Our grape leaves are finished and I could eat the whole pot!!

Here are some of the displays from our Around the World lunch.

Japan... soba noodle soup

Comanche Native Americans... nuts, dates, jerky and pemmican.

South Africa... peanut stew and yellow rice

Syria.... grape leaves and shunkleesh (this is ours!)

Sophie loves mommy's homemade pizza!

The kids rolled their first batch of grape leaves for our International lunch with friends.

We made some sidewalk paint on our amazingly hot March day in Michigan.

One tray wasn't enough. The kids had fun coloring mixing it, too. It's equal parts water and cornstarch; whisk together. Then, let the kids add their own food coloring. 1 cup parts makes about enough to fill 6 muffin cups 2/3 way.

Jason painted the world.

Sophie experimented with painting tools.

Running around with painted feet!

We even chased moths!

And the kids spotted their first dandelion and asked how many we need to make cookies.

First dandelion wishes of the year!

The violas in the grass are blooming, too!

And back inside for some yummy braided string cheese from the Middle Eastern store.

We went to Maple Syrup Day at the nature center.

We learned all about making maple syrup. The kids are practicing tapping trees!

And trying out some maple syrup on waffles at the end!

Jason had a small virus and wasn't up for playing in the lovely 75 degree March day in Michigan, but Sophie had a blast!

She rediscovered our dragon gardens from last year.

And collected a lot of worms!

She helped me plant salad greens and kale.

And, of course, splashed in a mud puddle!

What could make a better day?

Our cousins and Grandma L came with us to Cranbrook Institute of Science today. We attended the Young Scientist program with the topic of maple syrup.

After a nice little nature walk, we spent some time playing inside, too.

And we took our own nature walk to the wigwam.

The kids collected items on our walk and they made a birds nest, complete with egg (rock).

After reading a really amazing book called "Javier Builds a Bridge." We got together with friends to try out building bridges.

The kids constructed a couple of different kinds and tested them out with dinosaurs and aliens. Because if a bridge can't hold dinos and aliens, it isn't a sturdy enough bridge.

We went to our nieces birthday party. Here's Sophie with cousin Lucas.

And Leah, too.

And the birthday girls. It was a princess party.

As a kid, I loved Spaghetti-Os. However, I am unlikely to serve them these days. I decided to create my own version. In place of the carrots and onions, you could put in anything. I just wanted to make sure it was orange in color as not to change the shade of my spaghetti-Os at the end. I was thinking winter squash would be really good in it, but I didn't have any on hand.

Homemade Spaghetti-Os

2 can tomato sauce

1 quart veggie broth

1-2 cans water

2 Tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp onion powder

2 med carrots

1 small onion

salt

1/2 box alphabet pasta

olive oil

raw mini-meatballs (I used beef, bread crumbs, shaker Parmesan cheese, eggs)

Finely mince carrots and onions in food processor. Add olive oil to large pot and saute the carrots/onion and garlic for a short time. Then add in the broth, sauce, water, onion powder and salt. Bring to simmer. Drop in about 30 mini meatballs, or more. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add in alphabet pasta. Bring to simmer again and cook for 10 minutes until pasta is done. Add water as needed if it gets too think.

Picture coming...

Here Jason is giving Sophie a ride across the ocean.

And the whole family playing dress up with silks.

Sophie was very proud of her giraffe LEGO tower.

Sophie and Jason have been enjoying this unseasonably warm spell. They immediately got out their wheelbarrows and started moving wood chips and dirt around the yard!

Jason had his spring music concert. He's in the second row on the far right.

He's second from the left holding up a note.

Reading stories in bed with daddy!

Sophie and her babies (Lucas and Leah) are going grocery shopping. She is wearing Leah in her Beco, but Lucas wanted to sit in the cart.

Sophie wrote a story and read it to Daddy, Lucas, Leah and their big sister (all dolls).

We have worms and ants already. The kids decided that wasn't enough and resurrected our old ladybug house, too. This is all in our dining room.

It's game night!

Grandma and Jason playing Wildcraft!

Grandpa and Sophie playing Connect-Four!

Indy's just watching everyone play.

Grandma trying out her new sling with Sophie. Now she's ready to watch cousins Lucas and Leah!

Here's my first meal cooked from all those veggies I prepared the other day. I used the sweet potato bag and my pork tenderloin. Dumped them in my slow cooker for 4 hours on low along with some red wine vinegar, a dash of maple syrup, and a few raisins. Sprinkled the pork with paprika and thyme, too. The whole family enjoyed it! And the veggies were not mushy!