I'm moving

My new blog can be found at www.hopecaptive.wordpress.com

Mother's Day

I got home from church today to discover that my family had planned a "Surprise Mother's Day" for me. There were balloons on the table, and a treasure hunt for many sweetly drawn cards. And I got to pick what we watched on tv this afternoon.

Marc found out about the holiday after he got out of this shower (I had already left for church) and was thrilled. He had bought me an anniversary gift this past week (our anniversary is May 27) and didn't think he could wait that long, so was thinking maybe he would give it to me on Mother's Day. So he was excited to find out that TODAY was mothers day. He bought me a pair of emerald earrings, because that is the birthstone for May, and May is when our family was born.

Today

First Hike of 2007

We went for the first hike of the year. We packed up lunch and walked to the Colby Arboretum, found a quiet, non-snow/ice covered group of rocks and ate, played, and talked. I love the woods. I love sharing the woods with my kids.

At the playground last week

Science

We are enjoying the science experiments that Caleb has been waiting for all year...electricity. We have been making simple circuits for the past three weeks. Here is a picture of him with the lighthouse he made that has light that actually flashes. We made it with wire, batteries, a light bulb, a couple paper towel tubes, straws, and aluminum foil. What a blast!

Rain Drip Art

When I looked ahead and saw a week of rainy weather last week, I put my creative brain and came up with some interesting alternatives for the kids. One day, the girls and I made 'rain-drip' art. First we colored with markers (Crayola washable) on fingerpainting paper. Then we bundled all up, and went out in the rain with our paper. We held the paper under places that were dripping, and wiggled the paper around to make water paths through our many colors. Then we dashed inside and put them on the counter to dry.

It was a fun project. Nothing to put in a frame, but maybe something to use as stationary? And most importantly, the rain didn't beat us today.

A Cardinals Opinion...

I was just sitting at my desk and heard a persistent squeak, sqeak, squeak outside my window. I peaked around the curtain and saw a female cardinal in the bush. I'm pretty sure the interpretation of her carrying on could be "#*%$#!! - MORE SNOW?!"

Auricularis Superior and the Auricularis Posterior

I'm not sure why, but about 1-2 times a month, the conversation at our dinner table is about wiggling ears. No kidding! Marc can do it. I can do it. Our kids cannot... yet. I guess it must be a bit like whistling and crossing your eyes and doing silly tricks with your tongue.

I am so happy to have found a GREAT article on ear wiggling. Check it out here: http://www.wikihow.com/Wiggle-Your-Ears.

Happy Wiggling!

Sofia Pinch

See Marc's blog for further explanation.

First BBQ

We had our first grilled hamburgers of the year tonight. Know that scene in "What About Bob"?
Where Bob is at dinner? That's how good it was.

HOORAY!

I am pleased to introduce:
The First Crocus of 2007,
named HopeDrop

Babies

On our back porch
did I tread
surveying the snow
melting ice
old leaves.
My eye found
a fountain
of hope
for my heart.