We stayed up 'til 11 on a school night to finish it. I just love that flick. It's sad, but I love it. I've been singing in my head all morning and I want a fiddle. Ciao (Shalom).

a nice surprise...

Grading Snow's grammar lesson from September :) I found a sweet message just for me. When asked to list some adjectives which describe 'what kind of' teacher, she wrote amazing, wonderful, sweet teacher... "i love you mom." I feel special. A++

a happy arrangement...

I don't often sing the praises of homeschooling, because let's face it, not everyone can homeschool, but on this day, at this time, I can hardly help myself, so make way. Today, Snow & Emmeli sat side by side in the sunshine on our beautifully green lawn to do a nature study. They looked so sweet sitting there, and I just watched them for a minute and appreciated how fortunate we are. It dawned on me that if my kids were in school, they would hardly ever see each other. I often selfishly rejoice that my kids are always home with ME, but today, it struck me that they're also together with each other, experiencing life, learning about the world, and growing up together. Emmeli and Snow were like two peas in a pod today, staring intently into the trees, watching for birds as they held journals in their laps and sported jacket hoods on their backs. It was a single moment in time, cherishable, irreplaceable, a once in a lifetime opportunity and we captured it.

moonshine...

Such a lovely moon last night! Yesterday we went hiking and we got a really late start, so about halfway thru the hike, the sun went out. We had headlamps so it was o.k., but you hardly needed a lamp because the moon was so bright. We made so much noise tromping through the sleeping forest in our heavy winter boots, but we were plenty warm and all was pleasant. The moon really was amazing. It's impossible to find the right words for these wonders of nature, but trust me there were things going on up there which were unusually fantastic. The moon had an aura about it which radiated more than the usual batch of colors, and at first glimpse I knew we were meant to be late, that the car keys were intentionally hid and the children were purposefully intollerant of their too tight gloves, mismatched snowsuits, and missing hats. Isn't it wonderful how these things work out. They always do work out, one way or another.

let's set the record straight...

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~Marcus Aurelius

vagary...

"Waitress, you've got your foot in my linguini." "That's okay, these are new shoes."

wake up...

Today is a day for waking- a day for sitting (with my friend Irene) and sipping (cafe aulait), but also a day for running (errands) and skating (skate boarding in the basement), laughing (out loud in whole foods at the silly notes that Daniel snuck into my grocery list) and hugging (Hannah tightly), listening (to Robert Downey Jr. - he talks so fast) and watching (The Soloist). It is not a day for lying prostrate with dreams of oatmeal. This was my thought this morning as I showered and remembered last night's dream where I went shopping for oatmeal. I had planned to jump (on the trampoline) not skate, and I planned to read (lots of books for school) not watch (The Soloist), but it all turned out okay. It was a beautiful day.

happy new year...

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love
and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
- Henry Van Dyke