One of life’s hard lessons

Today Frank saw a little boy in our back yard taking one of Alex’s toys. Frank went out and told the boy to put it back, which he did. Then he had Alex move all of his toys away from the fence so they can’t be seen from the street. As Alex did that he realized that his toy digger is missing. As you can imagine he took it quite hard.

We are learning about the 10 Commandments in Sunday School so we used this as a teaching point on how stealing hurts those who have been robbed. And how we should not steal.

Good news is Alex got an even bigger digger from K-Mart when we stopped to buy a lock for the gate.

As we were pulling up to our driveway the same boy was sitting by the road with another of Alex’s smaller toys that Alex overlooked. Frank told him to return it. He did, but came back with his grandma. He claimed it was his, but I knew it wasn’t and she knew it wasn’t. So both boys got a lesson.

Marie-Anne

Documentation

Even though I won’t be officially homeschooling Alex until he’s almost six, because he wouldn’t enter kindergarten until then, I started documenting our preschool. I started documenting coinciding with the start of the school year. I’m doing this for several reasons; there’s a push in some states to make preschool mandatory, we may move to a state that requires more documentation than Nevada does, (though we have no plans of moving), it is good practice for when I do have to document our lessons, and it’s a way to keep up with what Alex has learned.

For now our lessons are very short and normally end when Alex gets bored. He is three after all. Some of our lessons are things I plan out and some of our lessons are answers to questions Alex asks or based on his interests.

Marie-Anne

The Twitch

I have never gotten a diagnosis on the twitch. Thank God, for the most part it’s gone though it still happens from time to time. It’s not the all day every day occurrence it once was. Sometimes I even go months without it now. For those of you who don’t know, when I was 22 the twitch started in my right leg only at night. Originally we thought it was restless leg. Then one day it was continuously twitching during the day. After months of this sometimes for a few minutes sometimes all day it progressed to the other leg, arms, hands, feet, and head. Now it can be any combination of these at any time.

Unfortunately it has come back since I’ve been pregnant, though not as severe as before. If it continues I’ll get it documented. I really do not want to go through all of that again, so for the most part I ignore it and hope no one notices.

Marie-Anne

3rd trimester!

I’ve now entered the third trimester! WHOOOHOOOO!!!! Okay, too much excitement- I need a nap.

Marie-Anne

1 Year Anniversary!!!!

On Sunday we celebrated our one year anniversary of being a church in Las Vegas! We decorated with balloons and streamers. We had ice cream, cup cakes, fruit, and cakes. There were 25 people there to celebrate with us. Everyone had a good time. And tonight we had 20 people in attendance, which is the most we’ve had for a night service.

Marie-Anne

Fishy Family time

During the day while Frank was at work I decorated the dining area with the fish cutouts and the coloring page of an empty fish tank. I decided that wasn’t decorated enough so Alex and I made fish out of coffee filters. We scribbled on the coffee filters with markers then wet it to blur the colors. After it dried we cut it in the shape of a fish and added eyes and hung them from the ceiling near the vent.

When Frank got home we went to the library and got books and a kid’s documentary on fish. We went to PetSmart to get a fish. Alex chose a reddish blue beta he named Alex. At home Frank and Alex set up the fish tank and fed Alex the fish while I cooked.

We played put the fish in the fish bowl, which is the same as pin the tail on the donkey. We each took turns and all had fun. It was Alex’s first time playing anything like this. Frank and I took turns reading the fish books from the library.

http://www.first-school.ws/activities/crafts/animals/ocean/five_fish_bowl.htm

Marie-Anne

Cheap, but good curriculum

Today my wonderful husband watched Alex while I went wherever I wanted-so sweet! One of my stops was the Dollar Tree where I found some great pre-k and 1st grade workbooks. Unfortunately, a lady just got the last pre-k workbook, but I did get 2 copies of all of the 1st grade workbooks.

Later I went to the other Dollar Tree and was able to get all of the pre-k workbooks. They also had some awesome Planet Earth workbooks and flash cards. I spent over my budget getting the other workbooks so all I got was a pack of sea animal flash cards. I prayed that they’d still have them when I go back. And I will be back ASAP!

