Earth Day..snowy, snowy Earth Day.

It's a bit challenging to get into the mood of Earth Day when the daffodils are all covered with snow.

All day long it went: rain, snow, hail, sun...oh good...wait...clouds, snow, snow, hail....WHY!?!?!

My day was only mildly effected by this meteorological bummer because it was filled with:

Agnes

pizza

10 beautiful baby white spruce saplings

pregnant bellies and lime green eyeshadow

and 

Kids Night at church

It was there that I was privileged to watch these fine Brenneman boys show me their moves.

Daniel embraces the traditional Irish jig and Jacob prefers a modern sort of hip-hop expression.

I also enjoy how Jarrod G. runs through midway hollering at the top of his lungs.

Third Sunny Day

*OOps, I posted all these photos backwards BUT cuteness exists outside time and space.* 

What I think is so particularly adorable about these dresses is how ill fitting and goofy they are. It's really sweet. Riley pulls it off better but Isa keeps her shirt, socks and mary janes on. See what I mean about ragamuffin?

Look at those sweet smiles. Cole is camera shy.

Checking out the booty (it was peeps).

Riley showing off her treasures to her sweet mama Melissa.

Agnes hamming it up for the camera. She's also pretty glad about the Popsicle. They were in the shapes of the sun, bunnies, flowers, butterflies. Nice job Leiah.

Saige is tickled to get a peep.

Isa searching for eggs. It was harder than we thought.

Searching for the eggs. Cole decided to just work the grocery cart.

Second Sunny Day

We went to New Germany State Park to buy some plants from in support of Savage River Watershed Association. There weren't many plants left but there were trees and that, I think, may have been better. I got two Fir, one Hazelnut and one Black Chokeberry. 

Everyone who is able. Go plant a tree. They are gifts to us. 

Isa wanted to enjoy the lake and play along the shore. There was a sweet little boy named Caleb who she enjoyed digging in the sand and kicking around in the water with. I was able to have some mama talk time with Caleb's mom. I cannot remember her name because I call her blue mountain mama, her blog's namesake. I could not have been more fortunate to speak with such a neat lady. 

See that speck? It's a good as I could possibly get it. This is a picture of the BALD EAGLE that we saw soaring over the lake! He was probably hunting for some good juicy springtime fish to gobble up. It always feels like a beautiful gift to see one of these beauties.

First Sunny Day

Thursday we went to Cumberland, Md to enjoy their beautiful bike path. Cumberland has a lovely path along the canal and a bunch of restaurants and stores called Canal Place. There is a really nice bike shop called Cumberland Trail Connection where you can rent all sorts of neat bikes and the staff was wonderfully helpful.

We were going to rent some bikes but both children were too small for the tag along kid attachment. The bike rentals didn't work out so we enjoyed a walk in the sun. We really, really needed the sun.

Isabella and Conrad ran up and down the path, jumped in mud puddles and then laid down and snuggled in the grass.

Isa tried to hug Conrad. This was his response. Classic!

Susan Boyle how I love thee.

I first came across Susan Boyle after reading Eugene Cho's blog. (Eugene is the pastor of Quest Church in Seattle, passionate about global poverty and an awesome guy. Go enjoy his blog on a regular basis.) How can you not fall in love with this glorious story? How??

Here is the link to youtube where you can see the full version of Susan in all her glory. All embedding of her performance has been disabled, so you've got to follow the link. Lame, but oh well. It's totally worth it.

Typical that no one can imagine that someone who isn't beautiful by our cultural standards is automatically assumed to be a failure. External physicality has nothing to do with vocal skill or any skill really. I can think of several singers that have totally mediocre voices that have had hit singles all because they are pretty. (must....resist...urge to......name.....names....)

Reason #1643 that we all need to give the middle finger to any force at work that doesn't speak truth about who we are. Beautiful, talented, smart and beloved!

Hopefully Susan will humble everyone like she did at her performance and make us all think of ways we perpetuate prejudices in our world.

Post Edit: I just found out that Susan Boyle has been all over the U. S. media. That is so fantastic.

To all my possible readers in the Portand metro area.

