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 . . .