ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM DECEMBER 2010. What is it about school photos that just stops the heart, and makes you feel like your kids have grown up suddenly without you noticing?  These pictures make me want to break into the chorus of “Sunrise Sunset”.   How did they get so big?  I love these.  Even if Kembe is wearing makeup, and Jafta is fighting the urge to bring his spiderman hand into the photo . . .

ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM DECEMBER 2010. In the spirit of our “go big or go home” 2010 holiday extravaganza, we took the kids to a little holiday fair tonight.  It was put on by our local crazy commune cult of crafters, and the hot event (next to the booth of teapot cozies) was the horse (pony? how can you tell?) carousel.  Jafta was thrilled to be able to ride a horse (pony?), but a long line meant that we stood watching other kids ride for a good portion of the . . .

A YEAR OF FIRSTS  | ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM NOVEMBER 2010. DId I forget to post a picture of my kids on Halloween?  Well, no time like the present.  Here they are in all of their fake-smile cuteness: I'm not really one for I'm not really one for decorating.  I am ambivelant about my mediocrity in this area.  Storage space is a precious commodity in my house, and so is my free time.  At the same time, I do . . .

ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM OCTOBER 2010. I am in Washington, DC for the weekend.  I would love to rationalize this trip as having some great purpose.  But I am not speaking, or working, or doing anything of intention.  I really have no business being here at all.  But . . . I am a huge Jon Stewart fan.  I have been for years.  Mark has known this about me since we were dating, and he has been very gracious with my potentially inappropriate crush on someone . . .

ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM OCTOBER 2010. I’ve written pretty passionately about the global orphan situation recently, and several commenters asked: “What can I do if I’m not in a position to adopt?” I’m so glad you asked.  Adoption is not for everyone.  Nor is it the answer to the world’s orphan crisis.  In the best of circumstances, adoption creates a loving family for a child who has been orphaned.  But it does not address the root causes of why a . . .

ON THURSDAY'S I POST FROM THE VAULT. THIS POST IS FROM OCTOBER 2010. A WEEKEND IN PHOTOS: OJAI TO OC OCTOBER 21, 2010 I got to spent two days at an amazing retreat this past weekend, and I’ve finally had time to upload my photos (and to steal the photos of Mark’s weekend). The Creative Alliance at Calliote Canyon was an amazing experience.  I’m not even sure how to write about the awesomeness.  Sure, I could tell you about the food, and the wine, and the late night . . .