Psalm 139

Here's the latest Bible passage that the kids have learned. I would highly recommend this method for learning Scripture. I actually read it on someone else's blog, but we just read the same verses every morning at breakfast and it's amazing how quickly they catch on. It's nice for me too since I learn it along with them. We've been doing this passage about two months and this was a good choice since it was easy to add lots of hand motions. Sorry the video is not the greatest - Alena was in the mega saucer right next to me which is all the noise and as you can see Gabriel was very animated making it hard for me to follow him with the camera. Perhaps our next passage should be one on how to sit still. Anyone have an idea?

This one's for you, Emma!

This post is mostly for my sister, Emma but everyone else feel free to read on as well.
Emma, for the letter J today we made these and we talked about how much you would love them. Gabe wants to assure you, however that they are just pretend, and will not sting. (For info on why Emma loves jelly fish so much, go here).

Valentine's Day Fun

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day - we did. The fact that all my kids are in bed asleep at 7 o'clock and Nae has gone out to get our dinner makes it even better. Here are a few pictures from our day. I think Alena looks so grown up in this picture - she'll be nine months on Saturday.

Instead of getting the kids candy that I would have to give out a little at a time over the next weeks, I opted to take them out for donuts and thus get all their sugar loaded up at one time. They thought it was a great idea!

Alena didn't get to enjoy any donuts, but she did devour her first teething cookie this afternoon. What you can't tell from these pictures is the huge mess she had all over her face after this little snack. I think it was worse than cleaning up the donut sprinkles from this morning.

The Snowy Day

Okay, so we all know that a snowy day here in Tennessee would probably not even qualify as such in other parts of the country and really that's okay by me since I love being able to send the kids outside to play and that's a lot easier in 50 degree February temperatures than it is in 20 degree temps. All that said, though the kids were very excited to get up this morning and see this light dusting of snow that we had. Mya was not interested in going out but Gabe sure was. So, at 8 am this morning here's what he looked like: This is what he spent most of the time doing - making snow angles and since there wasn't enough snow in the grass to make them, we had little angles all over the culdesac and driveway. Gabriel really was an angel in the Bible, you know...


This was his very little snowman complete with a stick - it's all the snow he could get piled up. An hour later, he's ready to come in. As you can see all the snow from the culdesac has already melted away. No more little angels...
Had to post a couple pics of what Mya and Alena were doing during all this. They had a much warmer time if not more fun.

Valentines and Indians

Here's a few pictures of the kids doing their valentines. Gabe did a great job putting his all together (I did all the cutting the night before) and signing his name.
Mya's had yet another nasty cold this week so we put her's together one evening while Nae and Gabe were gone to a church function. She was very serious about signing her name and would spell out M-Y-A as she drew little lines on the paper.

She also had to miss church on Sunday morning but she had a great time with these blocks building a "farm." After she finished it she said, "Mommy take a picture so I can see." Like every other kid, she doesn't know of anything but a camera that you can see yourself on.
Gabe has been learning the letter I this week so today we made Indian head bands. (I know this isn't politically correct but it's the only thing I could think of with I. Native American just wouldn't do.)

I think all the latest pictures I have of Alena are in this position because this is what she always does when I get the camera out - come climb up on my legs to see what I'm doing. She's been sick again too with another ear infection but she has a good smile for the camera here.

Gabriel...flies a kite

Every time we read Curious George Flies a Kite, Gabriel says, "I wish I could fly a kite." Well, yesterday while in the Dollar Tree what should I spy, but kites. I purchased one for both Gabe and Mya and this morning we just had to try them out. We had terrible storms here last night, and the wind was still quite strong today so you can imagine what it was like trying to fly little one dollar kites in wind strong enough to blow us around the yard. Mya didn't last long before she was ready to go inside, but Gabe had a great time and was determined that his kite was going to fly. He ran around and around the yard and any time it got two feet off the ground he would holler, "Look , Mommy, it's flying!" We definitely got a dollar's worth of enjoyment out of this not to mention all the exercise Gabe got.

Even though Mya didn't enjoy the wind that much she did pull off looking quite stylish while outside - here she is with a Bob the Builder hat on along with her boots and a necklace she made today,

and here she is as "Mya Superman" (she refused to be called superwoman)

Gabriel also dressed up today and here is making his most ferocious pirate face.

Zoo Time

We enjoyed some pretty weather here today and made the most of it with a trip to the zoo. We go to the zoo a good bit, but I hardly ever take the camera (it just doesn't seem that important with all the other things we must drag along with us) but since Nae was there today I did get a few shots.

Gabe and Mya checking out the Red River Hogs (one of their favorite exhibits.)

This is how Alena spent most of the trip - sound asleep on Nae's back.

Another Red River Hog shot - funny that most of the pictures I took were of their backs. Who wants to look at the camera when there's so many animals to see?

Gabe pointing to a duck, I believe.

My little pigtail girl.

Alena did wake up towards the end of our trip - here she is relaxing in the stroller.