Eating like an Ethiopian

Laura and Chris took us to Addis Red Sea last night for dinner, where we were introduced to Ethiopian food. It was fantastically spicy, and there was a shocking lack of silverware (you scoop up the food with sponge-like bread). My favorite was the lentil dish: Yesmsir Alcha.

On the way home both kids wanted a ride and to be warm, and since we only had one umbrella stroller, we McGyvered this solution. I've always wanted to try it, and it worked great.

Patriot's Day Preview

After the Sunday morning session of GC, we quietly and quickly scurried out so we could make the dress rehearsal for the Lexington Battle Green Reenactment (they do this on Patriot's Day at 5am with crowds and crowds of people). We had a front row view, parked at the green, and didn't have to get up at 4am.

Salem without Witches

My parents are in town for a bit. Yesterday we ventured to Salem, and managed to see the sea-faring side of the town with no mention of the witches. First we ate lunch at a place called Captain's (and our booth overlooked the harbor). We saw a tall ship (the Friendly) and walked out to a small lighthouse, followed by a 15 minute movie at the national park service orientation center about Salem's history as a port, and finally we found another lighthouse a mile down the road where the tidal pools held more interest than the lighthouse (both were pretty cool). Book recommendation: Carry on, Mr. Bowditch (it's an excellent Newberry medal winner about an actual Salem navigator seaman extrodinaire).

Laundry Day = New Opportunities in Hide and Seek

Bryn still thinks no one will find her with hiding places like these.

Here's my all time favorite Bryn hiding spot from a couple of years ago.

The Young Avid Reader

A Book Tag --for literacy.

A Book Tag --for literacy.

Thanks for the fun tag, Joanne!

Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag someone

Nearest book: (seriously, it was on my piano behind me) Tips on Physics by Richard Feynman

5th sentence on page 123: For a thin disk of mass m and radius r, the principal axes are as follows: the main axis is perpendicular to the disk, with maximal moment of inertia A=1/2mr^2; any axis perpendicular to the main axis has the minimum moment of inertia B=C=1/4mr^2.

I tag: Karen

Another use for re-usable grocery bags

Bryn came up with this fun Saturday activity. Can you guess who wins?

Lumbago...the ultimate Spring Break!

Peter has Spring Break this week, and we were looking forward to a week full of activities such as taking a day-long bikeride in the mild sunny weather with our kids in tow, hikes, car trips to Maine, etc.

Monday (1st day of spring break) came, and wouldn't you know it but Pete threw his back out. It happens a couple of times a year (I keep telling him needs to lose that extra weight), but come on, Spring Break?!? So he spent the rest of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of Thursday laid up.

Finally, this afternoon he felt well enough (only a slight lean to his walk) to go for a hike at the Great Brook Farm State Park, which was nice. Hopefully tomorrow we can find something exciting and adventurous to do in the cold rain/snow.

I think the loveliest time of the year...

Is the spring. I do. Don't you? 'Course you do.

This week in our church was spring friendship week (think secret santa, except slightly warmer), and our spring friends were AWESOME! I've been busy planning my garden, and what should arrive? Not one, but two potted plants! And what should be waiting for me when I got back from an early morning gym workout but pink frosted sugar cookies (the kids had a blast having cookies for breakfast, and I won't lie-I did too).

Thanks to our secret friends for helping us greet the spring season in such a happy way. You rock!

Lawrence Welk, Here We Come

As a child, Saturday night meant an eternity trapped in a chair in front of the Lawrence Welk Show (think polka and polyester) while my mother put my hair in sponge curlers so I could have springy sproingy curly hair for Sunday.

This week I found the wicked torture devices at Target, and of course, bought them on the spot.

I didn't subject Bryn to Lawrence Welk (we flipped between The Ten Commandments and The Magnificent Seven), but I still felt some residual guilt as I put her hair up in curlers.

She trepidaciously asked me beforehand what they were made of and I said "sponge," to which she replied (visibly relieved), "oh, good, like Spongebob." It was fun to wake up and find out what kind of mangy mess we were in store for, and Bryn was thoroughly delighted by her "curly-locks hair."