Learning States

My Dad’s a trucker and he sends Alex postcards from the states he visits. We use the postcards that are state maps to teach Alex the states. When we get one in the mail Alex finds it on the map on the wall. I also want to collect the state quarters to give to Alex when he learns the state.

I was impressed that Alex was able to find Kansas on the map after only going over it once when we got a postcard.

Marie-Anne

Water Play

I filled a dishpan-sized container half-full of warm water and added the kids’ play dishes and a couple of washcloths for a fun water play. Both kids had a lot of fun splashing and playing. It quickly turned into a game of give Sabrina a shower with a cup. I need to go change two soaking wet kids and clean up the floor.



Next time I think I’ll let them wear swimsuits and play in the tub,(we have a huge tub).

Marie-Anne

Anderson Dairy with Lulu

Yesterday we went to Anderson Dairy’s Barnyard Buddy Tour with Lulu and her kids. The tour is about an hour long and includes animated puppets, a tour, a movie about the dairy, and free ice cream! Of course the kids loved it!



We also went to Toys R Us so Lulu could get an idea of what her kids want for Christmas. It was a lot of fun and everyone got along really well.

Marie-Anne

Happy 5th B-day Alex!

This morning we gave Alex a few of his presents: 2 Rescue Heroes and an Imaginext T-Rex. After dropping Frank off at work we met Grumps (who has asked for a load through Las Vegas since we moved here). I told Alex that his best b-day gift was his surprise visit from Grumps. We went to Wal-Mart and Grumps bought Alex 4 Bionicles. At McDonald’s Grumps’ driving partner, Kit gave Alex enough money to buy another Bionicle. One happy little boy is playing with the Bionicles. All of that and it is barely noon, he’ll get the rest of his gifts after Frank gets home and we’re having a party for him after Bible Study!

This afternoon Alex got $20 from Mamaw in the mail; he bought a big Bionicle, a jump rope and some homeschool stuff. When we got home from picking Frank up Alex opened the rest of his gifts: 3 Bible Story DVD’s from Papa, 3 Star Wars books from Aunt Sandy, and 2 nice shirts, a wonderful set of Bob Books and a Brain Quest K Workbook that he can hardly wait to do the mazes in from Nana and Papa Rendla.

After Bible Study we had a party for Alex. We had a cake that Alex helped make and icing that Alex picked out. Alex got a singing card, a hot wheels car, a couple of G.I. Joes, and $20. Alex and I made a deal after he bought the big Bionicle that if he got any more money it would be for homeschool stuff, (I think he got enough toys, don't you?).



“It was a good day, even I got Bionicles, a lot of Bionicles today. That was a good day,” Alex.

Update: With the money Alex has gotten for his b-day I got him some workbooks, a 1st Grade Vocabulary Puzzles Computer Game, a Sid the Science Kid DVD, and 4 Waterford Early Math and Science DVD's.

Marie-Anne

Happy first b-day, Sabrina!

Thursday was Sabrina’s first b-day. It was a great day for the little princess, she got lots of books, several My Little Ponies, a Little People set, a cute outfit, a wonderful homemade card that will go in her scrapbook, and some hats for dress-up. (She has more gifts on the way.) Of course she had just as much fun, if not more, playing with the packaging the Little People came in. She wore a beautiful purple and cream princess dress, (We’ll have her pictures taken in it soon.)



After Bible Study we had a cake and Sabrina had a huge cupcake to herself. At first she was being ladylike a barely getting any icing on her fingers. That didn’t last long and she soon looked like a clown. She ended up with cake in her hair, all over her arms, and just about everywhere except her legs because she was in a high chair.

Marie-Anne

October's Reading List

Alex’s List:
Picture books:

