Plants for kids

For Easter the kids got flowerpots. The last time we went to WalMart the kids got to choose plants. Today they had the joy of transfering their plants into the flowerpots!

Sabrina chose a flower.

Alex chose a strawberry plant.

Marie-Anne

Game Night

Our first game was ZhuZhu Pets Zhu-oom to the Finish. Today was our first time playing this one. It's a lot like Candy Land, but with hamsters. The kids really enjoyed this quick game. Sabrina won this one.

Next up was All Around Town, which is one of Alex's favorites. This game is a little too advanced for Sabrina, so she needed lots of help. Alex won. Sabrina was a bad loser. She calmed down after I talked with her, (but she is tired and I think she was more upset about not completing her card than losing).

Our last game was a favorite of both kids: The Berenstain Bears Learn to Share.  Frank won this game. Alex kept trying to move everybody else's bear. Sabrina was a better loser this time, but she still didn't take it too well. We were all a little tired and the grownups were starting to think about the other things we needed to do, so we probably should have only played two games, but...

Sometimes we focus more on teaching the kids to share, take turns, and be a gracious winner or loser rather than the rules of the game. Tonight we got to do all of that. It was still fun, but as I said we probably should have stopped after two games.

Marie-Anne

Sunset Park

Our church had an outreach at Sunset Park. The kids had a blast playing with new friends and their friends from church.

Though we were there for hours neither kid wanted to leave.

We were surprised by this beautiful moth. The kids were excited to hold it, but quickly lost interest.

Marie-Anne

Lewis Family Park

Today we tagged along with Frank to the outreach at Lewis Family Park. We had a good turnout; I think there were about 10 people from church there.

It was a windy day and we had kites in the trunk! Sabrina got to fly a kite for the first time. She loved it! She flew the kite for a long long time. She let all the string out and flew it really really high. Thanks, Mom, for getting us the kites!

At first Alex didn't want to fly kites. After playing a bit, he decided he wanted to fly a kite about the time the wind died down. Thankfully, it started blowing again. He had a great time too.

Frank had several good talks with people.

Marie-Anne

Bocce Ball

A couple of days ago I found a Bocce Ball set on clearance for $9. Today, we tried it out. We had to go to the rec center to sign the kids up for their next session so we played Bocce Ball.

We didn't worry about the rules this time; we practiced trying to figure out how to roll the balls. Sabrina quickly lost interest, but the rest of us had fun.

There is also a table made for giant checkers and a horseshoe pit. I am trying to get some outdoor activites that we can do as a family.

Marie-Anne

No more babysitting

It's been over a week since I babysat Keenan. It was too much. I had him for 9+ hours a day and I am homeschooling. Thankfully, his parents were able to find someone else from church to babysit him. I told his mom I don't mind occasionally babysitting, but I can't do it every day.

Marie-Anne

Happy Easter 2013!

On Saturday, the kids were super surprised that Nibbles came to live with us! They had no clue. Though I had rabbits when I was a kid, I am researching raising rabbits, because that was sooo long ago. I fully realize that though Nibbles is a family pet, he is my responsibility.

The kids were thrilled with their Easter "baskets." Instead of baskets I get something they can actually use. Last year I got them a pail and shovel. This year I got them flower pots and when we go to the store they can choose what they want to grow.

I taught Sabrina's class about Jesus' resurrection. Each child got a Bible story book as an Easter present. Tonight we had Communion. It has been a good Easter.

Marie-Anne

Pahranagat Wildlife Preserve

For Family day we drove to Pahranagat Wildlife Preserve. We have been there a couple of times. It is far enough off the beaten path that we don't see many people there. It is so peaceful!

We hiked part way around the lake stopping several times to listen to birds, the wind, and the water lapping. We also pointed out a frog, bugs, birds, and lizards.

Fish kept splashing all over this pond. We stopped to watch for a while.

Frank became a hero to a little girl when he hiked almost double to retrieve her Strawberry Shortcake doll that fell out of her pack.

We love hiking as a family! It's a great way to spend time together and get some exercise.

Marie-Anne

Red Rock Canyon- Visitor Center

Today we visited Red Rock Canyon's Visitor Center.

 

Alex got his Jr. Ranger Badge, (last time they were out of books, but still gave him a badge). Sabrina was very upset because she wanted one too, so the kind ranger gave her one too. He said he didn't want that to be the difference between her having a good day and a bad day.

Before leaving we took some group pics.

Annette and the girls just left us a few minutes ago. We enjoyed their visit and hope they did too.

Marie-Anne

Fremont St. Experience

Tonight was the first time I took the kids to Fremont St. while Frank street preached. It isn't a place for kids, though there were lots of kids there. There were also mostly naked women dancing on stage and walking through the crowd to pose for pictures. We did what we could to distract the kids from most of that, though Sabrina did point out a "princess" (showgirl). When they got bored, I took the kids to Denny's.

 

 

The fun part for kids was the characters they got to pose with for a tip. (That's pretty much the only part for kids that I saw.)

I love this pic because at first the girls didn't realize the man was adding his weight to the scale!

Alex liked the totem pole.

Of course, the whole reason Frank and the group from church go to Fremont Street is to witness to people.

Marie-Anne