Oh I'm sure someone around here will be happy to help out a bit. Linda makes an excellent point that the philo bips will only get bigger after the next growing season and the thought of having to (somehow) get them back upstairs at that point is not too refreshing. They were pretty big when I first acquired them. I was living in gulfport (coastal mississippi for those who don't know) at the time and katrina had just been and gone and while I was briefly staying at a friend's house,I couldn't help noticing that there were sizable pups coming off of the mother plant. After dividing them out I put things back in order around the mother and remaining pups so as to cover any evidence that anything had happened and moved the newly potted pups around the corner. Next I asked my friend to come outside and look at something and I ask him if he notices anything different about that area,and of course,not being a plant person,he notices nothing out of order. At this point I led him around the corner to see what I had done...to which he shrugs and says "SO?". He didn't give a wit about it whatsoever. Maybe if he'd known what kind of money a phil of that size and stature(both pups had woody trunks)would fetch in today's market he'd have cared a little more,but you know non-plant people...such a silly bunch! :) Anyhoo,..there is also the remotest chance that I might be moving soon and if I think I'm having issues NOW...omg that will be a living hell! lol

It's a Robin, but it's got the shortest tail I've ever seen!

Oh, that gave me a good chuckle! I'm glad you didn't kill him! I love to quilt with others, talk quilting with others, but I honestly am too stuborn to want their suggestions (unless it is on a technique.) I had one quilt that I was trying to do quickly, and had the idea of eagle's wings spread out - as seen from the back. Because of quick, I used square quilt block to make the wings, after all it was to represent wings, not be the exact image of wings. Then I added a lamb (done in the colors of the quilt) laying down under each wing. It ended up being really wide and not very long, so I cut it down the middle and made it into two so each quilt was a mirror of the other. My family said they just couldn't see the wing - so I showed them my diagrams and pointed it out in the fabric version. They just shook their heads and then told me it looked more like Godzilla was about to eat the lamb! I gave the quilts to a mother and daughter who are going through a rough time, and I never told them what was on the quilt - I figured they could just call it abstract!

Maybe there truly needs to be more stress on the parents and teachers working TOGETHER in order to make the school experience the best for the children. I think that communication is key between parents and teachers, and that it can only benefit the students. You don't go onto too much detail on your relationship with these teachers, are they personal friends or just teachers at the school? The reason that I ask is because it's hard to expect a "stranger" to pour out their soul regarding the troubles they have on their job, especially a job such as teaching which can have very emotional days. Unless there seems to be something wrong with your children maybe you should ease up and just hang in on being an involved parent. That's what is most important I think!:)