Chuck E. Cheese

We used some coupons to go to Chuck E. Cheese last week. The kids love that place and I'll try to remember NOT to get the pizza again. This horse is Sabrina's favorite ride at Chuck E. Cheese. She spent most of her tokens riding the horse. Alex was extremely happy to win all those tickets. Marie-Anne

Welcome Back Friends- at Alexander Park

I'm so super excited that Tamie, Jacob, and Robert moved back! I told the kids that we were meeting friends at McDonalds then going to the park with them, but I didn't tell them who. When I saw them in the parking lot I asked Alex who it was. He stared for a long moment before replying, "I don't know. Who is that?" I leaned over and whispered, "It's Jacob." His eyes got huge and without saying a word he ran to the door. We went to Alexander Park. I haven't been there since the last time I went with Tamie. They now have a splash pad. We spent hours there. The kids had a great time and I did too. I have missed Tamie as much as Alex has missed Jacob. I'm so glad they are back! Marie-Anne (I have no idea what's going on with the format of this post. I tried to fix it several times.)

Springs Preserve

Yesterday, the kids and I took advantage of our membership to Springs Preserve.



We spent a very long time at the playgound's sand pits, (the ones in the shade).

We stopped in the Nature Center for the kids to play, do a craft, and use their points for nature items. I forgot to bring in nature items to exchange, but they both had points left over from last time. Alex got additional points for answering some questions about ladybugs. Sabrina chose a shell and Alex got a fossil.



Notice the look of concentration. That highlights a difference between her and Alex. Sabrina spends a very very long time doing her art. Alex tries to get it over with as soon as possible.



While Sabrina did the craft Alex played with duplos.



Eventually we wandered over to the other parts of the museum. The kids played with the erosion display for a while then we watched the flood demonstration.



We headed back outside to the smaller sandpit and the "town."

Marie-Anne

Duck, Duck, Goose and The Struggle for Catan

Tonight we had game night!



Our first game was Duck, Duck, Goose. I was very happy to find this game at a thrift store recently because it was the first game that Alex ever played. He loved this game when he was little. Sabrina won that game.



Our next game was The Struggle for Catan. It is a card game where players try to build settlements and trade. Needless to say it is for the three older members of our family. Frank won this time.

Marie-Anne

Dixie National Forest

On the way home from Bryce Canyon we stopped at Dixie National Forrest. While Frank took a nap the kids and I explored.



First we explored the visitor's center. The kids enjoyed the hands-on activites. After a while, Alex asked if they offered a Jr. Ranger Program. Although they don't, the ranger gave him a bird list with pictures.






Of course, we had to go out and try to find those birds. We chose a trail and blazed it, (we were being bold explorers after all).






We were much too loud to actually spot any birds, but we had fun.



When Frank woke up he didn't know where we were so he became a search and rescue party of one. I did wake him up to tell him where we'd be, but I guess he didn't wake up enough to actually remember that.

We drove through Dixie National Forrest and I fell in love with it. I want for us to go camping there someday, maybe in the Spring...

Marie-Anne

Pictures, pennies, and Park Rangers

There is a very good reason why Bryce Canyon is a National Park. The views are astounding. The view is especially breathtaking for a certain someone who has a fear of heights.



These are hoodoos. "Hoodoos are tall skinny spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins." (Definition from the National Park Service website.)



First, we stopped in at the visitor's center for Alex to get the Jr. Ranger booklet. The kids had a lot of fun on the wooden horse, which according to the kids is very fast.





We hiked along the rim. Since Sabrina is only three we pick short and easy hikes. This one was a little over a mile on a smooth trail. (As the kids get older we'll try harder hikes.)



Frank and Alex hiked ahead so Alex could make it to the Ranger led program in time.





Sabrina and I walked at her pace and stopped to watch a raven who was "talking" to her. We also saw a chimpmunk and heard something making a clicking noise. We investigated until we finally realized it was a grasshopper.

We stopped at the general store to browse. I was excited that they had a penny stamping machine until I realized I didn't have enough change. We searched the car and came up with exact change- I was extremely happy. It's a silly little thing, but I've been collecting stamped pennies for the kids for years.

