postcards and post-its

Paris looking picture-perfect. Pretty huh?

And notes from home from the Mak-Tatos

From Mak. A To-Get list of animals for the zoo he would love to own. 

Take note: ONLY Bactrian camels. Please.

And a friendly reminder not-so-gentle threat from Tato to get my a$$ back home real soon.

textbooks are so passe

I love parenting books, but there really is more psycho-hogwash out there as opposed to the real gems. I'm also realizing that the books that truly inspire my own parenting philosophies are not parenting books per se. Cases in point....

I love Ken Robinson. I don't share his exact same definition of success,

but I totally agree with his learning philosophies. Tidbit from this book:

Paul McCartney slept through music class but totally dug Chaucer

thanks to an inspired Literature teacher.

Has the most intriguing, heroic child protagonist in books. Ever.

He makes Holden Caulfield look just like some... whiner.

But, I still love Holden and The Catcher in the Rye.

Though I don't think it was Gladwell's main intention, this makes a good case for

progressive education. The Ethical Culture Fieldston School reminds me of Keys Grade School.

Thank you books. Sometimes I like you more than people. I'm weird that way, but I'm comfortable with it. Anywaaay... I think I have always been fascinated by books on psychology, child development and stories of resilience and transcendence because...

This one I have yet to read. Haven't read Coupland since Generation X.

I will have a weekend getaway with him again soon.

...particularly mine!

I grew up amidst dysfunction and craziness, but it's cool. It makes life more interesting. It makes you more open-minded. It makes me want to be better, especially for the little ones and their dad - who grew up with his more than fair share of dysfunction too. Just saying... without much care if this post makes sense to anyone else. Cue crickets.

up, up and away

Thirty or so years ago, The Folks decided I was big enough for my first big trip. It was all systems go for Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth. In theme with the BIG occasion, I convinced my grandmother to buy me a big bohemian long gown. I wore it on the plane together with a big grin. Big girl, big occasion remember?

Disneyland has been dislodged since. I found my own, new "happiest place on Earth" a few years back. Our minds are set. Our bags are packed. MacDaddy and I are headed there... today! He can breathe easy. I'm not the "ball-gown-on-the-plane" type anymore. It was just a phase apparently. I know I'll still be wearing that big grin though.

The Mak-Tato's bags are packed too. They're off to The GrandFolks for an adventure of their own. I'm sure they'll be taking lots of pictures. I know I will. I promise.

circus! circus!

I think I pulled it off. Not entirely. The Twin Jackos were a no-show.

Tato: Mama.. My friends said you should only wear a super hero costume.
Mak: I only want to be an animal! Colonel Hathi (the elephant in Jungle Book) or Jaws (yes, that shark that freaked the hell out of all of us in the 70s)

The arguments were compelling and came with matching smiles and the sing-song voices they use when they want me to cave. Of course I caved. How can you mess with peer pressure, an obsession with animals and those smiles? Tato's hunt for a superhero costume was a walk in the park. Mak sent me on some wild goose chase. Not many elephant costumes out there. Correction. Not a single elephant costume out there. We did manage to find something that resembled Jaws. We were all set.

As for the circus I had hoped for, it did come to town.

We got the the big top

the parade

the show

over 200 shiny, happy people

Yup, even the shiny happy pets

Mak has decided he wlll be a stilt walker next year. He said so with that smile and a sing-song voice. I already know I will be hunting for stilts. And a safety net. Happy Halloween!

Scholastic Book Sale

Yes, reading helps. And we promised we'd announce Scholastic's next warehouse sale...

Click on the picture if your eyes need help. This sale even benefits typhoon affected schools. More reason to shop shop shop.

pink october

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wasn't going to let this month go by without saying a word. Or two. Not with one being diagnosed every three minutes. Or one in every seven being diagnosed in a lifetime.

Not out to alarm. Just a friendly reminder to set that alarm. Once a month to conduct a breast self-exam AND once a year for a mammogram if you happen to be over 40.

Now repeat after me... Early detection saves lives.

happy halloween!

Monsters can be our friends, just like these cardboard creatures Bear and Chicha love. Thank you Wooster Collective for celebrating street art.

Because we like our halloween happy, not scary. Press play!

Hope you meet some groovy monsters yourself this trick or treat season!

quiz bee

I still have dreams that I didn't finish a unit in college or pass a test in high school. Then I wake up. My diplomas are safely tucked somewhere in MammaMia's drawers, I think. Or I have them somewhere. The units are complete. Thank God. I can sleep easy.

I have vivid memories of surprise tests. Why oh why did the teachers get such satisfaction out of those? Just when I thought my fears remain nightmares and spot quizzes are things of the past, I can't believe my luck. I gave birth to Alex Trebek. And our home is the set of Jeopardy. Trivial Pursuit. Or the Spelling Bee Nationals. Tato is the self-proclaimed host. And we are all forced to be contestants.

One morning Tato left this quiz for the MacYaya

This is MacYaya with no other choice but to answer

Oh cool.. Tato is giving her a big fat check for going well over and beyond her call of duty...

Oh.. not really. Apparently, its all just perfect ad placement for him

He handles his own advertising too, I guess. The little man means business.

EDITED TO ADD: I just realized why MacYaya didn't deserve a check. Umm.. Number 12 perhaps?