guest artist, James Johnson draws lots of monsters

I think this would make great Christmas wrap.

James loves to jump.

Steve Elliott reads from his memoir, The Adderall Diaries.

Sylvia catches a fish.

Stephanie, and many boys, go fishing.

At dinner time, we talk about our day.

Justice, warily, makes friends with Gracie at Grattan playground.

James teaches origami to Jupiter and Justice, but they make their own creations.

Bedtime books with Jupiter and Jumper Kitty

Beware. Jumper kitties are vicious creatures. They do lots of hissing and throw menacing looks at people when you walk by. Justice was a jumper kitty this night.

Justice at acrosports this past spring.

James teaches Justice more karate.

Grandpa teaches Jupiter and Justice about gardening.

This was from this summer and for some reason it took me a long time to ink--maybe I lost it for awhile or something. But it was such a typical day in Stuart, walking around the yard with Grandpa, checking out the citrus, looking for lizards...

Snake School, drawing by James Johnson

In this snake school drawing, the little snakes are learning how to count thunder and how long it is before the storm comes.

James and cousin Emma watch Marvel fight scenes together.

James teaches Justice karate.

This was in the spring when James was taking his karate classes, after having watched The Karate Kid for movie night. He's not going to karate anymore, since the Sensei started using our credit card like an ATM machine.

envelope to President Obama, with a picture of Michelle, and a cat, too.

More art for Obama

Obama's dog Bo, by Justice

Justice makes mail for Obama

It's true, Justice is always drawing pictures for Obama, maybe because she knows how much I love him. We finally mailed one out to him.

James's 7th birthday

There was a haunted house theme. James drew this.

Anya and Justice playdate

That's Justice dressed as a dragon and Anya as a princess, wondering where the sparkle shoes are. When Jupiter found out that Justice had a playdate with Anya while Jupiter was away at kindergarten, there was a lot of punishment meted out.

Jupiter's first day of kindergarten!

There's Jupiter standing next to Sadie, with Teague on the end. See her new pink converse?

James spots Justice

It was the Sunday before the first day of school and we went to Grattan Elementary playground.

James is always so sweet, looking after his younger sisters.

Justice in the kitchen

James and Jupiter give a hair cut to a werewolf.

Luckily, when James first bought the werewolf, last Halloween, (with his own money) he decided to buy two werewolves. Just in case one got lost. As for Jupiter, she's getting herself in ready for kindergarten with a little roll playing.

Jupiter tells a very sad story to Mama.

It's easier to read the words if you click on it.

At Grattan playground, James and Jupiter take risks.

I walked them there on crutches. It was worth it.

James pushes his mama in a wheelchair through the redwood forest.

Grandpa also drove us to the John Muir woods. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to join them, because of my crutches, but then we realized James could push me in a wheelchair. He loved it, and so did I.

Grandpa drives us to a new playground, where there's a clubhouse.

Diamond draws while Grandpa naps: guest colorist, Justice Johnson

Road trips can be hard on people with broken legs.

At Lake Tahoe

This was way more fun than being housebound.

Jupiter and Justice wade in a Yosemite stream.

Grandpa James came to save us from the housebound boredom of Mama's broken leg, and took us to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. Here Justice just got her bum wet in the water. She's not happy about it and is about to climb over that rock and strip down to her underwear.

Dr Wong asks Justice questions to determine her developmental level. Justice delivers.

Roughhousing rodeo

Mama pulls out the craft projects

Shirla.

Jupiter makes an observation.

Justice razors in the backyard--cartoon hand colored, by Justice

She really was wearing lavender that day, both top and bottom, since she loves to match.

Back home in San Francisco...

Since Mama had a broken leg, there were many days spent cooped up in the house. Luckily, there is no end to the fun.

Last swim in Stuart, with Mama on crutches

Lunch at Shakra's Deli in Jensen Beach

Learning to cannonball after learning to swim.

Frozen peas on a broken leg.

James Johnson, bookmark contest winner

James won a ten dollar gift certificate to the Booksmith for this monster bookmark. He spent half of it on Justice.

James plays with his transformer.

James bought this transformer at Target with his own money. For days and days it endlessly fueled his imagination.

Jupiter helps Grandma Gayle cook.

Shuttle launch.

James, Jupiter and Justice throw rocks in the river.

Aaron and Justice play with Jupiter's wooden doll dress-up kit.