Grandparent's Day

Today was grandparent's day at Caden's preschool. He was so excited to bring Grandma to school and show off. I took pictures, but the camera settings were wrong, thus we will post an old picture of Caden and Grandma. I am bummed that the pictures didn't turn out-modern technology, only as smart as the user. For me, that is not good.

Happy First Birthday Nika!

It is a beautiful spring day, finally able to get out and go for a walk. Here are some more pictures from out butterfly garden tour.

Happy Easter

Daddy and Caden are a perfect match!

From the bunny!, he even signed it and left a trail of jellybeans from Caden's door to his Easter basket.

hey, it's hard to get two three year olds to sit still. This is our friend, Mikayla.
Happy Easter!!

Empty Tomb Cookies

This was a recipe shared with me by a good friend. It is a really great Easter activity with your kids. They aren't the best tasting cookies (to me) but the message is wonderful and the kids love it.(thanks Laura)

to be made the night before Easter
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites (at room temperature)
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Zip-lock plastic bag
wooden spoon
duct tape or baking tape
Bible
wax paper

1. preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place pecans in Zip-lock bag and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. (read John 19:1-3)
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put one teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty at the cross, he was given vinegar to drink (read John 19:28-30)
4. Add egg whites that are at room temperature (important) to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
(read John 10:10-11)
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our sin. (read Luke 23:26-28).
6. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add one cup of sugar. Explain that the sweet part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know Him and belong to him (read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16).
7. Beat ingredients with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus (read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3).
8. Fold in broken nuts and mini chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. (read Matthew 27:65-66).
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. (read Matthew 27:65-66)
10. Tell the kid's that it is time to go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (read John 16:20 and 22)

On Easter morning:
Open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. He had risen! (read Matthew 28:1-9)

One Big Day!

We were able to go to the Frederik Meijer gardens. They have a beautiful butterfly display this time of year, it is our way of beckoning spring here! Then, on a whim, we decided to let Caden see his very first movie. We did it up big, we saw Robots at the I-max theatres. It was our first I-max movie, really neat! Caden loved it and sat still the whole time!!! Robots was a wonderful movie, a definite must see.

Bright sunny day

The snow is finally melting and the daffodil bulbs are popping up. We are thinking about going to the butterfly exhibit at Frederick Meyer Gardens. Last time we went it was beautiful and they are supposed to have at least one thousand more this year. These are pictures from two years ago when Grandma and we all went. Decided not to mortify grandma by posting pics of her :)! Caden still sucks his two fingers, but much much less.

Easter "ham"

Good thing that dad got a job (good job, dad!)(we don't know when it will start), because our little "ham" is out-growing all of his clothes! His PJ's go up to his knees and they are size 6! I think he is going to be a giant. (not really)! We are going to go check out what the Easter Bunny can bring him!

jewelry preview

These are some of the stained glass, photo, and resin jewelry pendants I have been busy making lately. The bottom ones are drawn on shrink plastic and baked, they are meant to be layered. I have designed a cherry blossom tree branch to be layered over the brown, green or red background. They are nice in person, but a little difficult to photograph. I will be trying to be able to get better pictures for the www.buggabu.com shop. They are getting closer to be finished and I will be able to start up the store.

It is a nice sunny day today! Finally! Until tomorrow....

Another picture to share

This is another picture of Caden and Grandpa swinging. This is actually at the park where Paul proposed to me. I sure do wish we cold have some more blue skies! We had some this morning but now it is cloudy again! ugh.

Star of the Week

Caden was elected star of the week for preschool. He gets to take "bear" home and bring him wherever he wants. This is a picture of them eating lunch together. They also played out in the snow and made snow angels together. At the end of the week we journal what they did together and send "bear" back to school for the next star of the week. Below is a picture of the construction paper egg basket that we all made this weekend, it isn't beautiful but it was fun making it, so I guess that is what counts. Next year I think I will buy pretty pastel or scrapbooking paper to make prettier eggs. We are going to color eggs today.

princess mommy

This is a picture of Caden putting Daddy under arrest at Christmas. Grandma Mary and Grandpa Al sent Caden a police officer dress-up suit and Grandpa Mike sent Caden his very own miniature Harley. It worked out perfect, without anyone knowing or planning it. Isn't life full of serendipity?

Today as we were leaving for church, Caden look up at me and said "Mommy looks like a princess". I have to say that is one of the sweetest thing that he has ever said. He is usually busy telling us what truck is driving by or running and jumping (like just about every three year old boy). It just caught me off guard and made me stop and realize how fortunate it is to have family.

Happy Palm Sunday, wishing you a good passover week!

Swinging in Calfornia

This is a picture of Caden swinging on a bright, sunny day in California. Caden and I went to visit Grandpa and Great-Grandma in February. Inspiration on a dreary day here in Michigan, at least it's raining and the snow is melting. Today Paul, Caden and I made an Easter basket full of decorated eggs out of construction paper! Pictures will be posted soon! (They haven't been downloaded yet) We had fun getting glue stick and glitter everywhere! Can't believe Easter is so soon!

Where is Spring?

Just a little taste of spring. Spring is about three weeks behind, we have had an exceptionally long winter, in fact we got a couple of inches last night! Here's a picture of our condo taken today, looks a little dreary, huh?

gas just jump to $2.40 here, ugh.
Here are a couple more of my pictures and collages of favorite family pictures. The blue is a cyanotype process, and the brown ones are sepiatones. I love photography. Oh and I have also been playing around in Adobe Illustrator and made a new logo for Buggabu designs. But I have been so busy I haven't taken the pics of the jewelry for the website.

Happy St. Patrick's day!

When Caden arrived at preschool this morning, a leprechaun had infiltrated the church! Little green footprints wound around the whole classroom, he even knocked over toys, but his footprints led the kids to a pot of gold(wrapped candies!). Bad Mommy forgot to dress him in green (hey, he's Italian anyway!), but it worked out! I made up for it with leprechaun special for dinner (corned beef and boiled red potatoes). Hope you all have a great St. Patty's day!