Bible:
Be Glad
God’s Son
Good Mud
Heat the Meat
Long Live the King
Moses and Miriam
Rebecca’s Wedding
The Birth of Christ
The Missing Boy
The People Come
Watch Me Go
Who Loves Hagar?,
Biography:
A Lion Bite
Biscuit:
Biscuit and the Bunny
Biscuit Gives a Gift
Blue’s Clues:
Green Puppy Goes to The Dentist
It’s Friendship Day
Nursery Rhyme Treasury
Clifford:
Clifford and the Bath
Clifford and the Big Ship
Clifford and the Big Storm
Clifford Goes to Washington
Clifford Keeps Cool
Clifford Sleeps over
Clifford’s Trick
Fizz
Get the Nuts
Quick Clifford
T-Bone Tells the Truth
The Big Itch
The Vet’s Visit
Corner Kids:
Summer Fun
Curious George:
And the Dump Truck
Feeds the Animals
Plants a Tree
Takes a Train
Visits the Library
Diego:
A Humpback Whale Tale
Disney Bunnies:
Thumper’s Scary Night
Dora:
Dora Climbs Star Mountain
Dora Saves the Mermaid Kingdom
Franklin:
Franklin and the Stopwatch
Franklin and the Thunderstorm
Franklin Goes to the Hospital
Franklin in the Dark
Franklin Plays the Game
Franklin’s Class Trip
Franklin’s New Friend
Franklin’s Secret Club
Franklin Wants a Pet
I spy :
A Scary Monster
Little Critter:
Christmas for Miss Kitty
Helping Mom
Just a Snowy Day
Just a Toy
Magic School Bus:
The Wild Leaf Ride
Messy Bessey:
Garden
School Desk
Robin Hill School:
The Counting Race
The First Day of School
Sesame Street:
The Fix-it Shop
You Wouldn’t Want to…:
Be a Pirate’s Prisoner
Be a Roman Soldier
Be at the Boston Tea Party
Work on the Railroad
Other:
All Wrapped Up
Generous Me
If You’re Happy and You Know It (Jungle Edition)
I Love Cats
It’s All About Me!
Leaf Man
Monster Trucks
Moondance
The Three Snow Bears


Sabrina’s List:

Babyeyelike:
Discover Letters
Lots of Spots
Bible:
Be Glad
God’s Son
Good Mud
Go Fish
Hide the Baby
Watch Me Go
We Need Water
Biscuit:
Biscuit and the Bunny
Biscuit Gives a Gift
Clifford:
A Kiss for Cleo
Cleo and the Box
Clifford and the Bath
Clifford and the Big Ship
Clifford is Too Big
Clifford’s Trick
Fizz
Get the Nuts
Quick Clifford
T-Bone Tells the Truth
The Big Itch
The Big Leaf Pile
The Happy Dogs
The Runaway Rabbit
The Small Red Puppy
The Vet’s Visit
Tummy Trouble
Corner Kids:
Summer Fun
Diego:
Diego and the Dinosaurs
Messy Bessey:
Garden
School Desk
My Little Pony:
Minty Monkeys Around
Ponies on Ice
Robin Hill School:
Snow Day
The Counting Race
The First Day of School
Spot:
Spot Can Count
Other:
All Wrapped Up
Generous Me
I Love Cats
Pirates

Marie-Anne

Mamaw’s 90th b-day!

Last Monday the kids and I flew to Louisiana to visit and for Mamaw’s 90th b-day.
The trip there was horrible- Sabrina threw up on me on the plane after the kind lady at check-in checked my bags with my clothes. Right after I changed her and sat back down her diaper leaked. Then we had a three-hour delay at Houston. Thankfully the rest of the vacation more than made up for that.



The kids got lots and lots of attention from aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and their great-grandmother. They played with their cousin and fought over her toys. Alex watched cartoons and played in Nana and Grumps’ huge yard.




We went to the TREEHOUSE Children’s Museum twice, to the Alexandria Zoo, and to a Harvest Festival at a friend’s church.

Alex was having a blast digging in Mom’s yard. When he came in she noticed his eye looked funny. Then one side of his face swelled and his face and neck were itching. Thankfully she had Benadryl. We had no way of knowing what caused his allergic reaction. She has plants everywhere and we saw lots of different kinds of bugs and spiders the day before. My mom and I took him to the ER. As we were going his whole face swelled even more and he had bumps al over his face and neck. It was scary- we were worried about his airflow, but it didn’t come to that. By the time we got there the Benadryl started to kick in and the swelling started to go down. Since we had no clue what caused it or if he’d have another episode we took him. I have NEVER been in and out of the ER like that! (He’s perfectly fine now.)



On Saturday we had Mamaw’s 90th b-day party. When I first got to the church nobody was there. I was shocked, but then people started trickling in and we had a good crowd. Sabrina spent most of the time with Aunt Jessica in the nursery. Alex spent half his time there and half outside with a bunch of cousins. Mamaw’s best friend from school came and so did a Pastor who used to be at her church. She had a wonderful time.

After the party we went straight to the airport and the trip home was real good.

Marie-Anne