Sam's Town- Bowling

Our POGO pass includes a free game of bowling every month at Sam's Town's Bowling. Today was our first time going there.  It is a very nice bowling alley. We did have to walk through the casino to get to it. Casinos really stink, but the bowling alley didn't. They have a free kids' club, which allows kids to get a free game every week day. They just have to pay $1 for shoes and parents would have to pay full price. We plan to use that for part of the kids' P.E. 

We aren't that good, but we do have fun.

Marie-Anne

Community Pool with Friends

The kids and I have been meeting up with some friends at the pool a couple times a month. It is fun.  The kids get to hang out with some of their friends and I get to hang out with one of my good friends. Life is good.

Marie-Anne

Pets

The white bird died a few weeks ago.

Marie-Anne

Game Time

Kerala is a new game to the kids. It took more coaching for Sabrina than we realized. I think they will like it once they understand how to play. Frank and I have played this one multiple times. I really like it, though he always wins. 

Sequence States and Capitals is a family favorite. I added a small map of the United States, but it didn't work out as I hoped. Sabrina was trying to find the states she doesn't know, and held up the game several times. Maybe the map will work if I just play her with the goal of her learning. (U.S. Geography is a class she will be taking this year.)

Marie-Anne

Homeschool Group- Community Pool

We met our homeschool group at the pool with the diving boards. The kids were quite happy that the diving boards were open this time. I enjoyed spending time with a good friend of mine.

Marie-Anne

English Second Language Class

Frank and Christina taught on requests using could and can't.

Alex occupied the older boy with action figures.

Sabrina and I played with the younger kids.

Marie-Anne

Homeschool Club- Community Pool

We were scheduled to meet our homeschool group at a local community pool. However, nobody else showed up. It didn't really matter because we have a pool pass. We had a lot of fun.

Marie-Anne

Roller Skating

Both kids really love roller skating. It was one of my favorite activities as a teen. I am thankful that I get to share it with my kids.

Marie-Anne

Mother's Helper

Sabrina said it was her best time, yet being a mother's helper. I am so thankful that my friend is allowing Sabrina to have this opportunity to get experience with toddlers. As of now, Sabrina wants to run an in-home daycare when she grows up.

Marie-Anne

Ronald McDonald House- Cookie Crew

Alex and Sabrina made Sugar Cookies for the residents and staff of the Ronald McDonald House. One lady exclaimed, "What? No Snickerdoodles?" I pointed at Alex and said, "It's his fault." He explained that he is tired of making Snickerdoodles and that he has the recipe memorized. 

Once again, we were asked to decorate incomplete lunch bags. It is quite a challenge to take someone else's drawing or a kid's scribbling and make it into a complete picture. We do our best. 

Alex turned this blob into a smiling amoeba.  

There was one bag, that we just couldn't give to a sick kid's family; some kid drew a skull and crossbones. We briefly thought of trying to make it a pirate theme, but it looked too much like the poison symbol, which took up one whole side of the bag. 

Marie-Anne

Ronald McDonald House- July's Favorite Caring Cards

Alex's drawings

Sabrina's drawings

My drawings

Marie-Anne

Game Night

The kids and I had a game night. We played Skippity, which is a game I really like. Alex and I tied with four points each. Sabrina had three. Then Alex had other things to do.

Sabrina and I also played Gobblet Gobblers a couple of times. This is a game that she really likes.

Score Four is a game I picked up at a thrift store. It is a 3D version of connect four. There are multiple ways to win, so it is very tricky and fun.

Marie-Anne

Red Lobster

We used a gift card and went to Red Lobster to eat. We all got the four course meal. I am amazed that Sabrina ate almost all of it. I thought there would be enough leftover for her lunch tomorrow.

Marie-Anne

Nursery

Sabrina's friend, Faviola, asked if she could help out in nursery. Truthfully, I thought the head nursery worker would say no, because she is only 7. However, she did a great job playing with the toddlers. I'm not sure how often she will be in nursery with us.

Marie-Anne

Swimming

Frank took the kids to the indoor pool.

Marie-Anne

Mother's Helper

Sabrina is still loving her Mother's Helper job. The little man got a trampoline for his birthday, so pretty much everything they did was on the trampoline. Sabrina is always very excited to go to her job and very excited when she comes home and tells me all about it. 

Marie-Anne

Elias' Birthday Party

We were invited to a birthday party for our friends' three year old. I wasn't feeling well, so Frank took Alex and Sabrina. The party was held at a park with a splash pad.

Marie-Anne

CHoSN- Project 150

We joined CHoSN today at Project 150, which is a nonprofit that helps homeless teens. We spent three hours sorting clothing donations. They have a boutique that allows teens to get nice clothes for free. 

Marie-Anne