Maple Sugaring in March

 Here is a post that was supposed to go up in March, but...well...you know.  

One of the cool things about Ohio is the maple sugaring season.  We have fabulous nature centers here, and the closest one to us offers free tours of the maple sugaring process each spring.  It's incredible because they set it up to show you the old fashioned way of tapping the trees and processing the sap (all the way back to the Indian times), and then also compare it to the modern day process. 

The Sugar Shack on the banks of Rocky River

The kids peeking into one of the buckets.  No boundaries here!  Stick your finger in and try all the sap you want!!!

Allie ready for the hike with the perfect walking stick.

Here are the nonexistent pictures of our kids in the Indian camp hut, our kids eating the free dollar pancakes with fresh maple syrup, and finally our kids and us looking into the steaming kettles as the sap boils down.  But, our camera battery died, so you'll have to use your imaginations or wait until next year to see our amazing pictures!

Fashionista

Emily loves to pick out her own clothes.  First thing after we get home from a day out, she rushes into her room to change.  I can hear her rummaging around for awhile, then out she comes with a big smile on her face completely content in her newly picked outfit. 

Here is an example of her 5 year old fashion style.  She definitely is an individual!

Tribute

Mrs. Ruscher was Emily's first teacher.  As our first child to go off to school, Mrs. Ruscher helped not only Emily, but us as parents as we said goodbye every morning.  She was the ideal teacher, firm but loving.  She shared with us stories from Emily's day that makes a parent smile with pride and laugh with delight.  The wonderful thing about Mrs. Ruscher is that we knew she felt the same.  

Late last week, we received a call from a fellow teacher at school.  She was letting us know that Mrs. Ruscher had a sudden stroke and passed away a few days later.  It's a tremendous loss.  She was only 58 and had taught at Bay Presbyterian for 30 years this year.  We love her and will treasure the memories and the wonderful lessons she taught not only Emily and her students, but everyone she encountered.