Made to Create

One really cool way that we are made in the image of God, is that we are made with an amazing desire to create! A friend of ours is in the hospital, so the kids painted him some pictures this morning...

 From Anne, her specialty is "creating" eyes. 

This morning she announced, "I want to be an artist like Marmie when I grow up!"

From Berea- a very detailed "creator"

 from Peter- this was big for him- watercolors are a more ambiguous medium than he's generally comfortable with. He is incredibly precise when he uses a pencil.

And from Tirzah- our colorful "creator" who can be detailed as well...

Here are a few other things we've done...

 both of these were Tirzah's

This is Peter's from awhile ago

Elijah made these silly eggshell planter things for a science project- he drew faces on broken egg shells, filled them with garden soil, planted seeds, watered...now the faces have funny hair!

Happy birthdays to us!

Christian and I celebrated our ever-increasing ages (we are officially getting old, as college students are now calling us Mr. and Mrs.)...

Not a lot Going On

 We've been playing with legos...

 And watching the amazing miracle of metamorphosis (how on earth can evolution account for it? If at any point something doesn't go right, the critter is dead, not mutated!) Anyway. I think God is pretty awesome.

 One of the five butterflies died, I think because I didn't remove the spiderwebby silk well enough that it spun before it formed the cocoon. Sad to see the struggle. :(

 Tomorrow is the big release date, assuming it warms up enough outside. Hopefully they won't lay eggs in the garden. That would not be cool.

More tunnel work

 Silly, occasionally creepy Charlie.

 We have a lot of blue eyes in our family

 Speaking of backward, too big helmets, yesterday was a momentous occasion of the twins going for their first bike ride on the road, and also leaving Peter home alone! We weren't gone long enough for his liking. If anyone finds any good bike helmets at garage sales, we're in the market, by the way. And roller blades/skates for Elijah. Anyway...

Christian's amazing at digging trenches. Seriously. He dug 130 feet of trenches, 30 inches deep. In one day. And now we have water and electric out in the tunnel! Did I ever mention that we met while he was digging a trench in Phoenix? Ah, romance. ;) This Monday will mark our 14th year since we got engaged! I only remember the date because it's St. Pat's Day. And today's Christian's birthday!  So he's celebrating by working long hours. So, there we go and I'll stop rambling now. :)

Spring Shots

Spring? Oh, right, it's still winter. So they say back east anyway. Here, on the other hand, is a balmy 64 degrees. Though it was still 15 degrees this morning, so I guess it's still kinda winter. Anyway, I guess I always take pictures of plants and animals come springtime, so I thought I'd get an early start...

 Moses and Charlie have made friends, somewhat reluctantly

 Moses is so tolerant of such an "immature" kitten

 But then, he's generally happy to fight back... reminds me of a couple human boys I know...

 We started our lettuce and spinach early since it's been so warm- and they've been just fine at night at 15*. In the background are the leeks, onions, and a few tulips (I thought they were garlic- oops) that have reactivated.

 Charlie is also learning to be patient, Tirzah is also learning how to keep the claws away...

 Our fat furball

 The garden tunnel is officially up, covered, and ready for soil amendments and irrigation!

 But for the moment, it makes a swell indoor playground!

 And the chickens. Love em or hate em, they do make fine eggs once they start laying again!

One days' allotment. Anyone wanna buy some eggs?

 The big kids have started playing patio hockey on their rollerblades with old pieces of pvc pipe and a baseball bat. Some bruised shins, but no serious injuries...yet.

And the indoor seedlings have been started in soil blocks! 

Here's hoping for a good gardening season!

Charlie Snuggle Stubs, the 2nd

With Cory still missing, we decided to procure a buddy for lonely Moses. Enter Charlie Snuggle Stubs the 2nd, 8 weeks old. The original Charlie Snuggle Stubs lived in Mexico about 25 years ago. We decided on Charlie because of his funny mustache (Charlie Chaplin-like), and Christian filled in the rest. :) Here's hoping he lasts!