What a Day!!

Well we started our day little more tired from all of our adventures yesterday!! BTW...check out Andrea's website and Flicker account:) But this morning I tried to get some housework done. And then we went off to the park and grocery shopping before we had some company for dinner.
The day was busy...but very "do-able" until the kids cried and fussied throughout the meal. But we made it :)

A Couple Funny Stories to share:

Everlasting Friendship:

We've shown a video of Anna reciting John 3:16....but she's still getting stuck on the last phrase saying "everlasting friendship" instead of "life". We couldn't figure out why she would say "friendship"??? Anyway, on the way home from lunch on Sunday we turned on their DVD...and on one of the previews we hear the famous phrase "everlasting friendship" describing the movie The Fox and the Hound 2.

WOW!! Can you believe just a little phrase on some DVD preview could be sooo ingrained into a child's head??? It's funny that we actually found out why she was getting mixed up. But it's REAL warning that YOUR kids are taking in EVERYTHING and that they can quickly COPY IT!! I'm even more convinced that I need to better guard what the kids are watching and taking in.

Teaching Pre-Reading

This morning Anna and I were able to complete one more "lesson" from her reading book. She did pretty well and was really excited when she saw the letters starting to come together to make words. I still wonder if she is ready...she loves learning and is very, very capable to do the work....but sometimes doesn't want to do the work :) ahhh, just a good thing we started early, maybe we'll have it done before kindergarden or 1st grade.

So the funny part was coming home from the grocery store I listened in to the conversation in the back seat.

Anna: Christopher, can you say "ahhh"?

Christopher: ahhh

Anna: OK, now say it fast. (Christopher answers.) Good boy! That is the "A" sound.

Christopher: A

Anna: No, we are learning sounds. Say "ahh". (Christopher answers.)

Anna: OK, now let's work on a new letter.

So even though I feel bad that I don't work as much with Christopher as I think I did with Anna, he's still getting it. It's just from his sister!!!!

Not Paying Attention

I was reading a new favorite library book to Christopher and Anna. Christopher was at my feet playing around some. I figured he wasn't really listening but maybe he was picking up a couple of words. Anyway, I like to stop sentences early and let Anna (and sometimes Christopher) fill-in the last few words. So while reading I stopped a few times and down by my feet I would hear the sentence being finished:) Yep, he was paying attention!!!

Can He Do it???

As you can see even Daddy can find something to do at the zoo.... His challenge is to "walk" up to the tallest post using only the rope :)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I didn't see the second (or third) attempts. But I am told that he did it!!! Yay for Daddy.....but now the challenge is for Uncle Eric!!!

Glimpse of the Zoo

Here are a couple of pictures from our day at the zoo with our friends. I just picked a few to share...only the best ones!!! I'm hoping Andrea will share some of her GREAT shots!!!

Just getting started!!!

Elephants!!!








A HUGE delight was to finally see the new lion cubs. And even more exciting was to see the lion cubs with their parents!!! Usually we don't see the lions, but today we got to see all FOUR....the kids were soo excited and so were Mom and Dad:)

Here is Mommy with the girls.....riding the giant turtle (it's a statue.... of course I would have never been able to get Anna on a live animal). Kids are soo great to bring to a simple attraction because even the small things like rope webs and animal statues are toys to climb all over and picture opportunities!!!

The best part of the day was sharing one of our favorite places with some of our friends!!! The kids LOVED showing their friends all their animal friends, including Percules.....he he hee Anna practically convinced everyone that this was the name of the camel. (It's actually Hercules!!)

Crazy 8's Tag

Well since I don't often respond to tags....I figured I should do at least one. This one seemed pretty painless!


8 Things I want to Do before I Die
1. Adopt a Child(ren)
2. Teach the Kids to love learning
3. Go on a Family Mission trip
4. Be closer(socially) to my extended family
5. Stronger Marriage!
6. Be a Mentor
7. Do more International traveling (when the kids are older)
8. hmmm...I'll have to think on that one


8 Things I Say Often

1. Who made a stinky? (to the kids)
2. Now why isn't this working? (to the computer)
3. CHRIS!!!
4. No, Ly-ly
5. Ok, Anna, you can.....
6. Thank goodness
7. "yawn"
8. I'm sorry. (to my sweet husband)




8 Songs I Sing Over and Over Again
1. "Children obey your parents in the Lord..."
2. "Do everything without complaining, do everything without argueing.."
3. ABCs
4. Days of the Week
5. Seeds CD songs http://www.seedsmusic.com/
6. "The A says "ah", the A says "ah", every letter makes a sound the A says "ah" " and it goes on and on for the other 25 letters in the alphabet.
7. Dora, Super Why, and Clifford theme songs
8. singing along with AFR (yay.....)


8 Things I am Passionate About (sorry I HAD to add one here)
1. My Lord
2. My husband
3. My children
4. My family
5. Seeing peoples' needs met (wish I could do more)
6. Unborn rights (would love to do more)
7. Being a witness through actions, attitudes and words when possible
8. Enjoying nature
9. NAPTIME


8 Books I've Recently Readad


1. Bible
2. Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons
3. Stuart Little
4. Curious George goes to the Laundromat
5. Curious George goes to the Fire Station
6. Kite Runner (hmmm... not sure I could recommed it)
7. Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas (borrow it and read it)
8. Biography of LM Montgomery called Maud


8 Things that Attract me to My Best Friends
1. Love their children
2. Desires to serve the Lord through their home
3. Offers advice
4. Shares joys and struggles
5. Understands the cries of motherhood
6. Doesn't mind hearing disciplining while on the phone (and sometimes has to do it too)
7. Loves me through our differences
8. Giving of themselves

It's March

Well we've almost survived the winter days...... of course we've had some beautiful days to help us remember that spring (and summer) are coming soon......

We had a GREAT Saturday :) We really had nothing on the agenda except being outside to enjoy the weather, to eat and get some naps:) Although we did clean up the backyard some, vacuumed/cleaned out the van, Daddy tried to do a little visiting and "helped" with Angel Food at church.

Here are some pics showing our "fun" day together outside:)