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

Family tree

Frank had a wonderful idea for teaching Alex about his family tree. We had Alex call his grandparents (also a lesson in phone etiquette) to ask them their name and the names of their parents which he wrote down. Then Alex got to talk to each of them for a few minutes. Afterwards I explained a little about genealogy and showed him a family tree. Finally Alex made a simple family tree.

We didn’t include aunts, uncles, cousins, great grandparents, adoption, single parents, or step families, (all included in our family) though we did discuss them. (I totally confused him with single parents; maybe I should have waited with that one.)

Marie-Anne

Book Drop #1

I came across this blog and loved her idea.

http://www.ourrandomactsofreading.blogspot.com/

Tonight I did my first book drop. It was Fancy Nancy; The Show Must Go On. (I love Fancy Nancy.) I included paper dolls that I printed from the Fancy Nancy website.

I dropped the book at Martin Luther King Park after the puppet show. I left it on the steps of one of the play grounds. Some kids who were at the puppet show told me I left it and I said they could keep it. They were super excited and yelled, “Thank you!”

It was fun, but next time I’ll try harder not to be seen.

Marie-Anne

catching butterflies

This activity provided loads of fun for Alex and Sabrina. I had trouble with the pipe cleaners so we just used tissue paper and the ceiling fan. I got the idea from Frugal Family Fun blog, (lots of good ideas on this blog!)

http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/03/welcoming-spring.html

City View Park

For family night we went to City View Park then to CiCi’s Pizza. We went to this park a couple of times when we first moved here. It is a nice park with two playgrounds. One is at the bottom of the hill near the pond and the other one is on top of the hill. There is a waterfall and a stream that flows into the pond.



Alex and Sabrina enjoyed both playgrounds. Sabrina loves the slides and can go down by herself now. Both kids also enjoyed the wagon ride.





Marie-Anne

Another wonderful day at Lake Mead

Today the kids and I took our friends Tammie and her son, Jacob to story-time then to Lake Mead. We had our usual picnic then headed to the beach. Today was warm enough for us to wade! We all got soaked and all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The kids also got rides in the wagon. Lake Mead is always great fun!

Marie-Anne

Probability worksheets

Alex was playing the sample games on Time4Learning’s website. After he did the pre-k-1st grade games he wanted to play some of the 2nd-3rd grade games. Most were too difficult, but he really liked the Probability game. I was amazed at how well he did after I explained it to him.

I made some worksheets based on the game. Here’s a sample problem:

1. 5 frogs, 2 salamanders, 1 beaver
What is the probability of choosing a frog? ________


The child first counts the frogs = 5. Then the child counts all animals = 8. The answer is 5/8.

If you would like a copy of the worksheets I made leave a comment or e-mail me.

Marie-Anne

Audio books

I got a set of audio books from the library. Alex is addicted to them! He has been listening to them since last night. He’s already listened to 5 stories out of 8. These are Magic Tree House books that I’d already read to him.

We have the Narnia series, Adventures in Odyssey, and Your Story Hour: Life of Jesus and Acts of the Apostles. I’ll have him listen to some of those next. We also have some Jack London, but I’ll have to see which ones would be appropriate for him.

Marie-Anne

Springs Preserve

Saturday we took advantage of Bank of America’s Museums on Us program to go to Springs Preserve. It is a wonderful museum. Almost every exhibit was hands on. It is about conservation and living in the desert. There are outdoor parts as well as several buildings. We did not see it all.



Alex’s favorite part was “the outside part; I loved it.” He really enjoyed putting foam pieces together to make the buildings. Sabrina loved the sand box. Frank’s favorite part was the erosion exhibit where we built a mountain of sand then turn on the water to see it wash away. That was also one of my favorites and the flash flood.



People can bring in nature items, such as, rocks, pinecones, shells… and trade them in for other nature things. I read about this on their website so I had Alex collect things. He had a hard time deciding on what he wanted; there was a whole wall of things to choose from. Finally he got a mold of a coyote track and one of a fox track.



We are planning on going back. I am also planning on going with friends. I highly recommend this museum.

Marie-Anne

Lake Mead with Lulu

We picked up Lulu, Jr, and Josielyn this morning and went to the library for story-time. Afterwards we headed to Lake Mead. It was her kids’ first time. We enjoyed a very delicious lunch.





I brought enough shovels and pails for each child and they had a lot of fun digging in the sand.



After lunch we went to the beach, but didn’t let the kids in the water. They had more fun digging and Lulu helped a very excited Alex make a sandcastle. Each of the kids got a ride in my new wagon, (a b-day gift- my exercise program). As always we had a lot of fun. We love Lake Mead!

Marie-Anne

Dr. Seuss’ b-day Bash

Yesterday we walked to the library for Dr. Suess’ b-day bash. I thought it started at 3, but it didn’t start until 3:30. I read a lot of books to the kids while we waited. Sabrina was so fussy that I almost left. I’m glad we stayed. There were about 6 stations set up and b-day cake. Alex did them all except the coloring sheets. He had so much fun! Alex got his face painted and insisted that Sabrina needed hers painted too. Half-way through she started screaming so she was half a cat. Alex did not want to leave. I’m glad the library is so close.

Marie-Anne

Fire station tour

This morning we surprised Alex with a fire station tour. I told him we were a family of firefighters today so he got dressed for the role. The fire fighters were delighted to have us and they were thankful that we set up the tour in advance. (Please call or check their website before showing up.)

