"It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe.  Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life."

~Sophia Loren

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

~ St. Augustine





viva Espana!

I'm off to Spain July 9th- Aug 6th, backpacking with my fiance all over the country, even into Morocco and Mallorca! I'm so excited I don't know how I'll get any sleep tonight :)  It's been a slow writing summer, so I'm bringing a brand new travel journal to fill.  Hope to post whenever I can...

Salud!



Nellie's a big sis!

Welcome to the world sweet Faucett girl!

Margaret Mae Faucett born June 26th 2011

HAPPY SUMMER!!



Best things about summer:

Lemonade stands
smell of fresh cut grass
BBQ's
outdoor concerts
the popsicle man
the beach
Villaball
Boating
the Blue Angels
outdoor movies
fireworks
bike rides
sunbathing
tire swings
sprinklers
berry picking
...

add to the list!



waterfront adirondack chairs at sunset
camping
shooting stars
fireflies
flag cake
slip n' slide

Other Award winners...



  Local author Bonny Becker and her book A Bedtime for Bear has been awarded the inaugural SCBWI 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Award for our Western Washington division.  The Crystal Kite Awards recognize great books from the 70 SCBWI regions around the world.  The awards are chosen by other children's book writers and illustrators, which makes them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers!
  Congratulations Bonny and her ever-lovable Bear (and Mouse, too of course)!



The Best Books for Kids Award Winners

  Last night at Library Bistro Page Ahead held their 2nd Annual Best Books for Kids Awards celebration.  The judges included Rene Kirkpatrick from Third Place Books, Cecelia McGowan of the King County Library System, Marilyn Carpenter who came over from Eastern Washington University where she was a Professor of Literacy, Stefanie Malone from KCTS, and Jacki Crowther the Book Program Manager from Page Ahead.

  And the awards go to...

Best Read Aloud
*We Are in a Book by Mo Willems
Mo Willems so funny, as always! 

Best Non Fiction
*How to Clean a Hippopotamus:  A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Great look into animal relationships in nature

Best Multicultural
*Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier
A beautiful tribute

Best Book
*The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor
Fun summer read