Zoo Fun

Sydnie LOVES going to the zoo and the last time we went, she was very bummed the new exhibit, The African Savannah, wasn't open. So, we went today. Even better, we went with Nana and Pa! It was HOT. It was fun :) We finally saw the cheetahs and elephants. Of course, we saw the lions, warthogs, and giraffes, which only received a passing glance. "Ok, I've seen it, what else can we see?"

After the zoo, we went to eat and yes we were so hot, we enjoyed a little bit of Frosty to cool us down :)

Memorial Day Fun

Happy Memorial Day!! We didn't have big plans for our Memorial Day, or Memorials Day, as Sydnie put it, but it turned out to be lots of fun...and memorable...hahaha.

We had some friends over, kind of a last minute thing, to grill and just 'hang-out'. Sydnie and Silas, almost 4, have lots of fun together so they were sooooo excited to have the play time. Even so excited they didn't eat when the adults ate. If you know Sydnie, you know that is amazing, she will almost always be willing to stop what she' s doing to eat, especially grilled steak (which is quite a treat). After lots of good playtime, and a good meal, Sydnie decided to do something about her loose tooth, or rather allow someone else to do something about her tooth. Let me explain...

Silas's family came over. You know that when kids come into the family the parents don't get the mention, as before kids, but Silas's mom is also a dental assistant. Sydnie wouldn't let Mom or Dad touch her tooth, but she let Mrs. Tiffany pull it!!! She was a little wary, but she was patient and out it came. We now have a snaggle-tooth in the family, who is very proud of the hole in her mouth :) She asked the tooth fairy for the tooth. She did leave the tooth, which she said was a 'very unusual request and practice' but this is Sydnie: the queen of unusual requests :) She looked at her tooth all night and all the next day. I wonder if each tooth will carry this kind of excitement??

So, we really did have a big memorable Memorial Day, maybe not as one would expect, but perfect for our family. A good evening with friends (Mr. Jacob and Carly, we are glad you came too) and a good family event we were happy to share.

'Til the next event...

Blessings :)

Gluten Free/Yeast Free Recipe

I tried something new for lunch today I had seen in Yeastfree Cooking, or something like that. Anyway, it was so simple and actually tasty. I don't usually make meals during the day, I don't always sit down to eat, so what's the point? So this was more than I'm used to, but so easy. Ready?

One cooked sweet potato, peeled and sliced
1/2 banana cut lengthwise, peeled
1/4 cup pecans, toasted
oil

Toast the pecan for a few minutes, remove from the pan and add just about a tablespoon of oil. Add the banana and sweet potato slices. Cover and let cook until warmed through. You don't even have to turn them over. Plate with cooked side up and sprinkle with nuts. The bananas have a nice sweetness that comes out with cooking and blends well with the potato and pecans. Surprisingly yummy!

A Loose Tooth

Well, it has come at last...Sydnie's first loose tooth! She has been waiting since the last dental visit. Looking at the xrays, the dentist said he anticipated he two bottom teeth would fall out this summer. She has been anxously awaiting. When she realized she had a loose tooth, I thought she would actually jump out of her skin. She had to call Daddy and work and give him the BIG news!! It is loose and getting looser, with help, of course, but she doesn't want Daddy to pull it. I'll be curious to see how things go when it is so loose it wobbles on its own...

Kindergarten Here We Come!

Last night we went to school for Kindergarten Round-Up. Sydnie was a little nervous about the evening: I won't know anyone?! What will we do? Do you know how to get there? The typical questions and concerns of a child going into a new situation. After MUCH discussion, including the electives she might be able to take in high school, yes we had to talk about high school as well, after all, don't all 5-year-olds worry if they'll be able to be on the swim team when they get to high school??? or on the "book" team (yearbook)??? A side note: she'll be on the swim team, the yearbook staff, but NOT the debate team...we'll see about that last one.

So, back to Kindergarten...we get ready to go, she's still a little nervous, but also excited, which makes for an emotional little girl. When we arrive, she walks right in and sits with Daddy, no problems. She listens to the principal and teachers, as well as she can considering she's commenting on everything they say, so I miss half of it. Thanks for listening Daddy, and catching the other half! We go to the classrooms, and it love! "This will be my room won't it Mom"? We looked at the K classrooms and she sat in the reading corners of all of them and pointed out the science area of a couple. She is ready for Kindergarten. I hope Kindergarten is ready for her :)

After leaving, she learned she would not start this week...what a BUMMER! As I said, the emotions were close to showing themselves, how can one be soooo excited and soooo disappointed at the same time and not be emotional! This morning, we are calmer and just excited to know it's coming up this fall. "I know I'll love it, Mom"! If I were only so confident. I am still very nervous, for many reasons, but it's in God's hands, for which I am thankful!!!

Thankful

I just have some random thoughts this morning, almost afternoon.

I am thankful for a husband who is loving and caring. He is a great Dad and wonderful hubby who never gets the credit warm fuzzies he deserves, but continues to all he can for his family in a Godly way. What would we do without you???

I am thankful for a daughter who has a heart for others. She is making cards for friends and kites for myself and Daddy with a sincere caring I hope and pray never goes away.

I am thankful for parents I can call anytime with crazy thoughts and questions and know they will answer me honestly and appropriately.

I am thankful for a sister that is great! I may not talk to her very often, but she is always in my prayers.

I am thankful for friends God has given our family and thoughts of them brighten our day.

I am thankful to God for his blessings that are new every morning and am sorry I don't appreciate them as I should.

Winter Snow

I have not kept up well the last few months. No excuses, but we'll just try to start over and keep going. I thought I might as well start with the snow we had a couple of weeks ago. It was the most beautiful snow we've seen in Texas-and Sydnie's biggest by far! She built Lenny the Leaning Snowman, who actually hung around until the very last flake of snow had melted. I thought she would be sad, but she was actually glad to have warm weather again. Of course, it is cold again, we had a few snowflakes, and she is watching The Jetsons in front of the fire and still has on her coat. The bunny ears have since fallen off...She is a girl of complexities for sure!