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.

Aunt Ginny makes peanut butter balls with the cousins.

James and his Great Grandma work on Grandma Gayle's campaign.

Jupiter sends a post card to Popi.

The picture of course, is of her mama. Can't you see me with my glasses and pigtails? It was one of her first drawings from life.

James climbs the play structure in Stuart.

In his imagination, James is Alain Robert, and the play structure is the tower at Abu Dhabi.

Justice ran around in her underwear and sandals most of the days we were in Stuart. It was so cute, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Grandma Helen Bauer fills in the gaps of old photo albums.

My Mom and Aunt Bunny make records as the video camera runs. Grandma tells a story of two brothers and a love triangle. I wish I was able to hear more of her stories, but I was watching kids.

Jupiter makes metaphors.

Grandma and Grandpa sitting on the back porch with Uncle Gary and Aunt Mo mo...

Every night we watched the sunset and the kids played on the swing set or with the hose. Little Ty ty was so cute. Uncle Gary started making Fuzzy Navels for me. It's my new cocktail.

Justice wanted to learn to swim too.

It's true there was some fear and tears when Justice was learning how to swim, but by the end of the trip she was doing furious little laps across the shallow end of the pool.

Good Times on the swing set

Guest comic by James Johnson: Grandpa teaches James to swim

Click on this one to see all of those details. I love it, especially James in his goggles, and Grandpa saying, "Good job, James." James mailed this as a postcard to Popi.

Jupiter and Justice help Grandma clean the porch furniture.

Grandpa teaches James about Gator football.

Grandpa teaches James and Jupiter how to swim in the Johnston's pool.

On our summer trip to Florida...

...Grandpa takes the kids to a swamp to look for gators and lizards.

Angela and Stephanie get lost in Rome...

...right where Brutus assassinated Caesar. The ruins were crawling with feral cats.