She's a junkyard angel and she always gives me bread

What does one do with a shiny new sifter?
Make Alphabread of course. I have kept an old, plastic, hard to use sifter since we were married almost 10 years ago, and the Easter bunny brought me a new one.
Funny how we hold onto things that are neither useful, beautiful, or joyful.

Alphabread was a blast, and the kids loved every bit of it. Weekend chores these days now include making granola bars, granola, bread, peeling and slicing carrots and celery, and making homemade pancakes that can be popped in the toaster on busy school days. Yum!

We love earthday

We are famous!
Well, not really, but we are here.

But it's like I'm stuck inside a painting

Hey everybody. this weekend Mom and I went to a painting class, and had so much fun! The teacher was fantastic! I think she has a super business going on: http://www.apriljamesart.com/index.php

She's tossin' a baseball bat in the air

As the sea of spring sweeps over us, we are engulfed by the endless tide of activities and fun.
(Was that too cheesy?? Probably)

Any way, we went to a Sounds game already, and had big fun. On the way there, I glanced in the back seat and noticed that Eli was systematically licking the bottom of his tennis shoe. I know he had licked almost the entire thing because it was all wet. Gross. "Eli don't lick your shoes."
Eli (Incredulously): "Why??"

We stayed until the very end to watch the first round of fireworks for the summer, which Ollie loved. Eli, on the other hand proclaimed that, "fireworks are not his thing." He said that he prefers bubbles as far as things that pop go.

As I seriously wrap my brain around the possibility of homeschool next year, Ollie came out of school with a large poster last week that all the children had. From a distance in the carpool lane, I thought it was a poster that had all the Presidents, and I thought, how cool! But, alas, no, it was poster that had all of the Titans and photos on it. Modern Education....

But I've been sniffin' too many eggs

We'll in case you were worried, the kids had PLENTY of eggs for Easter this year. We have an obscene amount of plastic. I remember the good ole' days of real eggs.. The good news is we'll have enough for the entire neighborhood next year. And, if we wanted to jumb in them like a the balls they have a Chuck E. Cheese, we are in luck.

Eli's Earth day poster. Hey! Mother Earth needs YOU!

And, look how snazzy they were on Easter morn.

Somehow, I also remember the eggs actually being hidden instead of an egg free for all....

She left here last early spring, is livin' there, I hear

I often think that the "New Year" would be better celebrated in the Spring, when nature itself is renewed. It is unrealistic to really start jogging or eating local in January anyway. As we shrug off the cold, grey weather and start to notice buds, dogwoods, and irises, we also make plans for summer and spring. I have read a couple of great books lately that have inspired and encouraged me to make positive changes in our health and daily routine. We already do pretty well, but I found a few resources that I am excited about:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (the MUST read for Rutherford County this Spring)
The Omnivore's Dilemma

Avalon Acres (Our co-op)
Hatcher Farms (Our local Dairy)

A great organization:
Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee

Don't be a stranger with no brain or heart

With Spring comes the inevitable Sport's season. This year, we really lucked out. Soccer is going to be so fun. Ollie's coaches totally rock. See their big soccer hats! They used them to remind kids to keep soccer on the brain. They made the kids laugh and have fun. Go team! Ollie is #5.

Happy Easter Egg Decorating with Crowns and Coronas (Same thing..)

The storms are raging on the rollin' sea

Back in our much younger days, I traded the above hat to Evan for a couch. I then wore the hat to many, many Grateful Dead shows.

Ollie is sporting a hat that I got in NYC from a street vendor when I had dreads.

Eli's hat, also reversible.

How to fend off tornados and storms:

1) Go outside and breathe.
2) Dig out "magic hats" that help fend off thunder, hail, and tornados.
a. plus they make you laugh and remember old times.

As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden

Help in the yard from these bozos is always a treat.