I Spy

I spy Zane playing lots of games, practicing letters and numbers, cleaning, exploring, singing, dancing and enjoying all good things life has to offer.

"After all, life hasn't much to offer except youth, and I suppose for older people, the love of youth in others." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

1st Day of 3rd Grade

Vanessa has had a great first week. No homework, so some extra play time, and beautiful weather to enjoy it all. Zane has done really well too.

Vanessa was excited to begin this year with her really cool creeper backpack. And it's even Avery green!

Summer Break Wrap Up

Monday was a most gorgeous day for wrapping up summer break. The kids and I decided to be impulsive and spend the day outdoors, soaking up the sunshine and beauty. We're not big on agendas but really avoided having any on this day. We were rewarded for it.

We had a great summer. It didn't go as planned and I didn't come anywhere close to completing my long to-do list. Vanessa was excited about school but also very much enjoyed her freedom and flexibility from the game -- she felt mixed. It wasn't till the very end when I kind of felt like it was time for the kids to get back into our school year routine. I've been looking forward to getting back into a routine but I was also very sad for the change. Zane has handled Vanessa's return exceptionally well. He's ready to get back into some of his own schooling.

We visited the newest Metro Park, Rocky Fork. It was okay and a nice way to start the day. We then decided to swing by the south end of the Hoover Dam since it has been a few years since Zane and I visited. And then the kids wanted to play in the river, so we ran up to Highbanks.

 Zane was looking for another "crutch" for his "broken" leg.

 The kids explored the meadow all by themselves.

Without any leading or help Zane found where we were at on the park map. He said "I think we're on this pink line and we are getting close to water." He was exactly right!

 Zane: "I really love this tree fort so much! I wish we had this."

We were the only ones in the Highbanks' nature center and just so happened to come in when the fellow was preparing to release three new monarchs. He asked the kids if they would like to help. Zane decided to observe but Vanessa was delighted to do it once she observed me releasing one.

Zane's plays and performances are quite detailed and he's so good at narrating, animal noises and changing his voice to size and type of character. I could sit and watch all day . . .

He's also very strong and takes his time.

Dragonfly Tamer

In many cultures dragonflies represent change. With age and maturity a dragonfly can move in all six directions. It can fly up to 45 mph and it can do all these things with wings flapping only 30 times a minute -- 20 times as much power in each wing than other insects! Can you believe it has traveled 11,000 miles back and forth across the Indian Ocean?! It has the longest migration of any insect. Wow . . . and it does all these things with true gracefulness. . .

Life is all about change, isn't it? And really we're just called to handle each with gracefulness, trusting God is always in control.  We fight to control all life's happenings on our own because the world says we should. When we do it on our own, though, anxiety, worry and stress seep in. And next thing we know we're drowning in it, fighting to keep our head above, because we've decided to to carry the weight of the world on our own.

Yes, I speak from experience. Just in recent years I was trying hard to conform to the ways of the world and its expectations, rather than trusting what God would have us do, even if it meant going against the norm, the wealth, and the pressures from how others thought we should go about life. I still have a long way to go and it's a constant battle between how God is guiding our hearts and how the broken world thinks I should do things using my own and its faulted ways. Isn't it for everyone, though?

But He's faithfully given me peace and calmness and is continuing to change all my prideful and independent attitudes. I'm very thankful He never changes -- He is always consistent and never withholds His love, pointing us in one direction towards Him. I love dragonflies. Change can be a good thing and has been for me, but I do not want to fly in many different directions and far distances like a dragonfly, away from Him.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." ~ Hebrews 13:8

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3: 22-23

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." ~ Romans 12: 2

You can read more facts at Smithsonian.com and Dragonfly-Site.com.

Sibling Rivalry

Zane: "Mmmm...she's my sweet tart...she's my precious mom."

Vanessa: "She's my precious mom too!"

Zane: "She's not precious to you."

Vanessa: "Yes she is!"

Zane: "Then why don't you hug her more like me?"

Vanessa: "I hug Mommy all the time!"

I don't like when the kids argue but I will admit I didn't stop this one and I listened carefully. :-) They are both so very precious to me!

Camp Molly Lauman

Vanessa had a day with her Girl Scout troop at Camp Molly Lauman. One of the leaders is expecting to deliver her baby any day now, so I filled in for her and tagged along. Happy I was able to go since I also love horses and very much enjoyed her horseback riding experience. All went really well, even with the stubborn horse Vanessa ended up on. The horse is named Snowflake and one of the camp leaders said Snowflake is a bit of a moody girl. Vanessa felt like the camp leader and I were picking on Snowflake by pointing out her personality traits -- she needed to defend Snowflake. :-)

After horseback riding, we had lunch in the lodge. We then made leather bracelets and played games before a dip in the pool.

Get in the Zone! Sky Zone!

Vanessa has been begging for months to go to Sky Zone. We added it to our summer bucket list. Check! The kids loved going back and forth between the wall of trampolines to the foam pit and Vanessa even enjoyed a little Dodgeball. Once our session was over, they added their names to the Sky Zone sticker ball, just to prove they've been. And the trip was topped off with a double rainbow, with Sky Zone at the end of it. :-) And Hilliard is getting its own indoor trampoline park in the next year!

Life Lessons

It seems Vanessa is always wanting to teach Zane something. He's a willing participant. I hope she is able to relate her life lessons as well as she relates roller skating basketball and roller skating sword fighting. Like all of us, he won't always get something until he goes through it himself. But just maybe he can remember and relate to what others have shared.