Enjoying the Snow

As I write there are 4 little Marshwiggles in their beds, and the snow is coming down outside. It took a while for it to get started here, and it wasn't really until tea-time that it started coming down with any accumulation. However, the children were still very happy to gear up and head outdoors after their school was done for the day. I think we're all looking forward to tomorrow, to see how much fell in the night, and what can be done with it (snowmen? or just shovelling?).

Stargazing with StarLAB

We went on a very neat field trip recently. A travelling planetarium came to a local museum, and there was a special time arranged for homeschoolers to go! The planetarium is called StarLAB and it is like a giant, inflatable, igloo. We had to crawl in through a little tunnel, and then we sat in the igloo while a interpreter projected stars on the ceiling. She was really good, and geared her presentation well to the younger group I was with, telling them stories about the constellations.




Then we went into another room to make a craft representing the solar system. Emmi was with the older group and she had her turn in the StarLAB while the boys and I made our crafts. She came home with a star chart she had made while we were in the StarLAB, and we had a good time comparing notes.



We also learned about the upcoming lunar eclispe - it's coming Feb. 20!

Capes!

Tim has been dying for a cape for a while. I was planning to make him one for Christmas, but I ran out of time. I was able to sew him one on Saturday, Tim was thrilled. Then Emmi (with help from me!) made a cape for his toy turtle. Here are the two of them, they both look pretty happy, don't they?

Next on the list are capes for the rest of them, and perhaps a few more for stuffed animals too!

CHEEEESE!

Baking Bread

For Christmas I received a new Kitchen-Aid standing mixer! I received one as a shower gift eleven and a half years ago, and its motor is giving out. So my dear husband got me another one! I have to say, I use my mixer a lot, and I was delighted by the new one! After a couple of experiences baking bread, I confessed my frustration with the process to him. I just didn't understand it enough. He responded with getting me this:


This is an incredible book! It explains the process really well. After reading through at least 100 pages of how the steps in bread baking worked, I was ready to try again! Here are my bread baking apprentices:



The final product! A bull's-eye rye with light and dark rye swirls. It tasted good too!

Decorations are down

Well the Christmas decorations have made their way back into the basement. We were greatly helped this year by a very mild spell which made taking the outdoor decorations down very easy, though muddy. I also popped some tulip bulbs in the garden which I had forgotten to do in the fall!

Inside, we are still a little disorganized as some of the furniture is not put back, notably the drum set (I guess that's not furniture though!), but the house has a much sleeker and pared back feel. It's a good feeling! The routines are being re-established, and good intentions (organize the kitchen!) are beginning to be acted on. A Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2008 will be a year of blessing, getting to know God better and deepening your relationships with others.

We were happy to see Uncle Chris today - he's visiting home from England.


The children in particular were happy to see him - so much so that we had trouble seeing him for a while!


Uncle Chris didn't seem to mind!