Fire station tour

This morning we surprised Alex with a fire station tour. I told him we were a family of firefighters today so he got dressed for the role. The fire fighters were delighted to have us and they were thankful that we set up the tour in advance. (Please call or check their website before showing up.)

Alex got to see the equipment that real fire fighters use and he got to get into the trucks repeatedly. Alex monopolized Nate, one of the firefighters. He was absolutely thrilled! Remember, for months Alex was a firefighter and our car was a fire truck. Both kids got a bag with suckers, safety information and a coloring book.

We are planning on going back in a few months with some friends.

Marie-Anne

Guys' Night Out

Monday, Alex and I headed out by ourselves. He was going to get "Papa time", just me and him. Getting off work, I was boyishly excited about hanging out with my son and doing "guy stuff". Alex and I went to the Bass Pro Shop and had a blast. Bass Pro Shop? It is not just a tackle shop connected to a gas station, but a gigantic 16,000 sq ft building of boats, stuffed animals, and cool gear to look at. Alex just had to climb into every single boat and pretend to be the captain and/or driver, and naturally, Papa had to climb in with him! We spent well over an hour there and never got through half the store.
Afterward, I treated Alex to the finest restaurant of his choice. Thankfully for my wallet, his choice is predictable, and he gets fries or apple dippers with his happy meal!

--Frank

Sticker art

I cut out the colorful squares that surround the stickers and Alex made his own version of modern art.

Tot School Sabrina 15 months

Sabrina is 15 months and loves doing what the big kids do. This week was full of Tot School!



One of Sabrina’s favorite activities is stickers. I wouldn’t have thought of giving her stickers, but she insisted when she saw the older kids in my Sunday School class using them. Now she’s almost a pro as long as I peel them and they are big enough.



A lot of reading goes on around here. Isn’t it nice how well they are both paying attention? Normally they are fighting to get in my lap. If anybody asks what is the last book I read I’d have to answer something like Fancy Nancy.



We spent President’s Day at the Wetlands Park, a nature preserve. It was a bit surprising to see so much water and plants growing naturally in Las Vegas.



Playing with big brother while waiting to pick Papa up from work. We got there early so the kids got a chance to eat their snacks and climb on the rocks. It’s a special treat for them.



We had fun building and destroying megablock towers.



Stacking rings are really very fashionable bracelets. She has never used them for anything else.



We also visited Lake Mead's visitor center on Friday.

Lake Mead Jr. Rangers

On Friday we went to Lake Mead with Kelly and Hannah. This time we went to the visitor’s center. It is set up like a gift shop and a hands on museum with a garden and trails.

Alex and Hannah both did the Jr. Ranger booklet. Since they are under 10 they only had to do 3 activities, but we had them do all that they could do. It was nice; the park ranger really took time to talk to them and they were both so proud. They kept saying, “We’re Jr. Park Rangers!” (Many national parks have this program.)



After our Jr. Rangers were sworn in and we walked the trails we went to the lake. We went back to the same picnic area as last time. Alex and Hannah had a lot of fun digging in a pile of dirt. Sabrina didn’t want to be left out so she got a small shovel and ran around.





It was very windy and a little chilly so we did not let the kids in the water. We did go to the beach though, mainly because it was Hannah’s first time to go to Lake Mead. The older two had shovels and had fun digging in the sand. Sabrina kept trying to go into the water until I finally put her in the stroller. No, she was NOT happy with me for that.







It was a lot of fun, even though it was cold. Lake Mead is always fun.

Marie-Anne

Wetlands Park

We went to the Wetlands Park for the first time today. It is a nature preserve. We walked the trail and took lots of pictures. It was so peaceful, but we would have seen more animals if Alex would have been quiet. Even with him being noisy we saw quail, rabbits, ducks, birds, lizards, and a chipmunk. It was nice and we will be going back. Maybe Frank and I will go by ourselves sometime.









Marie-Anne

Valentine’s Day

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day, I did. Frank got me flowers and a card that sings, “Just to See You Smile” by Tim McGraw. Major Sweetheart points!!! I got him a wallet. Alex got a stuffed frog and stickers that he shared with Sabrina. Sabrina got a stuffed panda and a board book. The kids made cards in Sunday School. Sabrina used washable watercolor paint for the first time while I was teaching the class at night. It was a good day.





Marie-Anne

My B-day

I turned one year older!

I took the kids to story time at the library and saw Stacey, who I haven’t seen in months. I am planning on having lunch with her after the next story-time.

In the afternoon I went to the park with my friend Tammie and her sons. She bought cupcakes to celebrate my b-day. It was a beautiful day to spend at the park.



Alex looks like the Joker.



Frank took me out to Lone Star for dinner. It was good and we enjoyed each other. I was stuffed and didn’t think I could eat another bite when they brought out the free b-day brownie with a generous helping of ice cream. It was great!







Frank took me out to Lone Star for dinner. It was good and we enjoyed each other. I was stuffed and didn’t think I could eat another bite when they brought out the free b-day brownie with a generous helping of ice cream. It was great!

Marie-Anne

How do I get kids to clean after a playdate?

Alex has some (older) neighborhood friends who come over and last time they wrecked his room and left without cleaning. This time (the second time they have come over) I was busy and they not only wrecked his room, but the hall and living room too! The girl slipped out of the house without me knowing. And when I told the boy it was time to clean up he left.

I'm not even sure I want these kids back in my house, but they are Alex's only neighborhood friends.

