Spring

Spring is in full swing.  The grass and trees are a bold beautiful green, vibrant flowers are in bloom, and critters are about. 

Hendrick has worked to transform our patio into a turtle and toad "play pen."  The kids have enjoyed catching frogs and toads and turtle and watching them - God's creation is truly wondrous.

Maegli is proud to be one of Hendrick's junior leaders in the turtle pen.  She especially likes catching worms for the critter food - she's our worm girl.

Maclaren stood outside the pool gently scolding toads who were venturing up the slide: "Oh, no, no, no.  No, no, no." - said in such a sweet small voice.  She then would bravely pick up wayward toads and throw (!) them back into the pool.  We're trying to teach her to handle these creatures more gently :)

Hendrick was especially thrilled with his first snake catch of the season, and witnessing the incredible growth of his bullfrog tadpoles.  Amazing! 

So far this spring, the kids have caught (many were released) 3 turtles, 2 bull frogs, 1 leopard frog, 1 snake, a ton of hatchlings, and about 36 toads! 

Garden

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells
And pretty maids all in a row.

With plenty of helpers, we re-set the frame, recessed the surrounding stones, tilled dirt and planted a few things in our garden:  tomatoes, peppers, squash, and flowers.  Our strawberries planted last fall (as an experiment) are growing well - the kids check them each day and are excited to see them turning red.  I have a feeling we won't have any berries make it inside :)

Cincinnati

Ethiopian Food Fix

We don't make it nearly as often as we should or as I'd like, but we aim to make an Ethiopian feast once a month.  After a several month break, our kids were in need of an Ethiopian food fix. 

(We have taken several outings to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, but there's something special about having the fragrant food cooking in our own home.)  

Hiwot and Tesfaye are my kitchen helpers, with spoons constantly dipping into the pots as our wats simmer all day.  They help plan the menu, and help spice the food - it's never spicy enough (!).  They're eager to help carry the cooked injera to the cloth-covered table to cool, both loving the sour teff-injera smell.  These are the smells and tastes of their childhood. 

While we don't make it nearly often enough, I'm so glad we are able to bring this important food culture into our home. 

We all love Ethiopian food :)

Passover Seder

As parents, we are always looking for ways to give meaning and significance to our holiday celebrations.  Easter is the joyous, and very personal celebration of the miracle and gift of Jesus' resurrection and fulfillment of the prophesy. 

Easter weekend, we shared a special Passover Seder dinner with our children.  We shared the story with our children in a very memorable way: 
We broke the matzah because Christ was broken for us.  We ate the bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of the cruel slavery of the Israelites in Egypt, recall the bitterness of our sin, and reflect on the suffering of Jesus.  The bitter herbs eaten with Matzah symbolizes that Jesus, our Bread of Life, has paid the price and has absorbed our bitter sin.  Parsley dipped in salt water represents salty tears shed and the hyssop branches used to paint the door lintels with the blood of a lamb that first Passover.  The sweet Haroset (apples, honey and raisins) reminds us of our new life in Jesus, we wipe away our bitter tears because we now have hope.  The cup of wine (grape juice), reserved in the Jewish tradition for the coming Messiah, we did not leave untouched, but we shared in it and in the joy that the Messiah has come to us. 
The Jews needed the blood of a lamb on their doorposts.  And we have a lamb, Jesus is our Lamb of God.  The lamb represents voluntary sacrifice of Jesus, God's own gift of a perfect lamb. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

We ate our meaningful Passover Seder feast outside, lounging on the deck.

The kids especially enjoyed the Haroset, Matzah, roasted potatoes, and pork chops (!).
*We weren't able to find lamb - our substitute may be a bit sacrilegious.  Hopefully next year we can plan our meal more in advance and order a leg of lamb for our celebration.  

(We loosely followed Ann Voskamp's Christian Passover Meal plan from her website: A Holy Experience)

Warriors

Magic

Grandma (Amy's dad) has become quite an accomplished magician.  We love that he shares this new hobby with us, entertaining with new tricks each visit, and passing on the fun of performing illusion tricks.  Thanks to Grandpa's teaching and example, the kids are pretty good performers! 

On his recent trip to visit, Grandpa brought a real treat: a box full of magic tricks.  Over the course of the week, the kids practiced and perfected their tricks, giving lots of performances.  They are now quite the experts at making small balls multiply, linking rings, blowing solid bubbles, and making jelly beans and Tootsie Rolls magically appear in an empty box. 

Abracadabra! 

First Date

19 years ago, Mike and I went out on our first date . . .

I was 15 with a big crush, lots of butterflies, and oh so shy. 
I didn't know it at the time, but it was the start of something wonderful.

One week later, Mike and I met at our school's SpringFest carnival and dance.  He handed me a small butterfly pin, explaining that our town's "butterfly lady" had given it to him earlier that day, after assisting her where he worked at the hardware store, instructing him to give it to his girlfriend. 
"So, I guess that means you're my girlfriend."

Swoon :)

Girlies

While the boys were camping, we had a special girlie weekend at home.

Painting nails, dinner out, baking cookies, bookstore shopping, neighborhood walk, ice cream outing,  Redbox movie, playground play . . .

And the highlight:  a Watoto Children's Choir concert!