Marie-Anne

Laura's Pool Party

Our friends Laura and Chris invited us to their house for lunch and swimming. The kids stayed in the pool almost the entire time we were there.



At one point Frank had to jump in to save Sabrina who decided she didn't need her arm floaties. I think she has learned not to try that again.



Marie-Anne

Clark County Museum

After visiting the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and getting something to eat, we stopped at the Clark County Museum. It has been a while since we last visited this museum. The kids were disappointed that they no longer have a rotary phone, (perhaps my parents can find Mamaw's old phone and make two kids very happy).





It was hot and Frank wasn't feeling all that great so we didn't do as much of the outdoors stuff as we normally do. We still had a good time.





Marie-Anne

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Yesterday, we went to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve for the first time. Next time we go we will wait until cooler weather since there isn't much shade.





The kids loved the classroom. They get excited about educational displays and hands on activities.





We borrowed binoculars and Sabrina had a pair of play binoculars. They were a lot of fun to play with. If it wasn't so hot we might have used them to observe birds, (LOL).




Sabrina was very whiny and complained loudly throughout most of our walk. I explained to her that it makes us happy when she's being good, but nobody wants to be around a grumpy person. She was much much better after that.







Marie-Anne

Are you a Good Person?

Most believe they are. Have you ever told a lie? How many? Does that make you a liar? Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of the value or how long ago? Does that make you a thief? As a lying thief, are you still a good person? Maybe compared to another individual, but a law breaker does not have that luxury. A good judge must bring judgment on a transgressor, in order to remain good.

Not lying and not stealing are two of the ten commandments, used as a small sample to illustrate two things: you, measured by a good law are guilty (who would claim lying is a good thing?) and, without knowing the "Ten Commandments" know in your conscience that lying and thievery are wrong but you have done them anyways.

IF there is a God and eternity would you stand innocent or guilty, not based a some ancient text, but on your own conscience? God is a good judge if He judges the murderer, rapist, extortioner, etc., but He is so good, that liars and theives will be condemned as law breakers also. Am I the "mean" one that identifies crime? Is the witness the one deserving punishment or is it the guilty?

The above was the beginning of the Bible Study we had last night. All are guilty before God, but because of God's desire to grant mercy, without allowing your crime to go unpunished, Jesus Christ was punished for you. What love for the guilty! Turn from your crime and trust wholly in Christ in order to escape the justice you deserve.

God's Perfect Plan

One of the ladies brought these flowers for us.

We have decided to open our home to our neighbors for a home Bible Study. We made flyers and knocked on the doors in our neighborhood. Many people were interested. Last night we met for the first time and five people showed up. I have to admit, I thought it would be mostly kids, but they were all adults. We knew one couple already,(from when Frank was a pastor) but the others were neighbors that we had just met. It was also their first time meeting each other.

I have often missed the way I grew up where I knew all my neighbors and often visited them, with or without my parents. (Of course, I was related to most of them somehow or another.) It is not that way here, most people keep to themselves and there is not a sense of community. God has shown us that we can create a sense of community where ever we are. It is up to us to reach out to our neighbors to create the sense of community we desire.

Please pray for us and our neighbors that we'd grow closer to God and to each other.

Marie-Anne

Escape, the Hamster

Escape is a great name for our hamster. I've lost count of the number of times he's escaped, (about 5). This last time it took days to find him. In that time he chewed three holes in the carpet.

When I finally did catch him he bit me hard. My poor thumb bled for a long time. Today I had to get a tetnus shot. So, I got a sore right thumb and a sore left arm.

Maybe a hamster isn't the best pet for us. I've never had these problems with any other hamster I've ever owned. If you are thinking about getting a hamster don't assume that the pet store has handled it. Ours is wild and grown so we haven't been able to tame him.

Marie-Anne

Morrell Park

We met our friends Kristina and Vegas at the park. The kids had a great time while I visited with my friend.



This is the dog my kids get to "borrow" while at the park. (They beg for a dog.)

Marie-Anne