Q: How do you entertain a Toddler when it's raining outside and the electricity's off inside?

A: Worms! (Or as Jack says it: Warms!)

Our electricity went out early this morning, thanks to a blown transformer somewhere in the neighborhood. It could have been worse, I guess - Jack had school today and I had just planned to clean house. Phillip just packed up his laptop and headed to church to work, so none of us were really any worse for the wear. However, when I got back home from picking Jack up this afternoon, we still didn't have power! And it was raining outside...

So, I asked Jack what he would like to do since we couldn't watch a video or make popcorn or play in the sprinkler or ride the tricycle - which are the usuals after we get home from school. "Warms, Mommy! Wanna see the warms!", was his quick reply.

Yesterday, we found some inch-worms hanging down from a tree in our front yard and Jack was mesmerized - though very hesitant to get too close. Apparently, sometime overnight, he had overcome his fear, so I slipped on some flip-flops and went out in the rain to hunt for some worms.

To Jack's delight, I found three - a Mommy, a Daddy and a Baby, according to my little guy. At first, he would only watch as they crawled and "danced" on my hand and arm. Then finally he said, "Mommy, wanna haff it? Jack wanna touch it?" I figured he'd scream the second I put them in his hand, but he didn't. He actually let them crawl all over his hands, arms and legs. He was fascinated, and very pleased with himself, I could tell!

I really love these photos. I love them because they showcase Jack's curious nature, his unquenchable thirst for discovery. His fascination and joy. And also because they capture such an ordinary, everyday moment - passing the time waiting for the lights to come back on. I am really trying hard to remember to photograph our life - our ordinary, everyday life - because to me, it is in these very moments when life is truly extraordinary. And if we're not careful, we just might miss it.