zoo members again

We visited our favorite zoo this past weekend and decided to renew our zoo membership again this year.  The kids love the day out and by the time we visit twice in a year, our membership pays for itself.  We were glad to see the vultures had moved on from the black bears, they are now in the flamingo exhibit.
Less than two months away and Daddy will be on our way to see the real deal, hoping we can make it to one of the many safaris in Kenya.

dedicated reader

This is exactly what I had in mind when I wanted this space in our bedroom, I just envisioned me using it, not this big kid.
She is reading the final book in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle.  She started the series last fall.

wordless wednesday

fourth generation nursery worker

This past weekend, LE served in the toddler room at church.  I don't know if my great-grandmother ever served in children's ministry, but I can remember my Granny, my mom and I all taught at one point in our church's nursery and toddler classroom.  LE loved and asked if she could be added to the rotation so she could do it again.

weaving and looming for Africa

Boo was given a round loom for her birthday by our friends, the Cooks.  This past week, Miss Rachel and her girls came over to instruct us how to use them.  The girls including the Cooks are on a mission to make the girls in Africa that Ben and I will be serving each a knitted hat.  Miss Rachel also showed me straw weaving that her girls have been doing to make scarves While they were here they taught LE and I how to straw weave in hopes that we can take that skill and teach the girls also.
I was so glad they had the gift to teach my girls, b/c the instructions had me lost on the very first step 1)tie a slip knot.  The girls are well on their way to their first completed hat and I'm totally digging the straw weaving.  Now just to get through customs with a suitcase of yarn and straws without questions.

Valentine's Party at the nursing home

This week at our visit to the nursing home, we played Bingo and the kids distributed Valentine's and cupcakes to the participants.  In the past, we have played games, but BINGO seemed to be the biggest hit.  Everyone got in on the action as R2 helped Pastor Clint call the numbers, both girls, Daddy and I had a bingo partner that we assisted.  HR was too cute and made all of the ladies giggle.
Have I told you how much we love our new church?  Or how much I love raising children who love to serve?  Or how handsome my husband is playing Bingo with widows?

imaginations

I got a new-to-me dishwasher, R2 got a new spaceship.

wordless wednesday- there's no place like home

Happy Heart Day

gotta love when the groundhog is wrong

secret keeper girls

A friend of mine gifted the girls and I to a night out at the Crazy Hair tour.  It was a night of worship, modest fashion shows, games, dancing, and stories.  The girls and I got dressed in our finest clothes, but had to settle for a hamburger and frozen yogurt instead of the Cheesecake Happy Hour that I planned because of the traffic and having to be in South Austin at 6pm.
We met up with our friends, Miss Morgan and Molly at the party and afterwards the girls met the cast of the show and had them autograph the books I chose for them.
Thank you so much Miss Sharon for introducing us to Secret Keepers and blessing us with the tickets to attend.

sewing school 101

L.E. got the book Sewing School for Christmas and we have recently incorporated it into our lessons.  They have created a sewing kit, learned safety rules and this week we began threading our needles, tying the thread and began learning basic stitches.  L.E. is better at the running stitch, but Boo has discovered her talent is the whip stitch.  We are presently making a book of needles to store their needles and a pin cushion.
They are already making lists for the Christmas presents they plan to create.