Long over-due Update

Wow it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Sabrina is walking along the furniture and with her push toy. She also climbed half way up the stairs, (with me right behind her) the other day. Sabrina has 6 teeth now. And her latest joy is to clap her hands.

Marie-Anne

Summer Reading Programs

This Summer Alex will be participating in several Summer Reading Programs. At the library he can earn prizes for reading a certain amount. At Borders he can get a 50% off coupon for reading 8 books. I would like for him to particiapte in Barnes and Nobles Summer Reading program where kids get a free book, but it is for older kids.

If you know of more Summer Reading Programs let me know.

Marie-Anne

Aliante Nature Discovery Park

Today we went to Aliante Nature Discovery Park for the first time. It is an awesome park! It has a huge beautiful waterfall and several ponds. We did not walk the trails today. We went straight to the playground. It has a dinosaur theme and a sandpit where the young palentologists can dig up dinosaur bones. It is also a water park with sprinklers that look like palm trees, a giant snake, and aligators. Alex took a while to get the courage to get wet and even Sabrina got wet. She was shocked at first then she loved it! The play ground had all kinds of climbing things and really high slides. Alex ran back and forth from the sprinklers to the playground.

As we were leaving we stopped to feed the ducks and turtles. A boy Alex had been playing with was there and we pointed out some turtles to each other. Then he fell into the pond! It was scary because he couldn't get his footing and although I was the closest to him I couldn't reach him while holding Sabrina. I got half way into the water, but kept one foot on land so I wouldn't fall while holding her. His mom got him and the poor kid swallowed some of the yucky water, but he seemed okay when we left.

As we were getting into the car Alex reminded us that we had forgotten to shoot his water powered rocket so Frank and Alex shot it off once then we left. We all enjoyed it a lot.

Marie-Anne

The Park Challenge

I did an on-line search for Nature clubs in Las Vegas and came up with nothing. As big as this city is I was surprised. We do go with friends to local parks on occasion and most of the time our family night is at a local park. We've been to about 10 parks here, but lately we've just been going to the one near our house or the one near Frank's work.

I'm not ready to organize a nature club, but I am going to make a list of all parks in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City. Starting tonight we will try to visit each one.

Marie-Anne

Green Hour

"The National Wildlife Federation recommends that parents give their kids a "Green Hour" every day, a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. This can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play."

I would like to do the National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour, but this is Las Vegas, there isn't much green out there. I can't promise to give the kids an hour of unstructured outside play every day. It gets way too hot for that. When it is not too hot I do kick Alex off the computer and make him go ride his bike or play with the sprinkler.

When I was growing up in the country, not the city or the desert, I spent most of my free time in the woods or at the creek. We had animals; horses, cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits... I climbed trees, went fishing, helped in Papaw's garden... I do feel that Alex is missing out by not having that. We live in a subdivision that doesn't have grass much less a playground. (Before you start to feel too sorry for my kids; living in the city has advantages too. Alex gets to go to local parks, musuems, factory tours, the library, take classes at the recreation center, play with friends...)

I will try to fit more outside time in our schedule. I think Green Hour is a great idea.

Marie-Anne

Magic School Bus

Alex’s latest obsession is the Magic School Bus. We checked out a couple of the DVD’s from the library and then I found some of the books at the thrift store. There are also Magic School Bus science kits. Oh I could go crazy with the lots of books on e-bay, but it’s not in the budget right now. For now Alex will have to settle for what the library has and the free episodes online.

Marie-Anne

I Want My Mommy!

Alex got in trouble with Frank and was crying, “I want my Mommy!” over and over again. Since Frank’s the one who Alex got in trouble with Frank was the one to handle him. After a while I snuck upstairs and whispered to Frank to ask Alex why he wanted me. “I want my Mommy! I want on the computer!”

Marie-Anne

Visitors from Florida

My in-laws visited us and we really enjoyed their visit. Sabrina loves the adorable pink stuffed dog they gave her. Alex got a book, James and the Giant Peach, but he was more interested in playing than in hearing the story. We went to the planetarium, which was a first for Alex and me. We also went to the Natural History Museum, (Alex’s favorite museum).

A few days after they left Alex told me he wants them to move to Las Vegas. I said they have jobs in Florida and he replied that they could get new jobs in Las Vegas!

Marie-Anne

Conference

This post is long over due:

We went to our annual Conference in Missouri and it was life changing, (more on that later). We were blessed to see many friends and meet some new ones. Alex is old enough to go to the services, but we decided he would be better off in the babysitting group. It was really good for him to be around boys his own age, (the girls in the group were younger). We came back refreshed and ready to get back to work.

Marie-Anne

Reading to Kids

I am a big believer in reading to your children from a very early age. I started reading to Alex when he was two weeks old and I didn’t wait that long to read to Sabrina. Alex has a huge vocabulary that I know he has developed as a result of us reading to him. We read lots of fiction and non-fiction.

Often we read books that are a little above his level. An example would be that we started reading Clifford books before he was two and at four we are reading chapter books along with picture books. We have at least a hundred children’s books, (most of which I got at thrift stores) and we go to the library weekly. There are numerous studies on the benefits of reading to children. As a mom who loves reading I see firsthand that the studies are true.

Marie-Anne

Trike Update

After we got back from Conference I saw Alex’s trike in the drainage ditch near our house. Well, I prayed to get his trike back, but I didn’t pray that it would be in one piece. The seat is missing the battery panel is ripped off, the headlights are smashed, one wheel is bent in, but Alex still rides it. (One would think he would be riding his bike that is in one piece, but he shows no interest in it.)

