Butterflies of India at Krohn Conservatory

This was our first year going to the Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory. It was themed Butterflies of India.

India and butterflies and flowers -- what could be more beautiful?

We met friends at an Indian restaurant for lunch and then headed over together to see the butterflies.

When we were reading a bit about India at home, Riley was interested in the various gods and goddesses. At the Butterfly show, there was a wall of beautiful pictures and interesting stories about several of them.

I love this -- I thought I had missed the shot because Maya had turned to walk to the next thing just as I snapped the picture. But, look, the statue is waving goodbye to her!

India, Butterflies, Flowers, *and* Laughter and Dancing -- that's what could be more beautiful!!!

Cinci Natural History Museum

The Cinci. Museum Center has 3 museums -- History, Natual History, and a Children's Museum. We've spent a lot of time at the Children's Museum over the last several months -- it is a great place to play and tinker with things and meet up with friends during the looooong winter months.

We got to hang out recently with some out-of-town friends that we've known quite a while an who are now also homeschooling. We went with them to the Natural History Museum for their oldest daughter's birthday.

At home

Paper bag puppets


One of Riley's fairly recent interests: Legos



Sethy's absolute favorite thing at the moment: Godzilla


Maya's photo of her latest favorite animal (as anyone who is her facebook friend already knows from the recent wave of turtle flair -- only to be outdone -maybe- by the recent wave of American Girl flair).

Tinker toy microphone

Guitar Hero World Tour

Clubhouse planning

You know the song for Cookie Crisp cereal: "Oh, you can't have cookies for breakfast..."

Well, Riley says, "Watch me!"

Playing one of my favorite games with Riley: Huggermugger

We made this one morning when Maya and Seth and I were making accordion paper dolls. "One Love" is a reference to this beautiful remake of Bob Marley's song. We put the picture on the wall over our computer in my Collage O' Peace and Love, along with my Doctors Without Borders world map (reminding me of my love & gratitude for what they do); my photos of children from Afghanistan, Iraq, and the most recent addition, Pakistan (reminding me of my love for the ones caught in the middle of heinous things -- I'm so, so very sorry -- you have no idea); and my simple, hopeful quote from Desmond Tutu:

"One day we will wake up and discover we are family."

Earth Days -- the "official" one as well as a bunch of other Spring time/outside things

Matt and Riley flying kites





Closely examining the pieces and parts of a dandelion stem

We visited our friends who live waaaaay out in the woods -- paradise. Matt and Riley and Cameron and his kids went to help work on the outdoor bowl (for skating) and to play.

Matt and Riley after climbing through a cave they have on their property. They had to lie down and wiggle through on their bellies to get through part of it.

The Springtime view from my kitchen

Happy Earth Day!

Some Earthy-ish books I pulled off of our book shelves. We spent the morning reading, hugging trees, playing in dirt, planting seeds, and tending our little garden. In the afternoon we went to see the Disney Earth movie.

Earth Day tree hugging

More Earth Day -- planting marigold and nasturtium seeds here and there around the yard

Checking on our sprouting garden

I wish I had a video of Maya and Seth running into the house to tell me, with such excitement, that this tulip had finally opened. They had been watching it for days, waiting not so patiently for this:

Heading out to our neighborhood park


We actually walked 2 or 3 whole minutes before the phone rang for Riley!

The creek that runs through the park

How cool would this picture have been if I hadn't tilted the camera?!