Shoeboxes for Needy kids.

  We went as a family to target to choose items to place in our shoeboxes to send to children in need. Everyone chose a boy or girl and an age to gift. We made the boxes at home at got ready to ship them. That night, we prayed for each box and each child, that they would feel our love and God's love. Colin then stated that each box was like a box of hope to these kids. Yes Colin!  Exactly right!  :-)

Colin helps a little boy

We took the kids to the zoo.  They love going there. It was a good time, but I was so proud of Colin!  They have a little, shallow creek that they like to play in when we go there.  They were playing, and a little boy about 18 months, fell and was upset. Colin went over to him and comforted him, then took his hand and helped him find his mom. I was so proud of him!  I had tears in my eyes!  I went over and got on his level, and told him how proud I am of his kindness. That I was very proud of him!  Praise God!  Every now and then, you feel like what you are teaching is reaching them!  Love them!

Katharine holds Evan

Katharine held Evan for a few minutes, and he started crying.  I went to relieve her, took Evan, and she got up and said, "We'll that was annoying. . ."  Lol!

Victoria and nap time

Trying to lay Victoria down for a nap today.  She adamantly refused and stated that she "didn't want to rest because it makes me lazy!"  To funny!  Earlier today, she was playing with stickers of bears and chairs.  The bears had to be perfectly situated in their chairs. . . I have no idea where she gets that from!

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

  We went to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science downtown today with Joanne, Emma, and Lily.  Everyone had a great time!  The dinosaur exhibit is fascinating, as well as the space exhibit.  To many exhibits to count!  We probably only saw 20% of the museum!  That's ok.  We wanted you guys to take your time.  You built some dinosaurs, created a circuit by holding each touching an end, and then holding hands.  :-).  We lost poor Katharine in the bird exhibit.  It was only for a minute or so, but I found a lady walking toward me with her.  She was crying a little, but really started when I held her.  Poor thing!  The woman asked her if I had any other children.  Katharine told her, "yes.  There are 4 of us, but now there are only 3!"  Poor baby Kate!  I loved on her and made it up to her!  

  We watched a 3D movie about Meerkats, then headed to the human exhibit where there were slices of human on display.  Everyone was fascinated by the private parts, of course!  Good grief!  We then went to the Children's museum, which ended up being their favorite part!  It had a Farmer's market that Victoria and Katharine loved!  They bought and restocked the produce over and over again.  :-).  They then joined their brothers on a playscape that looked like the Dallas skyline.  They had "bricks" that they could put on a set of two conveyer belts and take them to the top of the playscape, only to put them down the correct shute, back to the conveyer belts!  They spent forever on this playscape!  Then it was outside to the giant sand box to dig for fossils.  Kaden and Colin made "sand angels".  Good grief!  Then it was inside the the water table with boats and mini channels.  They all played so well together!  That makes me so happy!

  I finally corralled them into the gift shop, hoping to finally be on our way home, but I was robbed there by 4 bandits!!  Mine!!  However, it was all books and toys about Science, and I can't say no to science!! :-).  Colin found a book, sat down in the middle of the crowded gift shop, and proceeded to read it.  I love that about him!  It almost made me cry!  He loves to read, and really can just tune everything out and focus on the book.  He made out with a couple of them! 

  Hurray!  We finally make it outside the museum, only to be waylayed by the little stream and playground area outside!  Drat!  It was beautiful, so I couldn't say no to playing!  I'm such a sucker!  

  We had a great time at the Perot for our first time!  I look forward to going again!  You guys are all pretty cool, and such a blessing to me!  Daddy didn't go, as he is skiing in Colorado with Mike.  We'll have to take him real soon!  What a blast with my 4 blessings!  

Colin and Kaden's 8th Birthday Party

  Oh my!  I cannot believe my baby boys are 8!  And getting so tall!  And looking more like boys and not little boys!  I love you guys so much!  We had your birthday at Sci Tech Discovery Center and did the Sparkle, Shimmer, and Shine party.  We had like 30 kids and a ton of presents!  You guys wanted a Minecraft party and the cake was AWESOME!  All of your friends wanted a Minecraft cake too!  At the party we did science experiments including: making a circuit with a watch battery, electric tape, and an LED light.  We then made glow in the dark goo with polymers!  Then, we had a fire experiment with coffee creamer, oxygen, and a lighter!  That was cool!  A really cool birthday!  Nana and Papa and Aunt Stephanie and Uncle John came too.  You then got to play in the Sci Tech exhibits.  You both rated it a 10 of 10!  We all then came home, opened a billion gifts, and then played Minecraft, of course!  

  You guys are amazing!  We are so blessed by you!  So glad we had 2 wonderful boys!  Just know how much we love you!  I cannot wait to see what the next years hold for us all!  

Victoria conserving toilet paper

  Victoria has been potty training, and with everything Victoria does, she must do so independently.  She's done very well with very few accidents.  However, she's using half a roll of toilet paper each time she poops!  After cleaning the toilet paper out for the 3rd or 4th time, I explained to her the need to conserve toilet paper due to tree consumption, etc.  I could see that she was understanding my meaning, and I felt really good about our environmental potty practices. . .  As with everything Victoria does, she does nothing by halves.  Soon after our discussion, I was discovering poop in the potty with no toilet paper at all.  ???  Hmm, what's that smell in the bathroom?  Oh wow.  She did take our conversation to heart, I reflect as I inspect the source of the smell.  Victoria has decided to really conserve resources, to utilize the toilet paper, and then just roll it back up on the roll. . .  Yes, using it, then rolling it back up on the roll.  That's what I said.  Oh my!  I've never experienced this with my others!  We had to have another conversation about conserving, but in a clean, sanitary, non disgusting manner.  :-)  I love how God made her, and I'm so blessed to be her mom!  She keeps me on my toes for sure!