A few days ago I found a trike just like his smashed one for $3 at a thrift store. The only difference, (from before the neighborhood kids destroyed it) is the color. Alex is thrilled! We keep this one in the garage.

Marie-Anne

Science Rules!

Alex got two really cool science experiment kits. He got Elmer’s Totally Funky Science and Elmer’s My First Science Lab. I got them both at Wal-Mart on clearance for $5 each. They each have 10 simple experiments. Alex loves science so these were the perfect gifts for him, thanks Dad!

I also got my young scientist a pack of 3 magnifying glasses from the dollar store. That dollar was well spent. He’s been looking at everything through them since I gave them to him. He even had his friends at Conference using them. Eventually I want to get him a microscope and a telescope. (After I typed this up I found a cheap microscope and telescope set at the thrift store that is good for a first set. That is until Alex broke the microscope.)

Marie-Anne

The Read-Aloud Handbook

Elexa e-mailed me about the Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I vaguely remember hearing the title so I checked it out from the library. I’m only on page 50, but it makes such a good case for reading aloud that I am going to devote even more time to reading to the kids. I started reading to Alex from beginner chapter books. Since we are studying bugs I will be reading to him from a great book my mom got called Fun With Nature Take-Along Guide, (This book will increase his vocabulary. These words are in the Introduction: metamorphosis, nymph, sleeker, larva, and chrysalis).

(I started reading the first Jigsaw Jones Mystery: The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster {think Hardy Boys for 1st and 2nd graders} yesterday and Alex has had me five chapters in two days! Tomorrow we will start on page 35.)

Marie-Anne

All Aboard the Coupon Train

On my last shopping trip I paid $78 for $120 in groceries by combining sales and coupons. I just read an article about “coupon trains” where someone mails coupons they don’t use to someone who takes what they need and adds what they don’t want and mails to someone else. My mom mails me coupons she doesn’t use. If any one is interested in joining our Coupon train let me know and I’ll mail what I don’t use to you. You can mail your unused ones to my mom and we all can save money.

Marie-Anne

Happy Earth Day!

I had forgotten today was Earth Day until someone commented on my green and brown outfit. For Earth Day we went on a nature walk at a friend’s apartment complex, (please realize we live in a desert = not much grass). Her apartment has grass, trees, and flowers. So Sabrina, Alex, Jahim (friend’s son) and I walked on the sidewalks and through the grass looking for bugs, birds, sticks, and pinecones. I pointed out the different types of trees and flowers too. We looked at the colors and counted the stepping-stones. The boys also raced each other and Alex beat up dandelions with a stick. It was great fun for a 4 and 5 year old.

I read the story of Creation and how it was God who made the Earth to Alex.

Marie-Anne

Felt food

I just discovered a new craft; felt foods. There are a lot of free patterns on the Internet and books I can check out at the library. Since last night I made 6 frosted cookies and 2 eggs. Then I found out that the craft felt I was using is not the right kind. Well, it was good practice.

Some are very detailed. I saw some for sale for over $20 a set! My cookies turned out cuter than some I saw for sale! Hmmm…

Marie-Anne

Cassandra’s visit Day 2

This morning we watched 101 Dalmatians 2. It failed to meet our standards partly because Cruella throws knives at another character- this is for kids? They don’t need ideas like that! Thankfully Alex was out of the room at that point.



Then Cassandra, Alex, Sabrina and I went to Lake Mead to see the coyotes and for a picnic. We only saw one coyote. After our picnic we went for a walk and saw a bunch of bugs; ladybugs, grasshoppers, aphids, butterflies, and some type of beetle. We also saw a roadrunner. We also let Alex throw rocks into the Lake.

Afterward Alex told me, “This is the best day of my life.”
“Why?”
“”Because we went to the river.”





After we picked Frank up we went to Peter Piper Pizza. Their pizza is so good! Alex had a blast.

Marie-Anne

Alex’s first Easter Egg Hunt

We never felt the need to participate in an Easter egg hunt before. Alex has friends who do and we didn’t want him to miss out on the fun, (after all we do put up a Christmas tree). So we took him to an Easter egg hunt at the library with some of his friends today. It was a story time with a craft and egg hunt. Way more kids showed up than was expected; the auditorium was packed! The kids were only allowed to get 4 eggs. Alex had a blast with his friends.

Marie-Anne

Cassandra’s Visit

Cassandra, Frank’s sister, arrived last night! She will be spending a few days with us. Today we did some running around then we ate at Wendy’s. In the afternoon we went to Sunset Park. It is a huge park. Alex had a blast, but we had to carry Sabrina in her car seat because I didn’t realize the stroller wasn’t in the trunk- I should have checked. Alex was all over the place it was difficult to keep up with him. I went to pick Frank up too early so we stopped by a model train store for a few minutes.





After picking Frank up we went to the library for an Easter egg hunt.



Marie-Anne

Getting in shape with Billy Blanks

A friend let me borrow Billy Blanks’ Taebo Amped. It is a workout and a half! Frank and I did it together and we were both sweating after only 20 minutes. I could not even come close to keeping up, but I do like Taebo and we agreed to do it together 3 nights a week. (Of course, we will buy our own copy so I can return my friend’s.)

I have lost my motivation for losing weight, but I just found it again. I also taped up a picture of me at 135 pounds and a picture of me now on the inside of the pantry door with the question, “What do you want?” That should help keep me motivated!

Marie-Anne