I did mention to Alex that I didn't think they would be allowed in his room again. Maybe he could bring a few toys into the living room, but I don't want my living room trashed either.

What advice do you have? Please post a comment.

Marie-Anne

Doing what you love

I love love love the sketch kit I got for my b-day! I haven’t really done much drawing in several years, but I love to. Yesterday I found a picture of a tree in winter on the internet and sketched it. It was my first time using charcoal pencils. Today I drew one of the fish decorations that Alex took a picture of. I am going to try to draw something almost every day.

It is so nice to get back to doing something you love, but for whatever reason haven’t done recently. Try it.

Marie-Anne

thank you Mom and Dad

My in-laws sent me gift cards for our choice of three restaurants and Borders. The restaurant gift cards were for our anniversary and Borders was for my b-day. Thank you Mom and Dad, we greatly appreciate you!

We went to eat at Red Lobster. It was great! We hadn’t been there for a very long time. The meal was delicious and the kids were well behaved. After we ate I let Alex take my digital camera and take pictures of the fish decorations that he liked. (We will attempt to make one.) I was surprised that every picture he took turned out perfect. He did a wonderful job.

As we were leaving Alex and Sabrina stopped to watch the lobsters and one of the ladies who worked there scooped out a lobster for Alex and Sabrina to touch! Nobody has ever done that. Alex has me stop by the lobster tank at Wal-Mart almost every time we go and now he got to touch one.

After lunch we went to Borders where I got some great stuff almost all on clearance! I got books, a game, mad libs, hair stuff, and several kits. My favorites were the nature explorer and charcoal sketching kits. I look forward to using them. Alex is excited about the nature kit too, but the charcoal kit is all mine.

Again thank you Mom and Dad.

Marie-Anne

Valentine Art

For the little hearts I traced hearts onto thin cardboard with a black sharpie. Then Alex used Crayola Washable Watercolors to paint them. (I like these the best.)



I drew the big heart with the black sharpie. Alex tore tissue paper and glued it onto the heart. After a while he seemed to get bored and filled in the rest of the spaces with colored pencil.



Alex wanted to do more little hearts using oil Pastels.



Little Sister didn’t want to be left out so I gave her a couple of hearts and colored pencils, washable markers, and crayons. (I plan on giving it to her several more times until it’s more filled in. I may even let her put stickers on it.)



Marie-Anne

Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Yesterday we went to story time at the library and to the park with friends. Tamie brought Jacob and Robert Wayne to story time. It was Robert Wayne’s first time and he loved it.

We went to Martin Luther King Jr. Park. We have not been to this park in a very long time. About a week ago we drove by it and Alex declared it as his favorite park, (his favorite anything changes often.)It is a very nice park and only a few minutes’ drive from our home.





Alex built a mountain and buried his shoes in the sand.

The kids all had a very good time. Sabrina loved the swings and slide. Alex and Jacob were everywhere.



Robert Wayne loved playing in the sand and the bubbles I brought. (Handy hint: if you want to be the most popular parent at the park bring bubbles.) Now that the weather is nice again we will be continuing our Park Challenge.

Marie-Anne

My life is a staycation

I was reading some blogs about staycations and a lot of them mentioned things like painting a room. That’s not my idea of a vacation so here’s my list:

1. Take my Park Challenge- try to visit all local parks in your area. So far we’ve visited about 10.
2. Take advantage of your library’s free story times, magic shows, art displays…
3. Buy a year’s pass to your local state or national park (Lake Mead is only $20 for an annual pass.)
4. Cheap local museums (check websites and hotels for coupons)
5. Factory tours- also post office, fire station, police station, animal shelter, library…
6. Walk the mall and let the kids play in the play area and on quarter rides; (I never put quarters in or go into stores.)
7. Go to Chuck E. Cheese and just buy tokens (We went with a coupon from Chuck E. Cheese string cheese for 12 free tokens and bought $5 worth of tokens and it was enough for two kids.)
8. Buy a sundae at McDonalds and let the kids play (Bring something to do or the time will drag.)
9. Play dates- Visit a friend who has kids and invite them over for lunch. It’s always more fun to play with a friend’s cool toys and you get to have company too.
10. Classes at the recreation centers are usually cheap.
11. Go to local fairs and festivals.
12. Visit stores you normally don’t visit- Lowes, Bass Pro Shop, and pet stores are some of Alex’s favorites.
13. Use your imagination and the internet to get more ideas.
14. In our local parenting guide there are ads for first class free for stuff like karate, art classes, baby gyms… I have not tried this idea yet.)
15. Ask your kids what they want to do; Alex has been asking to ride the double-decker bus.

If you have ideas to add leave a comment.

Marie-Anne

Lake Mead with Kelly

Today the kids and I went with my friend Kelly to Lake Mead. We haven’t been there in a long time and it was her first time being there since she was a kid. I love Lake Mead! Of course I got the year’s pass.

We drove by the coyotes, but only saw one in the distance. Then we went to the other picnic area for lunch. Kelly kept saying how peaceful it was and how beautiful it is. Time flew by.



After eating we drove to the water and waded. It was Sabrina’s first time wading and she loved the water. Both kids played in the mud, which kinda surprised me since Alex doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, (or maybe it’s just glue and paint he doesn’t like.) Sabrina kept running into the water every chance she got. Both kids were soaked.

We all had a wonderful time. The only problem is I think we left Alex’s shoes. Hopefully they are somewhere in the trunk, but I didn’t see them. Kelly wants to go again next week when she has her step-daughter.

Marie-Anne