Stuff at Home, and a Sad Goodbye

In mid-April we went on a field trip to the Natural History Museum.  The kids fixated on the gem exhibit, so we spent almost the whole time there.  They (Connor and Elise) loved it.  They saw all kinds of crystals and gems, and learned about how hard it is to mine for Emeralds.  At the end, we were suckers and bought all kinds of rocks and a crystal-growing kit for "educational" reasons.  Evan, however, wasn't feeling it.  He had a meltdown around nap time, which ended our day a bit early.
  

  
Connor's class has been working on a butterfly garden at school.  They researched native plants and butterflies as a class, weeded and mulched the garden plot, and planted the seedlings.  Then, at the Earth Day celebration the kids got to do a booth to teach others about their garden. 
   

   
Elise made a play-doh "Mom" one day, and wanted to save it forever.  I got her to agree to take a picture that would last forever instead.  Also, she designed a flower princess outfit, and thought that should be documented, as well.  I totally agree.
   

Those are real petals and leaves taped in her crown.

  
Connor discovered my Star Walk app one night, which sparked a week-long obsession with learning about galaxies.  Too bad we live in L.A., and can't even see stars half the time!  Maybe I'll buy a telescope and keep it at my mom's house.
   

 
May 2 was the birthday of our sweet little Italian Greyhound, Portia.  She turned fifteen.  We'd been agonizing for almost a year about her, since she had been blind and deaf for some time, and it had only gotten worse in the last few months.  She wasn't in pain or anything, but she couldn't really find her way around, was constantly bumping into things, and spent all of her time sleeping on the couch.  I didn't know what to do, but it gradually became clear that she wasn't having fun anymore.  After I had made the decision to have her put to sleep, I stayed up late one night just petting her and praying and thinking of all the life events she'd been there for.  It left me with a sense of peace, and gratitude that I'd had such a great first dog.  
  
I was worried that the actual appointment would traumatize me, but it actually was much easier than making the decision had been.  The vet was super sweet and sympathetic, and after it was done, they told me there'd be no charge.  That was a nice gesture, I thought.  The kids were sad for a little while, but they'd been prepared that this would eventually happen, and got over it pretty quickly.
  

No, she's not dead here, just napping.  The heater was her best friend.

We'll miss you, Portia Brown!