I’ve looked at some packaged pre-k and Kindergarten curriculum and I decided that I can give Alex and Sabrina a quality education using the dollar store workbooks (among other things) until 1st grade for a whole lot cheaper. Then I’ll look into the packaged curriculum again and decide if we will use it.

Marie-Anne

Seven pounds

My doctor told me she only wants me to gain seven more pounds. I gained that much in the last month! Well, if I’m to only gain seven pounds and if I’m serious about losing weight once Sabrina is born I need to make some changes. I need to give up the junk food that I’ve been eating lately and start exercising again.

Today I walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes, I did 20 reps of 10 with my five pound weights, and I used the exercise bike for 10 minutes. I have to confess I also ate junk food.

Marie-Anne

Family Night

Why is family time so important? It brings us all together for the purpose of enjoying one another. Family night creates lasting memories of good times we share. It brings us closer together.

Our family nights a lot of times consist of us going to the park, watching documentaries, playing games, putting together puzzles, or picnics. I am trying to come up with more ideas like playing in the sprinkler I just bought, camping out on the backyard, or having a family carnival.

I looked up “family nights” on the internet and got some really good ideas that I’ll be trying. I will be sharing our family nights on the blog. Please share your ideas! What have you done for family time? What are you planning to do?

Marie-Anne

Mini daycare

I had to have lab work so I knew I’d be there a while (always are). At first I thought of asking a friend to watch Alex, but I ended up just taking him. Of course, I packed his backpack with books, flash cards, lacing cards, a coloring book, fruit snacks, and a drink. There would be no way Alex would be able to sit still that long.

There was a little girl who was terrified and screamed in the waiting room. I had Alex give her the crayons and coloring book- that totally calmed her down. She came over to where we were sitting with her brother then two other girls got coloring sheets too. Alex was happy and told them they were his friends. Although I hadn’t planned on it I was running a mini daycare in the waiting room. I didn’t mind at all and the kids were happy, but I did wonder why the parents brought nothing for them to do with such a long wait.

Marie-Anne

My husband is my best friend

I am so blessed to be able to honestly say that my husband is my best friend. Frank is a wonderful man and a wonderful father, but more than that he is my wonderful husband. I thank God for him. He’s only gone for one night and yet I miss him terribly. It isn’t as if we are newlyweds, after all, we’ve been married for almost 7 years. I love him more and more as time goes by. I am truly thankful to be his helpmeet. I love my husband!

Marie-Anne

Children’s Museum

On Saturday Josie and I took our kids to the children’s museum. They all participated in the library’s summer reading program and got free passes to the Lied Children’s Museum. The kids had a lot of fun. They also took turns throwing fits. Alex got really really mad because London and Serena kept trying to do things for him that he can do for himself. He actually jumped up and down and screamed. The older kids had the most fun at the 5 and younger section, which is Alex’s favorite too.

Marie-Anne

Miracle of the Tribute Money (Matthew 17:24-27)

Lesson: I concentrated on the fact that both Peter and the fish were obedient even though they didn’t understand why they were to do certain things.

Craft: Find a couple of cute fish coloring pages. Copy and paste to a word document to make them smaller. Have the kids color and paste them onto blue construction paper. Use brown yarn for the fishing line and glue a penny in one of the fish’s mouths.

Object lesson: Put string or yarn through a straw and tape the string from one end of the room to the other. Use tape to hold a blown up, but not tied balloon to the straw. As you hold the end of the balloon shut explain that at first Peter had complete faith in Jesus, but when Peter began to question Jesus his doubts came faster and faster. When you let go of the end of the balloon it will shoot across the room. (Try it first before class and have extra balloons because after doing this a time or two the balloons pop.)

Snack: Goldfish or gummy worms

Marie-Anne

Pregnancy Etiquette

Let’s discuss the proper etiquette for talking to a pregnant woman by a pregnant woman.

I know pregnant women are supposed to gain weight and that is a good thing, but telling me or any pregnant woman repeatedly how big she is and that she’s going to be huge is not smart and does not endear you to her. Example: I was talking to a lady at church who met just met me and she told me 3 times how big I am and what a big baby I’m going to have. Now how in the world does she know what I looked like before I got pregnant? And does she think I have hearing problems or that I have short term memory loss- is that the reason she told me three times?

