Another apartment playground

Today we went to an apartment complex to invite people to a revival. With as many teams as we had it didn't take long to do the entire complex!





As we pulled up Sabrina yelled, “Playground! Playground! Thank you honeys!” After we finished the kids got to play at the playground. Since the kids go with us we try to let them have fun too, especially if there's a playground.

Afterward the soul-winners went to Applebees for snacks. It was a wonderful fellowship.

Marie-Anne

Yesterday was a fun, busy day.

I took the kids to story time at the library. Sabrina got a rubber duckie and a new board book for completing the Toddler Summer Reading Program. Alex got two free books for his participation in the Summer Reading Program. The librarian cheered for both of them- it made them beam.



We had lunch and play time at McDonalds. Alex was thrilled that there were several kids his age to play with.



Next we went shopping at WalMart. The kids lost the privilege of going to toys- Sabrina wouldn't quit shouting and Alex wasn't listening. They were instant angels after I told them we weren't going to toys so they still got to go to the family fun center.



We stopped at Barnes and Nobles for Alex to get his free book for participating in their Summer Reading Program. Sabrina fell asleep in the car so I put her in the stroller. I read a couple of books to Alex and then he read some super-hero books on his own.

After this busy fun day Alex fell asleep in church.

Marie-Anne

Wetlands Park

For Family night we went to the Wetlands Park. I love this place- it is one of my favorite places in Las Vegas. We walked the trails and enjoyed each others company. It was so peaceful. After visiting the playground we went to Cici's Pizza for supper. It was a very nice evening.

Marie-Anne

Mission Hills Park with the Homeschool Group

On Friday we met the homeschool group at Mission Hills Park for a play date and potluck. We also had a curriculum exchange where I got rid of a lot of stuff and got a few books. Alex is starting to get to know some of the other kids which is great.





Once again Alex asked for church cards so he could invite some “teenagers,”(actually they were closer to 10). He said he had the courage, faith, and trust to do the task.

Marie-Anne

M Park

We went back to M___ Park, ( I don't know the name) to evangelize. The kids got to play, of course!





It's really neat to see how our children want to be like us. Alex asked for church cards to invite some kids. Sabrina also asked for a church card than ran and set it on the bench beside a lady- I guess she didn't know what to say.

Marie-Anne

Raising Readers

To encourage reading I keep a backpack filled with books in the car. Now on car rides or while waiting somewhere Alex is almost constantly reading. Sabrina is also flipping through the books. It is mostly an assortment of picture books and board books (for Sabrina), but I also throw in one or two chapter books as well.

I have to change out the books quite often. I mostly buy our books second hand so it doesn't cost much to own a whole lot of kids books. Thrift stores and garage sales normally sell kids books for less than a dollar.

An unexpected side effect of bringing books instead of toys is that the kids are calmer as we wait. I have noticed this especially with Alex.

Marie-Anne

Brain Pop free trial

Alex loves Brain Pop! I just found out that they offer a free 5 day trial.

New friends

Yesterday the kids and I went to McDonalds and the mall with our new friends; Vanessa and Hazel. Hazel wouldn't play at first, but after a while she really enjoyed herself. Sabrina was thrilled to have a friend closer to her size.



It got real quiet on the way to pick Frank up from work.

Marie-Anne

Got Playground? Will play.

The kids went with us to an apartment complex to evangelize. It had a rundown playground, but they wanted to play. The comparision between this and the parks we went to recently is amazing, yet the kids had just as much fun here as they did at the fancy playgrounds.

Marie-Anne

Two parks one day

I took the car one day last week just to get out of the house. I took the kids to MLK Park in the morning.





We stopped at Mission Hills Park before picking Frank up. (Notice Sabrina's stained clothes and face? She spilled her Icee right before we got to the park.)

Marie-Anne

Summer Reading Programs

It's that time of year again- Summer Reading Programs have begun. Each has it's own rules so check them out:

Your local public library

Pizza Hut's book it: http://www.bookitprogram.com/summerbreak/docs/entryform.pdf

HeBuddy: http://www.hebuddy.com/content/pdf/readingclub.pdf

Borders: http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/formDoubleDogDare.pdf

Barnes and Nobles: http://img1.imagesbn.com/pImages/kids/summerreading/2011/BN-Tear-Pad.pdf

About.com: http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/currlanguagearts/a/readingclub.htm

Chuck E.Cheese has a bunch of rewards including reading:

http://www.chuckecheese.com/promotions/rewards-calendars.php


Marie-Anne

Centennial Hills Park

Our friends had their kids' b-day party at this wonderful park. (Why are all the great and wonderful parks far from us? I already know the answer.) At first we went to the wrong part- this park is huge and has several playgrounds.







We finally found our friends and the kids had a whole lot of fun; giant slides, tubes, a playground and a splash pad. There were some fits when it was time to leave.
Even though it's a ways from here we'll have to go back soon.

Marie-Anne

Mission Hills Park

We met the homeschool group at a new to me park. This park is amazing. It was also super crowded. Several schools were having field trips. At first we couldn't find the group. We hung out at the playground for a while then went to the splash pad. Thankfully some of the other moms spotted me and waved me over.

Since the splash pad was fenced in and I made sure Sabrina and Alex knew where I was I got to relax with some of the other moms. Normally I'm too busy chasing Sabrina. It was great. We all had a great time.

Marie-Anne

We went evangelizing near a park that I didn't know about. When the kids got tired we took them there for a while. They loved getting in the splash pad. As my dad said, “What kid doesn't like water?”

Later we went back to see a play put on by the Potter's House. The kids got to play at the playground while the play was being set up. It was a very interesting play called Hooked about drug addicts and how God can save and change their lives. The cast members were former addicts. Needless to say the play opened up a great opportunity to discuss drug use with Alex.

Marie-Anne

Meeting the Red Lobster

Frank took us to Red Lobster to welcome us back to Las Vegas. Everything was so delicious! As we were leaving Alex got to hold a lobster.

Marie-Anne

Louisiana- Treehouse Children's Museum

Nana, Courtney, Alex, Sabrina, and I went to the Treehouse Children's Museum. Alex enjoyed it so much last time that he requested going back. Courtney enjoyed it just as much as the kids did. Alex loved playing doctor.

Marie-Anne

Louisiana- Alligator Farm

Growing up in Louisiana you would think I've been to an alligator farm before, but no, this was my first time. I have to admit it was a little scary being on a boardwalk surrounded by animals that could easily eat me with only a fence between us. In one area I counted 30 alligators and that's only the ones I could see.







There were also goats, deer, peacocks, racoons, snakes, and a possum. The kids enjoyed it, but it was extremely hot.



Before we left the kids got their picture taken holding a baby alligator.

Marie-Anne

Louisiana- Alexandria Zoo

I was very happy that Mamaw agreed to go to the zoo with us. At 91 she was the biggest kid there! It was mom, Mamaw, Jessica, Jennifer, Amelia, Grace, Alex, Sabrina, and me.





The kids also had fun at the playground and on the train ride. We wore the kids out. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards we went out to eat.



This may very well be the fox I donated to the zoo. I caught a malnourished baby fox one night on my paper route. We couldn't keep it so we gave it to the zoo. The zoo didn't have foxes before then and now they have two.

Marie-Anne

Louisiana- Colfax Park

My dad and Nana took the kids and me to the park in Colfax near their house. Then Jimmy (my dad) got chicken and fries. It was hot, but we had a good picnic and their were lots of kids for my kids to play with.

Marie-Anne