Okay, so maybe only fans of the show Supernatural will get this, but the grape is safe from haunts and demons!  (My goofy children did this, and I had to get a picture)

According to JoAnn's Fabric store, I should definitely already be getting ready to celebrate my St. Patrick's Day Birthday. 

     So when my mom used to give us ideas and advice for dressing up to go to 50s and 60s themed dances in jr high and high school, I can remember giggling and asking if one day (when I was, y'know,  OLD;) ) kids would be dressing up and going to 80s themed dances.  It was a strange thought at the time.  
     And of course, it's happened. The other night I was giving suggestions for hair-dos to my fellow dancers and classmates who were heading off to an 80s dance after our performance. :)  

Drinking tea in the snow.  (That coat you see underneath my hoody?  It is from Smarmy Clothes.  And I LOVE it!)

One of my favorite ways to start the day!  With a muffin and a mocha from my favorite coffee shop, hanging out with one of my kids!  (My oldest was off doing the zoo volunteer thing, so it was just the youngun' and I!)

Can you stand one more picture from our visit to The Leonardo in SLC?  (That is, until we manage to take another trip!)

There was an art lab where they had an artist-in-residence working, and various tables set up where you could draw or work on other projects.  (I'm not sure where my cardboard zombie puppet got to, but it was pretty awesome.  My son created a fantastic bat puppet.)

This was my drawing of the wooden mannequin from the art table. Not bad, right!? My daughter's was of course much better than mine - but I haven't obtained permission to share it with you yet!  

Another shot from our trip to The Leonardo in SLC!  Did I mention how much we loved this place?  They had a tinkering lab with projects to do and things to, well, TINKER with!  The kids happily spent some time with these, making motors whir, lights light up, and noisemakers buzz.  

Took a trip to Salt Lake City in December, and got the chance to stop by the (super-duper cool!) Leonardo Museum of Science, Technology, and Art.  (If you get a chance? YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT IT IS AWESOME!)  We were heading to a hockey game, and so only had about an hour to see what we could see, but could have happily spent an entire afternoon there.  

This was an amazing sculpture that subtly reacted to you  via sensors as you walked below it. (And then there were sensors that would react to that movement above)  Those protrusions that look like feathers were actually finely cut plastic. And despite its resemblance to jelly fish, my daughter agreed with all of us that it was rather lovely. (She has a jelly fish phobia.  Even though we live in Idaho and she's only been to the ocean once.  Go figure.)

Just editing to add that this was created by Phillip Beesley.  You can read a bit about it here and even download an mp3 of the artist discussing the work!

Concentrating on the next Jenga move during a visit to Grandma's house!  Grandma J will spend hours playing games with you, it is great fun!