This is what democracy looks like!

As soon as Governor Walker's budget repair bill was unveiled and the people of Wisconsin realized that we needed to make our voices heard, Madison became the epicenter of the country's most peaceful, vibrant and amazing protest that have gone on for weeks.

Cuts to our schools, our environment, health care accessibility and taking away the rights of so many hard working people was beyond comprehension and it was so exciting be part of such an inspiring movement to bring back humility, morality and justice to our political system.

The kids made signs and we joined other Thoreau families by hopping the bus and joining in the rally.





We of course burned lots of calories from marching around the capitol so we visited Pizza di roma several times over the weeks. It was fun just sitting at their window and watching the non- stop stream of families, city employees, Badger Care recipients and students holding their signs high and marching up to the capitol.



It was chilly and snowing but it didn't deter people from showing their support for the 14 Democrats who bravely left the state in order for the repair bill and all it's faults to be exposed. SO many clever signs that made you laugh/cry or both. They got better as the weeks went on. Below is one of my favorites.




Walking with our Fair Wisconsin and our friend Nathan and behind our senator Tammy Baldwin towards the capitol.

Above pic taken from the ground floor of the capitol rotunda. I would look down at H and B and see them belting out "THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE" and I was SO proud of them. Protesters shared their bucket drums with the kids and let them wack away with the beat of the chants. While upstairs people would move aside on the balcony so the kids could peek down at the moving, chanting people down below.




Henry wanted so badly to sleep overnight and my one regret is that we didn't let him. There were plenty of rumors that the protests were growing tense and that the capitol would soon be closed so we decided against it and I went without kids with a friend of mine. Turns out it was a very peaceful night, with the drumming ending around 9:30 or 10 pm, to give the protesters time to mop the rotunda floor. So many had been living in the capitol for 2 weeks and it became a functioning little city complete with donated food, medical supplies and hope for a new day of politics. I never once felt threatened. I never once worried for anyone's safety.

We also came back for the Hands Around the Capitol where we were part of a human chain surrounding the capitol, joined by Miss Elspeth! Several people with video cameras stopped in front of the kids as they were yelling "Hey Hey Ho Ho Scott Walker's Got To Go"

Shannon, Liam and Rose wanted to see the rally for themselves and joined us for the Wisconsin Farmer Tractor parade! Here is what Henry wrote on his sign...

"No Bill has passed. Now fight back. No Governor Walker. Governor Walker is in the BAD section right now. Shame on Walker. "

How do you explain to your kids that the governor wants to cut money to public schools yet give money to private ones, or that he wants to loosen rules set for protecting our lakes from harmful chemicals, or that he wants to cut funding that helps those people that don't have health insurance? You can't......... so we just chat about what we believe makes a thriving, safe, and healthy world..... protecting our children, our environment and never leaving behind anyone who has less than we do.

They have learned so much these last few weeks that I hope will stay with them forever.

An injury to one is an injury to all.

Different strokes...

Bryn takes projects very seriously, especially Valentine's Day cards. She had to keep them neatly stacked, then write Love You on each one and stack in another pile and then go through them again to write the person's name and her's on each one. Henry, of course was a different story, as he had a big pile of his valentines on the table in no particular order, and I was the one managing it for him and encouraging him to battle on.



A couple weeks ago their school hosted a family read night with free pizza, drinks and dessert and then a chance to listen to their schoolmates read poems or short stories to the crowd of students and parents in the cafeteria. I didn't sign either kid up to read since I wasn't sure what this was about and figured we would just check it out. Henry insisted on bringing a book to read so I let him, just in case there was time to sit and read quietly. The kids sat with their buddies in front and listened as older students read and sang. When they were done Henry came up to me and said that he wanted to read to everyone. I told him that since I didn't sign them up this year he could read it to me instead. That didn't work, nor did it appease him when I suggested he read it to the reading coordinator who was in charge of the event. He begged me to ask her if he too could read into the microphone to everyone in the cafeteria. I did. She was delighted. And my little Henners walked up to the microphone and read his little book. He was so proud and walked back to me when he was done and said "I didn't get that much applause." Little dude blew me away.

Packer Heaven

Seeing that our beloved Packers were looking like THE team to beat, Jay decided that since we couldn't be at the playoff games, we should just act as if we were and we threw a playoff tailgate party in the driveway. We had a fire going in the pit, plenty of food and drinks and of course a dance mix to keep us all warm. The above pic was taken prior to the NFC championship game and since we won and were going to the Super Bowl, we just had to do it again, only bigger!

The spread for the Super Bowl included Karyl's jersey cookies, Elpeth's beautiful fruit bowl, Jay's jambalaya and SO much more. We had a bunch of our friends and family join us in the driveway and we cheered to whomever would listen! Kids put on a show of their own, only wish I had my camera out. Maya, Jocie and Bryn would pick Henry up as he lay face down on the cement and they would carry him around as he did a sort of airplane dance in the air. Later they were hip hop dancing with Elliot and Emily in the garage.

Still can't believe we are Super Bowl Champions!! If only Henry's Clay Matthews jersey arrived one day earlier he could have been sporting that in celebration rather than the #4. I am thinking our tailgate driveway party is becoming tradition.

winter sports

We have been consumed with the capitol drama lately and have let the blog and many other things take a back seat to our daily dose of democracy. I needed a break from the grim reality and finally made myself sit down and blog a bit since we have managed to keep busy this chilly winter.

Henry is still loving snowboarding and doesn't flinch when standing on the Cherokee Middle School hill, looking down on a rather icey hill. The kid stays relaxed and manages to keep his balance and flies down. I have a feeling this may be his winter sport for many years to come. Now if I could only find the courage to strap on a board we would be in business!






Bryn will go down on the boards too but her winter favorite is her hockey skates. That little think can fly across the ice and I can no longer sprint away from her playing ice tag. We were so lucky that our neighborhood school decided to put in an ice rink in the park. It was maintained by volunteers and was a favorite thing to do on the way home from school this year and it was a blast to see the rink full of kids and their families. Bryn did manage to nose plant onto a metal bench but that was really the only injury we sustained on the ice this year, thanks to the helmets!

We also managed to do some skating at Vilas as well.