Even though you feel left out, Jesus loves you!

SJV VBS 2014

Sister Mary shared with me that on day 1 during her bible story time, Lincoln told her he felt like crying, when she asked him what was the matter, he said it's 

because he loves Jesus so much.  Aw!  She shared his story at home with her fellow sisters.  

He did tell me in the car on the way home the same story and I told him that he was touched by the Holy Spirit.  I love vbs!

Here's Lincoln being silly in front Axl, the axolotl.

Monkeying around w Marley

Lincoln and Marley have been dreaming about going to the zoo together.  I told Lincoln, you're going to get to go to the zoo with Marley after all!  With the class on your field trip.  He was not excited.  So I decided to take them.

I'm planning on taking the kids to do something fun every early release Wednesday for the rest of the year.  Today was our first day- destination the Houston Zoo.  The kids were thrilled to see me at pick up.

We had snacks in the car.  Carter doesn't look like he's going to take a nap today.

They all wanted to play with this gorilla.

Marley wanted to see the lions today.  On the way, the first thing they saw that caught their interest was the monkey exhibit.  We looked at chimpanzees and monkeys and took some pictures on the way way out.

Stopping for snow cones!

Finally going to see the lions.  The mane guy is named Jonathan- just like daddy!

Lincoln's turn to pick: he wanted to see the giraffes.  At this point, it was getting really hot, but we made it there- the African Forest.

They wanted to play in the playground and go to the petting zoo, but they wanted to go home too.  We went to the playground (and not the petting zoo) and Jonna wanted to see the bat cave nearby so we did, stopped for a drink break, then headed home.  

Everyone was thirsty!  But when I handed Lincoln the Sprite, he shook his head.  He gave it to Marley first.  How sweet!

We had snacks again in the car and strawberries at home.  Here they are "playing battleship".

They took turns playing with the iron man hand, Lincoln put in his iron man costume and Marley said she used to wear a Spider-Man costume all the time.  So I grabbed the Halloween bag.  They had a blast.

Carter fell asleep right after shower & dinner.  He almost fell asleep at the table.  He went to bed at 6:20.  I'm sure they'll all sleep tight tonight!  Zoo play date, done.  Next stop:  splash pad & picnic at the playground.

After Marley left, Lincoln showered and at the dinner table, said:  Marley, I miss you.  I said aw, you miss her already?  He answered:  I always miss her.

Lincoln can multiply!

Email from Ms. Lizzie on Friday afternoon:

"So awesome!"

As a reward and Lenten dinner, we went for crawfish, but stopped for sushi first!  L wanted the seaweed salad and edamame and salmon sashimi.

IKEA the next day for a dresser.  Saw  "Sweety" the clown before Lincoln entered the play area with these other two VN girls.  Sadly carter was too short for the play area.

The dresser mommy & daddy picks out for their shared closet.

Pairs well with the one they already have:

Resting after the play area.

Played Hooky for the rodeo!

daddy's flex Friday =family rodeo day!  

In the audience 

Tractor pull contest 

Candied apple while waiting for the obstacle course 

100th day of school

From Ms. Lizzie's twitter:

Building with 100 cups at school 

Downstairs waiting for daddy in the morning 

L had a hangnail, we took care of it, put a spudermN band aid on it and also trimmed his nails.  

Where is thumbkin?  "Here's the tricky part."

We also had time to pack a cookie butter & jelly, dried-apple bag, fruit snack, caprisun lunch.  

This week he said,

I can't believe Marley and I have been friends for 100 days on Thursday!

Year of the Horse

Co Tuyet gave Carter his first li xi &

Carter gave it to Lincoln after school saying, chuc mung nam moi, all on his own.  Cu-ute!  I had to capture that moment.

I bought presents from different stores this year, avoiding HK, and wrapped them myself!

They put on their ao dai from last year for the celebration at Ong Ba Ngoai's.

Only Carter wore his at Ba Noi's the next day.  Leighton wore the outfit we got her last year too!

The kids ate watermelon like it was a completion :). They played Bau Cua, w/ Thuong as shaker and afterwards the adults played Cat Te, Chuong won the most.  I played for the first time in years.  It was fun!

Our present from Chu Thim Chuong-Van.

The first time L showers all by himself

Feb 4

Tuesday

We had a rough night.  L we his bed.  I was so tired today I almost fell asleep on the wheel.  I decided to rest after school.  When we got home, while getting ready for a shower, I got down to L, asked him look me in the eyes, and said:

Wet your hair

Use shampoo

Rinse it out

Wash your p-p & behind

And when you're ready to come out,

Use this towel on the counter

And put on these clothes 

And he did it!

His first shower, in & out, all by himself.

I was laying with Carter (he was napping) the whole time.  L came out and said, you can go to sleep, and played quietly in the room.  Carter woke up soon after and they played together happily.  They're always happy to greet each other after school.  Such sweet kids.  :)