My dear friend Stacie is in a pickle this summer and would like to give her services for some cash or trade.
Here is her blog: http:​/​/​stumblesoftly.​blogspot.​com/​
It has a list of what she can do for you.
If you or anyone awesome you know can help a sister out that would be great.


I mean look how happy she makes Isa. And that's first thing in the morning.

I wish this sort of thing would happen more often.

Holy Week: Easter Day part 2

After Church we went to Mom and Dad's where they hid eggs throughout the yard. Brilliantly my Mom put clues in the eggs that Isa found outside for the gifts that she had hidden inside. This made Easter exponentially fun.

My Dad the chronicler :)

How excited is she about her basket?

Here is one of the clues my Mom made. It was like Blue's Clues.

Josh and I got a basket too. Starbucks, Godiva, a new sparkly tea towel...nice. Who is more excited me or Isabella?

Holy Week: Easter Day part 1

Nicole and Andrea Opel. It's nice to have Andrea visit us and let us know all the shenanigans she up to at seminary.

Beautiful Easter girls Anneka, Miranda and Malia.

Isa got to hold two week old Lily Beatrice. Can you imagine how stoked she was? Isa is sitting next to Lily's brother Nathan. They got along very well during the service.

This is the tomfoolery I enjoyed while we sang hymns.

Brent and Anneka sang a song in celebration of Easter. I remembered my camera records video midway through the song. Check out the little dress fling at the end of the song. Cute.

Look at these sweet faces. Jolene and her sweetie pie Autumn.

Brenneman girls all wear the same shoes and flouncy skirts. This is its own phenomenon, unplanned.

Taryn. She's my prayer pal. She is fantastic and adorable and smart and a softball queen and, and, and....

Megan and Doug the Canadian announced their engagement. Megan is getting a big, sweet hug from the Dodge.

Edit: Megan is marrying Steve the Canadian not Doug the Canadian. I could have sworn they called him Doug.

Holy Week: Saturday at Keela's house

Keela Pfaff has the best parties! This woman works full time at Sacred Meadow Montessori, has a four year old and I can only imagine all she wants to do is take a nap. Instead she puts on these fantastic kid parties on the weekends. This Easter she hosted an egg hunt.

Tina helping Sammy find some eggs. For the record, Tina is the loveliest, most graceful mama I know.

Conrad checking his treats amongst the fantastic bunny cake Keela made.

Conrad asking Isa what treats she got.

I asked Benjamin how happy he was with his eggs and this is the face he made.

Lucas dying eggs.

Sammy dying eggs.

Conrad tutoring his friends in the art of frisbee throwing.

Holy Week: Maundy Thursday Love Feast

Who doesn't love something called a "Love Feast"? I have always stayed away from this Thursday night party because of the whole feet washing thing. Awkward. However, Trina encouraged me to go and it is always nice to have a fellowship feast. I told Isa about the event and she was all over foot washing. Completely excited! 

We had some chicken soup and then celebrated communion.  During the subsequent prayer Isa took the opportunity to announce and show the group that she has a hairy back. She has the cutest, wispy hairs along her back and is rather proud of this cuteness...but it's very annoying during prayer and communion.

So I went and I washed Isa's feet with the assistance of 4 year old Anneka and then in turn those two little 4 year old girls washed mine. Adorable. I had Isa on the one foot and Anneka had the other. It's a shame that I don't have a picture of this. But I do have pictures of us hanging out afterwards.

Isa, Anneka and Abigale playing after the celebration.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Me, Terry and Miriam.

Springtime in the Mountains

Happy Springtime! Isabella (outfit chosen herself and very Stacie Wolf in style) and her dolly affectionately known as Rue McClanahan went out after several days of snow to enjoy the newness of Spring. What a wonderful bunch of goodies we found.

Here is where the Robin Red Breast has made her nest the last three years.

Here is Isa listening for the Robins outside. They were everywhere yesterday. Tons of worms for them to enjoy.

Lilac blooms. I cannot wait until they are in full bloom.

Pulmonaria (aka Lungwort) being shady and prolific.

Lady's Mantle is always so gentle and fuzzy. I love how she collects the morning dew.

Tiny spearmint budding amongst last year's branches. Cute aren't they?