The Cape!

 

You may have noticed the fabulous cape that Klenda was wearing at Easter.

Would you believe she made it herself?!

I gave her some help, but it's her first major sewing project.

She picked the pattern and the fabric, and I think it came out so well!

Just stunning, really, but it could be the model.

Not that I'm biased or anything (Get it, bias!  Sewing pun!)

J

Happy Birthday, Klenda?

So, her actual birthday was... a while ago.

But she turned 22, and had a great time!

 Leena helped make the cake, and I helped decorate it.

She got one of the most fun presents I've ever seen for a young adult!

It was a a package of a ton of different candies from Japan, another package with a variety of savory snacks, and a third package of a variety of Japanese drinks. 

Watching her open things and try to translate them, and try different things was a hoot!

22 Great Things About Klenda

1. She is learning Japanese.
2. She has amazing art skills!
3. She stands up for what she thinks is right.
3. She plays the piano a bit and guitar a lot.
4. She loves to read great books.
4. She has the same birthday as the Fourth Doctor.
5. She is a loving and supportive sister.
5. She loves to learn.
6. She seems to be able to teach herself pretty much anything. 7. She has a great sense of style.
7. She's a careful driver.
8. She sees more colors than I do!
9. She sees beauty everywhere.
10. She's a fun dancer.
10. She's a careful observer.
11. She's a very supportive and compassionate friend.
12. She's an integral part of Team Valtapaz.
13. Her chocolate buttercream pie is swoon-worthy.
14.  She's a talented and creative cook.
14. She's an excellent baker.
15.  She's got a green thumb.
16. She's always up for an adventure.
16. She always does more than the minimum.
17. She's an out of the box thinker.
18. She makes great mixtapes.
19. She's always willing to lend a hand.
19. She's very good at puzzles.
20. Her critical thinking is the key to her success.
21. She's Ultra cool.
21. She shines in multiple fandoms.
22. She loves to support other artists.
22. Her love of God shines.

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Hikes

 

Poem of the Week: Christ the King

 

Pamela Cranston

A POEM FOR THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

See how this infant boy
lifted himself down
into his humble crècheand 

laid his tender glove of skin
against splintered wood—
found refuge in a rack
of straw—home
that chilly dawn,
in sweetest silage,
those shriven stalks.

This outcast king lifted
himself high upon his savage cross,
extended the regal banner
of his bones, draping himself
upon his throne—his battered feet,
his wounded hands not fastened
there by nails but sewn
by the strictest thorn of love.

HT : Journey With Jesus

Image by Klenda

Wordless Wednesday: Early Autumn Hike

 

Off to North Dakota

Mxyl, Klenda, and Zorg are off in North Dakota with my sister, helping out with a summer camp.



Off they went, flying on their own like adults...

Which they are!!

And hopefully having a great time!

Meanwhile, back home with only 3 kids, we are missing them and figuring out how to do things with only five people.

It's tough, but we're managing...

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: Random Art

 The first three are referring to the Professor Layton puzzle games

Yet More Random Things

 I don't think I've mentioned it, but the Emperor had minor foot surgery in January... and again in February when the first surgery didn't work.  I think he's doing better. At the very least, he certainly looks dapper with a cane!  He's supposed to be all healed up in a few weeks.



Completely unrelated, how amazing is it that Klenda can copy a Michelangelo sketch in his style, and also sketch herself and her sister in a completely different style on the same day?

Leena (who backed the big honking van into this tiny parking space perfectly on the first try) is taking her driver's test for her license next week!   I think she'll do great, but prayers would be appreciated!

I'm trying to stretch my brain around the concept that we will have 6 drivers in the house...


And, speaking of stretching my brain, I've been working on a new science class for younger kids: Paleontology!!

It's been super fun to work on, but tricky to  work out how much to cover and in what order.  I started out planning it sequentially, like: this is how life on Earth developed, and then realized that, while perfect for a high school class, it was way too much detail for the age group (7-13 year olds).

On the plus side, I think I've figured out a hands on way to explain radiometric dating to young kids.  It involves chocolate.  I'll be posting those classes as I do them starting in March.





And, lastly, one of the great joys of feeding birds in the winter, is finding your yard covered in teeny tiny bird footprints, along with the occasional little squirrel prints.

Wordless Wednesday: Sisters

Happy Birthday, Klenda!

It was Klenda's golden birthday!




 She got a ton of gold themed presents.




And we decorated with loads of gold, too!

And golden candles on her cake

We all had a wonderful time!!

And we'll do it again with extended family when we are all healthy again!

20 Wonderful Things About Our Golden  Klenda
1. She wears really cool boots.
2. She has amazing art skills!
3. She stands up for what she thinks is right.
3. She plays the piano a bit and guitar a lot.
4. She loves to read great books.
4. She has the same birthday as the Fourth Doctor.
5. She is a loving and supportive sister.
5. She loves to learn.
6. She seems to be able to teach herself pretty much anything. 7. She has a great sense of style.
7. She's a careful driver.
8. She sees more colors than I do!
9. She sees beauty everywhere.
10. She's a fun dancer.
10. She's never overslept and missed her train!
11. She's part of the BCC Crew.
12. She's an integral part of Team Valtapaz.
13. Her chocolate buttercream pie is swoon-worthy.
14.  She's a talented and creative cook.
14. She's an excellent baker.
15.  She's got a green thumb.
16. She's always up for an adventure.
16. She always does more than the minimum.
17. She's an out of the box thinker.
18. She makes great mixtapes.
19. She's always willing to lend a hand.
19. She's very good at puzzles.
20. Her critical thinking is the key to her success.
20. Her love of God shines.