give my kids just about anything...

...and they will find a way to play animals

...or some form of vehicles.

they've been on a magnetix kick lately.

happy birthday, miriam

we celebrated miriam's birthday a day early with family and a few friends after her final soccer game today. tomorrow we plan to have a mostly quiet (a figure of speech) day at home. enjoy the "Best of Miriam 2007-08" slideshow. (to view it larger, click on the bottom right-hand corner, then "miriam slideshow", and then select the "slideshow" button on the page it takes you to.)

and, i just had to show off her birthday cake. :) i remembered just in time that my mom had this dog-shaped pan from when we were little. matt gets all the credit for flipping it out of the pan in one piece!

tricks of the trade

i didn't even realize this until after i had taken this first photo. see how it looks like i so perfectly captured the setting sun in the background? i thought it was pretty cool, too, until i discovered that it was not the sun at all, but a street lamp in the distance. when i changed my focal point, standing in the same spot...

i got this photo. the weeds (though i hate calling them that, because aren't they pretty?) are creating that blurry effect as i photograph the street lamp through them. i just thought that was interesting.

efficient apology

sawyer had done something to his brother that required an apology. when i asked him, "what do you say, sawyer?" he replied, "sorry levi, i forgive you, and amen."

snowy shoreline

the kids and i took a drive out to the big lake this morning. if you live locally, i would highly recommend making the trek out there soon -- the expanse of frozen waves were too amazing for me to capture in a photo... and i was too cold to try real hard. can you tell i really liked the fences?? and take note of the shadows -- we have SUNSHINE!!

enjoying february

I read a post this week on one of my favorite blogs that inspired me to do something similar. In an effort to see the positive during what can be one of the most downer months of the year, she listed her “February Ten” – ten things that were currently giving her joy. Since 11 out of the last 15 days here in West Michigan have been void of sunshine, I am feeling the need to do the same. Just thought I would list off the things that are helping to keep me going this month. Care to join me, either in the comments or on your own blog?

1 – Having a night away at a B&B with Matt last weekend in South Haven. So wonderfully relaxing.

2 – Attending a very encouraging homeschool support group meeting this past Thursday evening at my friend Joni’s house. We listened to a recorded message given by Sally Clarkson, whom I love, and had a great discussion afterwards.

3 – Playing my new favorite game, FreeCell, on the computer – except for when I lose.

4 – Watching the entire set of Jane Austen films on Sunday nights with my neighbor, Janet. PBS is currently showing all of them in a series. Last night Matt & I also watched the new release about her life called “Becoming Jane” which was also excellent.

5 – Thinking about my garden and the possibility of planting more vegetables this year… is it possible that spring is officially only little more than a month away?

6 – Looking forward to making a trip out to the Meijer Gardens in a couple of weeks to see the butterflies (and buying a year-long membership while we’re there!)

7—Miriam’s Saturday soccer games, and seeing how much she enjoys it and how much she has improved since last year.

8 – Reading Tumble Bumble with Sawyer and hearing him recite almost the whole thing from memory.

9 – Remembering that my children are only going to be these ages once (especially as I consider my oldest will be turning 7 in a week!)

10 – Getting a little handmade stuffed owl in the mail from a very kind and crafty friend.

an attempt to see the beauty in it

even though i am generally not a fan of all this snow and cold, i must admit that there are few things as beautiful and serene as a freshly snow-covered world...

sumac--a splash of color in a black & white world.

cattails in sepia tones.

doesn't this one look like a fine pencil drawing?

i love how the blue sky is trying to peek through in this one.