Brilyn Makes a Barbie Boat!

 Brilyn likes to make things with her

lego, now. Real things. Not just

towers to be knocked over.

 She wanted to make Barbie 

a boat. Our first effort failed as the 

boat sunk. So, we made a new boat

around a little ball - which served

as a floatation device.

 Barbie looks pretty happy with 

this one!

But, it's really Brilyn's opinion 

that matters the most!

And Brilyn looks pretty happy

with this version, too.

She played with it in the tub

for the longest time.

Don't you just love it when kids

are creative?

Our Water Baby!

 Asher LOVES the water!

 And he can maneuver his way 

around the pool!

 His body mass is mostly muscle,

so he doesn't float very well.

BUT - I've turned him loose a time

or two and he does swim

UNDER WATER!

And he LOVES splashing people!

Especially if it makes them scream. So,

take this as a warning. If you don't

want to get wet, stay away 

from Asher when he's in

the pool!

The Tea Party I Missed Out On

Grace had Poison Ivy 

while she was here, and while

I had taken her to the doctor

and gotten her medicine,

I thought it would be best

not to take her to our baseball shoot.

(heat might irritate it and she LOOKED contagious)

 So - Brandy came by and baby sat.

 She brought dress up clothes and

allowed the girls to get dressed

up and have a tea party!

 Don't they look adorable?

I have a feeling that they had

more fun than I did!

Grace and Olivia love their

Aunt Brandy and Aunt Brandy

loves them!

I'm so happy to have a family

that gets along and enjoys

spending time together!

All Good Things Come From Above

Not long ago when I met

Heather in Wichita Falls to get

the girls, Grace and I noticed that

there are no flowers there.

NONE!

There were no flowers in the 

garden section of Walmart.

No flowers at Lowe's.

NONE!

Then last time the girls were

here and it was time for them to go

home, I met Heather in Nacona

for lunch. I came back through

Wichita Falls and ran to

ToysRUs to look for 

Asher a new floatie.

And there were signs like this

EVERYWHERE.

  

BIG Signs in front of Businesses.

Small signs in private yards. 

There are no flowers, because they

are not allowed to water.

Pools are closed. No water.

It's illegal to use a wading pool. 

The pools on 

Sheppard Air Force Base

are closed.

They are recycling waste water

in order to have enough water to

bathe and to drink.

That's a serious drought. 

We've been in a drought, here, too.

But we are allowed to water every other

day and to fill our swimming pools.

Things in Wichita Falls look BAD!

But - I have a feeling they'll be

okay. I think God will 

send a few showers and I think 

they will pull through.

Do you know why?

Because....

They know that God is their provider.

HE is the source.

HE is the one who has control

over rain and drought.

And in their time of need

they are turning to HIM!

I loved seeing those signs.

Don't get me wrong, I don't love the 

fact that they are desperate for rain,

or that they are going through 

tough times.

I just love the fact that they

know where to turn.

The signs were and encouragement to me.

I'm happy to know that our neighbors

to the south look to God

to supply their need.

Anyway want to join me

in praying for rain?

May God pour out just the right

amount of rain to replenish 

the water supply in the southern states.

Especially Wichita Falls, Texas!

"My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

 

Brilyn's Pet Turtle

Brilyn has been wanting a pet

turtle for quite some time.

So - I've been keeping my eye's 

out and looking for one.

A friend posted that her dog had found

one on facebook and she was 

looking for it a good home!

 So - I asked if we could have it

for Brilyn! 

 
And - since Brilyn as on vacation

at the time, I picked it up and 

got it all acquainted with it's new home!

 Brilyn's Daddy, Andrew, had a pet

turtle when he was a teenage

and took it to his first apartment

and first him - so he knows

all about them. And he can 

teach Brilyn how to care for it.

She's learning to be gentle!

And - I think she's doing a pretty

good job!

Aren't her and Squirt cute together?

Fishing!

I took Grace and Olivia 

fishing one day,

and I forgot my camera!

