When in Vegas...

and it's too windy to play outside try this:

I bought a 3 pack of punch ball balloons from the dollar store. I blew them up without using the rubber bands. The kids have had so much fun with these giant balloons! We also use bubbles with a fan. The fan blows a lot more bubbles than I can.

Marie-Anne

Great find at the thrift store

I buy most of our books from the thrift store. I’d rather get 5 used books for the price of 1 new board book. Yesterday I found a whole bunch of Abeka readers! These books are about $10 (plus shipping) new. I got 13 of these books for $7.59.

Marie-Anne

A surprise date

I took the car yesterday and only told Frank that his time after work was mine. Of course he tried to find out what I had planned, but I only told him “we’re going to the moon” was code word for my plans. What he didn’t know was that I asked a friend if I could drop the kids off with her before I picked him up. I got him a CD, a card and candy. He was so surprised when I showed up without the kids! We went out to eat at Hush Puppies just the two of us. We were both a little giddy like we were dating. It was so much fun!

Marie-Anne

“I feel like a grown-up!”

Normally Alex eats off of a kid’s plate, but yesterday I handed him a regular plate. I didn’t think anything about it until he declared, “I feel like a grown-up!”

Marie-Anne

National Park Week

If you can take advantage of National Park week April 17-25. All National Parks are free!



Marie-Anne

I Found Jesus!

From Frank: The husband of church member and I went to an auto parts store and Alexander tagged along with us. As we were making our way to the back of the store where we could order parts, Alexander was distracted by some Hotwheels © displayed on one of the shelves. Leaving him to gawk at the toys, we men proceeded to the counter to talk with the clerk.

After a minute or so, Alexander, from behind us exclaimed loudly, “I found Jesus!” We all froze and did an about-face. All my hopes for my son as a Christian father flashed before my eyes: salvation of my son, a life dedicated to serving God and helping people. Oh, the joy and hope I experienced in that moment! As I focused on Alex, he was holding something in his hand, a metal car decal shaped as a silhouette of Jesus! I have to admit that, it was not what I was expecting, but at least Alex recognized who’s image he was looking at.

Coin Collecting

I’m getting Alex started in a new hobby; coin collecting. For years I’ve saved all wheat pennies that I’ve come across. Now Alex and I will learn more about it together. This afternoon I took him to a coin shop. He really enjoyed looking at the coins through the magnifying glass. I bought a handful of wheat pennies and a book to put them in. For now, as we learn, we will mostly be collecting from our change, (state quarters, presidential gold dollars, and pennies from every year). His interest will dictate how serious or casual our collecting becomes.

Marie-Anne

Book Drop #3

Book Drop #3 Grover’s Guide to Good Manners was dropped at the quarter machines at the mall.

Marie-Anne

Miniature ant farm

I got Alex a miniature ant farm from Target’s dollar section. It is an awesome buy! Last night we brought it to church and collected 4 big ants. They have been very busy making tunnels throughout the ant farm. It’s amazing to see how much work just four ants can do.

Tonight we are going back to Target to get the other two colors, which is great because we found three different types of ants at the church.

The younger and older kids both loved watching the ants. I made sure I told all the parents where I got it and how cheap it was. I hope some of them will get one for their kids. If you have kids I highly recommend getting one of these miniature ant farms.

Marie-Anne

Happy Easter

This morning Alex woke up before 7, he never does that, because he was so excited to get his small legos. He got to pick it out yesterday and he even slept with the bag! Both kids got a new Bible. Alex got an Elmo pail with a miniature ant farm, stickers, flower seeds, a small amount of candy, and a Curious George stamp set. Sabrina got an Abby pail with stickers, a small amount of candy, little people toys and ribbon for bows. (Most of which, came from Target’s dollar section.)









In Sunday school the teacher had the kids plant flowers to represent new life. After service we had the last performance of the puppet show. It was a lot of fun. Many of the kids hadn’t seen it so I was glad they got a chance to.



Later I read six books about Easter to Alex. (I have a collection of Easter and Christmas books that I read to him every Easter or Christmas.)

Marie-Anne

Book Drop #2

Today I dropped Spring for Strawberry Shortcake in the courtyard of our apartment. Since it was windy I placed a rock on it.

I went through my kids books and I have about a box to donate for this project. I will be doing a lot more book drops after I read them to the kids one more time.

Marie-Anne

Puppet Show

Sunday night we had our first puppet show. It was at Martin Luther King Park. The puppet show was a smashing success! It went really well and we had about 70 people there! Every kid I talked to liked it. Afterwards we passed out flyers inviting them to church.

Monday and Tuesday we had the puppet show at the library and had a good turnout. We had our final performance today after the Easter service. We all enjoyed it and plan on doing more.

Marie-Anne

Honest Alex

At Target Alex was on one aisle and I was on the next. He came to me and said, “Mommy, I broke something.” I told him to bring it to me. He brought a bank broken beyond repair. I took it from him and put it in the cart.

“Mommy, are you mad?”

I admit I was a bit surprised that he asked. “No, Alex, I am very proud of you for telling me. If you didn’t and I found out I would have been mad.” Another lady overheard and said he did the right thing.

“Mommy, will the store people be mad?”

No, they know that accidents happen. Now I am even prouder of you because you told me the truth even though you thought you would be in trouble.”

I told the clerk what happened and offered to pay, but didn’t have to.

Marie-Anne

Lied Children’s Museum (again)

Today we took advantage of Bank of America’s Museums on Us program to go to the children’s museum. It has been changed since we last went. There was a really fun builders section with all kinds of building materials and pulleys. They also have a Bearestains Bears exhibit. We never even made it upstairs.










Marie-Anne

Red Rock Canyon

Yesterday we went to Red Rock Canyon. First we stopped at the meadow, (the same one we went to in November) for lunch. Alex, Kelly, and Hannah hiked up a very tall hill. I got to show them a nest of caterpillars that looks like a spiderweb.



After lunch we went to Red Rock Canyon. It was so much fun! The kids enjoyed the visitor’s center then we were off to climb some rocks. Sabrina walked beside me while Alex and Hannah raced ahead. We all, except Sabrina, climbed up the side of the mountain.






After a while we dragged the kids around the bend. It was even better. Even Sabrina could walk up part of it. Kids Alex’s size were scrambling up to the top, but he needed help coming down so he didn’t go too high. There was also a ledge that I helped Alex and Sabrina onto which they absolutely loved.





It only costs $20 for a year’s pass. I am definitely planning on going back!

Marie-Anne