Alex got to see the equipment that real fire fighters use and he got to get into the trucks repeatedly. Alex monopolized Nate, one of the firefighters. He was absolutely thrilled! Remember, for months Alex was a firefighter and our car was a fire truck. Both kids got a bag with suckers, safety information and a coloring book.

We are planning on going back in a few months with some friends.

Marie-Anne

Guys' Night Out

Monday, Alex and I headed out by ourselves. He was going to get "Papa time", just me and him. Getting off work, I was boyishly excited about hanging out with my son and doing "guy stuff". Alex and I went to the Bass Pro Shop and had a blast. Bass Pro Shop? It is not just a tackle shop connected to a gas station, but a gigantic 16,000 sq ft building of boats, stuffed animals, and cool gear to look at. Alex just had to climb into every single boat and pretend to be the captain and/or driver, and naturally, Papa had to climb in with him! We spent well over an hour there and never got through half the store.
Afterward, I treated Alex to the finest restaurant of his choice. Thankfully for my wallet, his choice is predictable, and he gets fries or apple dippers with his happy meal!

--Frank

Sticker art

I cut out the colorful squares that surround the stickers and Alex made his own version of modern art.

Tot School Sabrina 15 months

Sabrina is 15 months and loves doing what the big kids do. This week was full of Tot School!



One of Sabrina’s favorite activities is stickers. I wouldn’t have thought of giving her stickers, but she insisted when she saw the older kids in my Sunday School class using them. Now she’s almost a pro as long as I peel them and they are big enough.



A lot of reading goes on around here. Isn’t it nice how well they are both paying attention? Normally they are fighting to get in my lap. If anybody asks what is the last book I read I’d have to answer something like Fancy Nancy.



We spent President’s Day at the Wetlands Park, a nature preserve. It was a bit surprising to see so much water and plants growing naturally in Las Vegas.



Playing with big brother while waiting to pick Papa up from work. We got there early so the kids got a chance to eat their snacks and climb on the rocks. It’s a special treat for them.



We had fun building and destroying megablock towers.



Stacking rings are really very fashionable bracelets. She has never used them for anything else.



We also visited Lake Mead's visitor center on Friday.

Lake Mead Jr. Rangers

On Friday we went to Lake Mead with Kelly and Hannah. This time we went to the visitor’s center. It is set up like a gift shop and a hands on museum with a garden and trails.

Alex and Hannah both did the Jr. Ranger booklet. Since they are under 10 they only had to do 3 activities, but we had them do all that they could do. It was nice; the park ranger really took time to talk to them and they were both so proud. They kept saying, “We’re Jr. Park Rangers!” (Many national parks have this program.)



After our Jr. Rangers were sworn in and we walked the trails we went to the lake. We went back to the same picnic area as last time. Alex and Hannah had a lot of fun digging in a pile of dirt. Sabrina didn’t want to be left out so she got a small shovel and ran around.





It was very windy and a little chilly so we did not let the kids in the water. We did go to the beach though, mainly because it was Hannah’s first time to go to Lake Mead. The older two had shovels and had fun digging in the sand. Sabrina kept trying to go into the water until I finally put her in the stroller. No, she was NOT happy with me for that.







It was a lot of fun, even though it was cold. Lake Mead is always fun.

Marie-Anne

Wetlands Park

We went to the Wetlands Park for the first time today. It is a nature preserve. We walked the trail and took lots of pictures. It was so peaceful, but we would have seen more animals if Alex would have been quiet. Even with him being noisy we saw quail, rabbits, ducks, birds, lizards, and a chipmunk. It was nice and we will be going back. Maybe Frank and I will go by ourselves sometime.









Marie-Anne

Valentine’s Day

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day, I did. Frank got me flowers and a card that sings, “Just to See You Smile” by Tim McGraw. Major Sweetheart points!!! I got him a wallet. Alex got a stuffed frog and stickers that he shared with Sabrina. Sabrina got a stuffed panda and a board book. The kids made cards in Sunday School. Sabrina used washable watercolor paint for the first time while I was teaching the class at night. It was a good day.





Marie-Anne

My B-day

I turned one year older!

I took the kids to story time at the library and saw Stacey, who I haven’t seen in months. I am planning on having lunch with her after the next story-time.

In the afternoon I went to the park with my friend Tammie and her sons. She bought cupcakes to celebrate my b-day. It was a beautiful day to spend at the park.



Alex looks like the Joker.



Frank took me out to Lone Star for dinner. It was good and we enjoyed each other. I was stuffed and didn’t think I could eat another bite when they brought out the free b-day brownie with a generous helping of ice cream. It was great!







Frank took me out to Lone Star for dinner. It was good and we enjoyed each other. I was stuffed and didn’t think I could eat another bite when they brought out the free b-day brownie with a generous helping of ice cream. It was great!

Marie-Anne

How do I get kids to clean after a playdate?

Alex has some (older) neighborhood friends who come over and last time they wrecked his room and left without cleaning. This time (the second time they have come over) I was busy and they not only wrecked his room, but the hall and living room too! The girl slipped out of the house without me knowing. And when I told the boy it was time to clean up he left.

I'm not even sure I want these kids back in my house, but they are Alex's only neighborhood friends.

I did mention to Alex that I didn't think they would be allowed in his room again. Maybe he could bring a few toys into the living room, but I don't want my living room trashed either.

What advice do you have? Please post a comment.

Marie-Anne