If you ask a pregnant woman if she wants a boy or a girl and she states she just wants a healthy baby why should you insist that she wants a girl because she already has a boy. First of all she doesn’t get a choice. And if you already “know” what she wants why ask?

Why do people insist on telling pregnant women their labor horror stories? Are they trying to frighten the expecting mother? Do they think she doesn’t have enough to worry about?

I have come to accept that people I barely know will rub my belly. I don’t particularly like it, but I know it will happen. Why is a pregnant woman’s belly considered public property?

Marie-Anne

Visitors from a Far Country

This past weekend Reverend and Sister Wright, the World Missions Director, came to visit and had special services with us and the church. We enjoyed their stay and it was a blessing to have them preach and play the keyboard during the worship services. They were so hospitable that sometimes I wasn't sure who was the host and who was the guest!

I hope to see them again sometime soon.

Hooked on Phonics Update

I bought the basic set, but I found the books that come with the kindergarten deluxe set at the library’s store for 10 cents each. The librarian didn’t even charge for the Abeka book. What a deal!

I haven’t been using Hooked on Phonics regularly, but Alex has been able to learn most of the letter sounds with it. In about a week, maybe sooner, I’ll start teaching him to read. He’s just got to get those last few letter sounds down first. If I’m consistent it won’t be a problem.

Marie-Anne

Alex the wonder boy

Alex the wonder boy strikes again. I bought him Blue’s Clues opposite cards and to my surprise he knows most of them. We only did them once, but Alex got all but about five right. I knew he knew some, but I did not know he knows that many opposites. I’ve never gone over opposites with him except for in some books.

Marie-Anne

Our first revival

Our first revival is this weekend! Rev. Wright is coming to town. The church we are renting from is letting us have Saturday night and Monday night. We are going to be super busy letting everyone know and inviting new people. I’m glad my Sunday School class is already ready to go! This is so exciting! It’s hard to believe we’ve been in Las Vegas for a year now. Since we won’t be going to the fall Conference- it’s a week after my due date- we need this revival and fellowship just as much as the congregation does. I can’t wait to see what God’s going to do! Please be in prayer for us!

Marie-Anne

Customer Complaint Pays off

I recently bought a box of Little Debbie fudge brownies that I was greatly disappointed with. The picture on the box shows them covered in walnuts, but only one pack of brownies had half the walnuts in the picture the rest had even less. I emailed Little Debbie to complain, which isn’t something I normally do. About a week later I got a full refund and an apology in the mail.(Of course they had nothing to fear of me not staying a loyal customer.)

I learned from this that next time I’m not satisfied with a product to take a minute to email the company. It may get me a refund or coupons on my next purchase. I’ll also email a company if the product exceeds my expectations.

Marie-Anne

Going green and saving green (money)

I’ve been reading up on ways of going green and saving money at the same time. I went on several power companies’ websites for some of this information. I haven’t tried all of this yet, but it seems to be good information.

During the day I don’t use lights, besides in the bathroom. Thankfully the way our house is set up there’s no need to turn on lights until it starts getting dark. I also try to enforce the turn the light out when you leave a room.

Turning off or unplugging appliances when not in use also helps. Especially things like the computer and unplugging cell phone cords that aren’t in use. I have a friend who even unplugs her washer and dryer and other appliances. She said she saved $13 in one month by doing that.

I bought some energy saving lights at Wal-Mart that are supposed to cut our electric bill down. My mom and a friend both recommended them. Our house has recessed lighting and I’ll have to check to see if I can get that type of bulb as energy saving.

I normally use the cold water setting on the washer and only run the dish washer when it’s full. Keeping the dryer lint free not only helps prevent dryer fires, but saves money. Run the dryer, washer, and dish washer after 8 at night.

On thing I have not tried yet is putting a brick or a half gallon jug of water in the toilet’s tank to reduce the amount of water used. I’ve read about it on several websites.

Although it isn’t saving money I also bought some reusable grocery bags. I bought them after Alex put a plastic bag over his head to keep the number of that kind of bags in our house down. I do use the plastic grocery bags as trash bags for the bathrooms and for Frank’s lunch so I need some. I haven’t seen my reusable grocery bags since we moved so I guess I’ll look for them tonight.

I want your tips on going green and saving green! Please share!

Marie-Anne