Another Summer Expedition

Every morning these two wake to making plans for the day. At times it's hard to keep up and they choose to hang low. Other times they run from one thing to the next with growing agendas . . .

The Sibling Effect

Perhaps surprisingly, I didn't help the kids pick out clothes for this day. It's kind of cute when they decide to dress alike. Zane is in a stage (that I'm not really prepared for) where he copies everything Vanessa does just to work her up. He does a good number on her. But he only copied her outfit this day, from what I remember anyhow. She enjoyed it.

We practiced story sequencing for Vanessa and number sequencing for Zane. She loves that the fable includes a swan -- her favorite pond animal in first grade. Zane didn't have the patience to hear all the details, so he ran from square to square.

 They played Horton Hears a Who in the Inniswood play house.

Zane took extra care to not worry his sister . . . at least the first couple of times. :-)

They built dams and splashed to cool off. 

They guarded themselves from chipmunks and climbed the side of a bridge to see the high waters flow.

One of the Sweetest Things

While on my lap Zane said "I love you so much, Mom, I can black out."

Is that not the oddest and sweetest thing you've ever heard?! :-)

Obedience

Several weeks ago, Vanessa committed her life to Christ. Her first step in obedience for that commitment was baptism. She was so incredibly excited for yesterday and to spend that special occasion with her Guide Church family. Vanessa put off her old self and is putting on her new.

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." ~ Romans 6:4

"The question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us...." ~ C.S. Lewis

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

* Stole the picture from his dad :-)

Nosebleeds

Zane doesn't fret over a nosebleed. He even sleeps through some of them. No worries in the top picture -- by the time he stirred and I pulled him out of bed, his nose had already stopped. Sometimes when I'm changing his sheets I discover from the blood stains on his mattress pad that he must have had a nosebleed. And every so often I find blood smeared on a wall or door -- Zane must have had a nosebleed! Thankfully allergies are settling a bit . . .

A Father's Day

Just a few of the reasons I love him as a father . . .

Prep Course

They're taking Columbus by storm.

Fascinating Camels

Here are Great Grandpa & Grandma Holton when they rode camels in Egypt. (1982) I just know they are tickled that 32 years later their great grandchildren are enjoying a similar experience.

Zane: "Why is that guy walking them? Why is he dressed like that?"

Mom: "They're not at the zoo. They are in a land where camels walk around town. And that is how people dress in that land."

Zane: "Are we going to go there tomorrow? Tomorrow evening, huh? I want to go there tomorrow."

Vanessa rode Lippy.

Daddy and Zane rode Mr. Bigs.

They all agreed that it was a bumpy ride. Great Grandma and Grandpa must have been extra brave to ride the camels without the metal harness.

Why do some camels have one hump and others have two humps? The camels at the zoo have one hump. Check out the answer here.

And what's up with a camel's knees? Check out this guy's observations here.

*Photo credits to Great Aunt Julia and Grandma. Great Grandpa Bill did an amazing job capturing photos of so much. We're thankful we can connect to them through those.

How appropriate to visit Africa and ride camels before a trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro at NW's VBS . . .

So Literal

Mom: "Zane. Please go try and potty before we leave."

Zane: "Mom, I did try."

Mom: "Zane, go sit on the potty and count one to ten and then I will know you tried."

I heard Zane count "One, two, ten."

Mom: "Zane, count each number to ten. Start over."

Zane: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. . . . Hey, Mom? I guess I did need to pee!"

Ss

After Zane graciously declined, Vanessa was eager to hold the snake. However, she declined snakey kisses.

Vanessa woke this morning on a mission. She decided that Skar's b-day will not be near hers and that actually it's today. She decorated his tank and she and Zane sang Happy Birthday to him all day. We're to have a party this weekend. I'd invite you but I'm not sure when we're to squeeze it in. :-)