Aside from sickness (plenty of pics)

When we haven't been sitting around like this... (picture taken last September the morning before we took Lily to the hospital) these last couple of weeks, we have actually been able to spend some time enjoying the new growth springing up in our backyard. 

The girls rediscovered the Kid'nex when Mark and I brought in all of the toys to go through a few weeks back (and we finally did get through them all, in case you were wondering).  

Lily tells me these are her fishies.  

My beautiful blooming bleed heart.  

I adore the aroma of fresh lilacs.  

My heart-shaped nettles are finally starting to perk up this year.  They were gorgeous last year, but until the last week or so, they were looking rather sad.  

Violas growing in my rhubarb!  Mmmm...those juicy red stalks make my mouth water!

Budding apple blossoms.

Have I mentioned that I'm simply wild about Spring?

This is Gumby, our green clown goby.

Crawly the Crab

Crawly (named by Elise) is an emerald crab who lives in our salt water aquarium.  One evening a couple of weeks ago, we found him dead in the tank.  He'd been just fine that morning, so we were all very sad that he was gone...........or was he?  Mark was the one who finally solved the mystery.  Apparently certain types of crabs molt too (shrimp do as well, as our family has already discovered)!    

And, what a perfect learning opportunity for the girls!

Out come the magnifying glasses!

Elise was pretty creeped out by him, and ran screaming from the room anytime we gave her a chance to look at him mostly kept her distance.  

Well, just check him out for yourself!  Isn't it incredible how their shell remains so perfectly intact?!  How do they even get out of it?!  God made some pretty amazing creatures.....even if Crawly does look a bit like a hairy sea spider!  

Heeeeeeere fishy fishy fishy fishy!

For all you fans of Classic Sesame Street.

Here are a few pics of the tank.  This is Clara (named by Elise), a chalk basslet.

 

Coral

The nameless crab

"Cleaner" the shrimp (also named by Elise)

And, Gumby, a green clown goby (name suggested by me, and approved by Mark).

We also house 2 clown fish (Dreamsicle & Nemo and a couple of snails, named Star & Bright...Elise really loved "Farmer Boy" and Almonzo's 2 oxen were named Star and Bright).