What is the significance of the cross?

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Happy Easter!!!!

Science Museum Part 2: Butterfly Garden

After seeing the Star Wars exhibit, we went over to the main museum. We spent most of our time in the butterfly garden. It was so relaxing to just slowly walk around the garden watching the butterflies flutter all around us! I felt like I had escaped to a tropical island!

My four butterflies.

This little butterfly was trying to figure out who he was. He looked like he was reading the butterfly identification chart. Poor guy!

One of my favorite butterflies. Asha thought it looked like a Dalmatian butterfly.

Twin butterflies resting on some pretty flowers.

After all that museum looking...we stopped in at the Golden Arch for some ice cream! What a fun day!!!!!

Science Museum Part 1: Star Wars

We took the kids on a field trip to the Science Museum today. The museum had a special Star Wars exhibit, and we knew this was one we couldn't miss (since the kids have been so into Star Wars these days). Here are a few highlights:

We all think Yoda is pretty cute!

Interesting fact: The wrinkles around Yoda's eyes were modeled after Einstein's wrinkles.

Luke looking like Darth Vader.

Asha hanging out with R2D2 & C-3PO.

Lana standing in front of Princess Leia's costume.

R2D2 and Jeffrey were about the same size!

Luke and Lana turn 8!!

We started a new tradition this year on the kid's birthdays. I bring out the baby books and together we look back on when they were born. Oh, those little fingers and toes! I'm very thankful we have a good number of pictures of Luke and Lana when they were babies, because that time of life was a bit of a blur. I had a c-section, the recovery wasn't easy, and then I was thrown into caring for three children under 2 years old (Asha had just turned 2). I remember a few things about that time though. I remember the sweet times of nursing my twins...and marveling at these two creations. I remember on several occasions both of them crying at the same time, and sometimes I cried right along with them! I remember taking family walks almost every night...and those being the best times of the day! I remember once there was a tornado warning (we lived in Illinois and Matt was gone for the day). I took all three kids into a tiny closet under our stairs where we hung out for a while. What an adventure those days were!

Now Luke and Lana are 8! As I type this Luke and Lana are playing Uno together. It is fun to see them enjoy each other..even though they are very different. This year for their birthday we had a party with a few of their friends at our church's gym. How great to have a gym we could use with lots of space to run and play!

Here are some shots of their birthday:

Lana and her two friends enjoying their cupcakes (they each got to decorate their own).

Asha and her friend decorating their cupcakes.

The finished cupcake! Happy Birthday Lana!

Luke with one of his friends. Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke is really into Star Wars right now. For his birthday he got Star Wars Legos, Star Wars action figures, Star Wars books, Star Wars Wii game...you get the theme!

Lana is really into the movie "Tangled"..and was so excited to get the actual movie!

Lana may be 1 minute older...but Luke is several inches taller (and his feet keep growing)! Plus they are keeping the Tooth Fairy very busy these last few month!!