We will start talking about how plants grow and how they produce fruit. Adding how things can get in the way and then transition to the idea that God can give us qualities if we follow him. These gifts are not real fruit but still sweet gifts.

Colorful reference and references to other scriptures

Really thoughtful video about Love

Fruits of the Spirit – Love

What are you talking with your kids about today?

Snack ideas

MUSIC:

Today we are listening to the Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.
Carnival of the Animals
While we listen she’s checking out this amazing book:

~ART~

I think then I will have her do an artsy inspired scavenger hunt/make that I stole from this amazing blog:
The Artful Parent

~TECHNOLOGY~

We will probably also do a bit of this silly game to help her learn her home keys on the keyboard from the BBC website.

We braved the crazy crowds to watch the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday morning.  I was so thankful that Jonathan took two camp chairs and went early to stake out our spot.  When we arrived he had curbside spots right across from the TV announcing stand.  We sat and enjoyed the entire parade!

Roller Skating at Sk8 Zone!

We also had fun taking Aliyah on her first roller skating adventure up in Olney, MD.  They have this tot time for under 6 year olds where they allow bikes,  strollers, push toys, scooters, whatever!  We had a great time and thought of Aunt Mar Mar the whole time.  She gave  the skates to Aliyah and would have been the best “first day” teacher!  We surely will go again.  Check it out here.

Gramma Bucky got to do Aliyah’s first Hokey Pokey

It was also fun just to PLOP!

Although she looks very elegant, she was still clomping around on those skates!

Sewing!  What a novel idea!

My mother was brave enough to schlep my grandmother’s 1960′s Elna sewing machine all the way to DC.   Not only did she haul it 3,000 miles, she set me  up with a complete sewing kit.  Now I feel like a domestic goddess!  I am so thankful and have already made one dress for Aliyah.

Thank you Mom for coming out to see us.  It  was wonderful to have you here and you really are a blessing to our family.

As always, there are more photos at our Picasa site.

“Girl’s best friend” pony outfit courtesy of Gramma Bucky!  She LOVES it and wants to wear it everyday

If you are a DCer, then you have seen these events. We have had many friends and family ask how we are doing, so I thought I would share some of our experiences.

The storms in a way simplifies life: you either stay in or go out.  For the most part we stayed in for about three days. Jonathan spent hours shoveling two foot snow so that we could get to our car. DC law also states that residents have eight hours after the snow storm ends to shovel the sidewalks surrounding their property. Many times sidewalks where cleared after the second storm just to have trucks pile more snow on them! Even this week there are tractors and frontloaders working 24 hours a day to clear roads around the city.  I never thought I would see so much snow piled up.  Some of the snow banks are 8 – 9 feet tall!

Many of you wrote and called us to see if we had enough food. Yes, I did my time waiting an hour to check out at the supermarket during the prestorm rush several times. Then Jonathan thought of getting Chinese food feast so that we didn’t have to cook: Brilliant. So, yes, we had plenty of food and haven’t gone to the grocery store for about 10 days!

Today we got our second mail delivery today in eleven days. I don’t know what happened to the mail delivery in all weather idea. They would have had to have snowshoes!

Our trash hasn’t been picked up in three weeks because the trucks can’t get through the alleys. It’s piling up on our porch. It’s piling up on every street corner all over the city. Public works instructed DCers to put their trash on the front curb. You can imagine what a whole city’s trash on the curb looks like. They also suggested “holding onto recyclables” since recycling pickup is also suspended (almost 4 weeks). Where shall I “hold” my recyclables?? Against the few green bones in my body we have had to throw everything in the trash for the porch.

We (and our city) are finally starting to recover, however there are lingering problems that the city is going to be plagued with for months. One of which are the terrible road conditions after the snow, melting and refreezing in the asphalt. There are potholes as large as three feet wide and deep enough to swallow tires. Another issue is ice! Sidewalks have been shoveled with varying degrees of attention.  Walking two toddlers 1.5 blocks from school was pretty tedious. Caed did fall at one point, but he is so close to the ground it didn’t even phase him! (I am sure that it helped that we were moving slowly)  Parking anywhere in the metro area is complicated. Huge snowpiles take up the majority of the lot.  Drivers are creating places to park that are barely legal.  Parking in residential areas or downtown is hard too.  After folks clear out their spot they want to keep them! Everybody is using funny things to save their parking spot–chairs, workhorses, brooms, tables. I even saw a bookcase.

We have had so much fun during this time too. I thought that being cooped up with together would make us go absolutely mad. We may have had a bit of cabin fever, but for the most part it was nice to do crafts, watch movies, eat good food and go sledding. We also did “snow cream” for the first time! We took clean snow and added soy milk, vanilla and sugar over the top. Think Hawaiian Shaved Ice Cake batter! It was a welcome treat after we got hot and sweaty from playing outside.

If any DCers are still reading and have other funny experiences, I would love you to post a comment.

More photos are posted here and I will also post some videos later on. Love to all

More photos here.

hit that ghost pinata!

Beekeepers: Mr Nathan & Mr Andy

They were really quiet!!

Trying on beekeepers hats!

Mr beekeepers, kiddos and Mrs. MaryBeth!

Bees’ dance!