our earth day fun

...in honor of earth day today, we did everything we possibly could outside.
we didn't get to do as much as i had planned, because of some light rain,
but it was a nice slow and lazy day :)

we played with roly polies (how in the world do you make
roly poly plural??)

ate our morning snack out back
painted the shed with watercolors
(had fun with the colorful water!)
caught a caterpillar and played with him for a little bit
"fed" him dirt and grass and leaves

j ran inside to get our butterfly book,
and then j and t watched patiently for him
to make his chrysalis and come out as
a beautiful butterfly :)
looked for more caterpillars and other bugs

enjoyed our time together
we walked to the library to check out books about
butterflies and spring (but didn't get a picture of that.)

we were also supposed to have t-ball practice this evening
and then a picnic dinner at the library for an outdoor concert,
but practice was cut short and the concert moved inside because
of the rain. oh well, it was a nice day enjoying our time outside...

i love spring

..never before have these irises
bloomed in our backyard.
now they're popping up all over back there!
it is a nice surprise...

dyeing eggs

...beets, ground turmeric, canned blueberries,
spinach leaves, vinegar, salt, and water

i guess they're beautiful in their own way...

spring is in the air

...and in our case, also in the house :)

we started our spring nature table a little early
(with all the impromptu butterfly events!)

but thanks to the beautiful weather this week,
we were able to bring quite a few
outdoor things in.
the green cup contains a leaf j picked up under our rose bush.
it was still alive, and he decided it needed water because it was thirsty.
(he checks on it often.)
rocks, feathers, and pine cones are common occurrences on our nature tables.
the branches will soon hold some Easter "ornaments."

and we were finally able to finish this project,
a homemade bird's nest with painted acorns for bird eggs
we used leftover lint from the clothes dryer,
tacky glue,
and a lot of twigs and leaves.
i must say, birds are amazing creatures...

recycling our tree

...something new to climb on



a new table and chairs



and a new place to color...

oh happy day!

...happy first day of spring!

"Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice.
For the Lord has done marvelous things!


Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures are springing up,
and the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and the vine yield their strength.



Be glad then, you children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God;
for He has given you the former rain faithfully."
Joel 2:21-23a

a three year old

...when I have said my evening prayer,
And my clothes are folded on my chair,
And Mother/Father switches off the light,
I’ll still be two years old tonight.
But from the very break of day,
Before the children rise and play,
Before the darkness turns to gold,
Tomorrow, I'll be three years old….
Three kisses when I wake,
Three candles on my cake...