So - here is a picture and a

video I took with my phone!

Grace has learned to cast and reel

like a pro, so her hook was not in

the water long enough for

anything to bite,

but Olivia, caught two fish!

And once I got them off the 

hook, she threw them back

into the water 

all by herself!

Gracie can SWIM!!!!!!!

Just look at this!

We have a SWIMMER!

She's almost gotten it down towards

the end of summer, each year.

But - now she's swimming at the

beginning of summer,

so she will most likely be a

swimmer for life!

Isn't that WONDERFUL!!!!!!

I so love it when children

can swim.

Now, if she were to accidentally

fall into a pool or a body of

water, she could most likely

make it to the edge and 

pull herself out.

But - since she no longer

wears a floatie, we also must

keep a sharp eye on her.

Of course, we were doing that anyway!

More From the Garold Wayne Zoo

After Playing with the Taliger,

we were taken on a behind the scenes 

tour of the zoo.

 

The park has approx. 185 big cats,

but there are other animals, too. 

 
Before we went, we had read online 

that the fences were 'sketchy' and some

considered the zoo somewhat unsafe.

We found the fences to be solid, 

but there was not much of a barrier

between the fences and the sidewalks,

so guest could easily stick their fingers 

into the cages if they wished.

This is one area, that did have a barrier,

but as you can see - Alyssa was able

to reach out and play with the baby

bear anyway.

 Everyone in our group was smart enough

not to stick their hand into this

fellow's cage!

 We were encouraged to touch

the camel, though.

 He was very friendly!

 He even gave some of us, kisses!

I'm not so sure Alyssa likes his kisses!

 And I'm not sure how Andrew feels 

about this - but that camel is SMILING!

 This lion resides at the zoo owner's 

house. He's in a fenced yard and 

he loves attention.

 He rubbed up against the fence begging

to be petted. I think it would have

been perfectly safe to pet him, too.

BUT - we had told the children to keep

their hands away from the fences, so

we had to set an example and

keep our own hands away as well.

BUT - That big lion shares a yard with

two little weenie dogs. 

If you'll look under that slanted roof

where the lion lays you will see 

one of them. The dogs and the lion

were raised together and have 

remained friends.

I think that HUGE lion is just

one big baby kitty!

And you can see above just how close

we were to him.

At this zoo, the animals looked

well fed, and happy. Cages were clean

and secure. It should be perfectly safe

to visit and enjoy. Just use some 

common sense and keep your hands

out of the cages.

AND - If you take children, supervise them.

 

The Coolest Zoo, Ever!

While the girls were here, earlier in the

month we went to 

The Garold Wayne Zoo

in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

 Brilyn, Asher and Weston went, too!

 This is a very hands-on zoo!

We all got to play with a baby taliger!

(half tiger and half liger {lion-tiger mix})

 The Taliger's name was Alisa and it

loved Olivia!

It actually, loved Olivia's frilly dress.

It would chase her and bite it and the

wildlife attendant would often have to

pull it away. The cub was gentle andwas never

really a threat to Olivia - only her dress.

 I played with the Taliger, too, but for 

the most part, I was happy to take pictures

and let the kids play. After all,

what kid can say they've actually played

with a baby taliger?

 Asher & the Taliger

 Weston & the Taliger

 The taliger, Alisa, by herself!

Grace & the taliger.

Grace probably enjoyed this as much

as anyone. I think she played with the

little cub the most. 

And I'll share more about this

hands on zoo later.

There is just too much to share

in only one post.

Home School Picnic

 While we were in Texas we 

had the opportunity to join in on

a Home School Picnic!

 Several Families from the Frisco HIS

Home School Group came together

to have some fun!

 There were games!

 And face painting!

 But it was mostly about fellowship!

It is neat seeing that there are

lots of other home schoolers

out there!

 The girls had a good time.

And the weather was perfect!

I am so grateful that 

Heather and Dustin have made

the decision to home school these two!

HOME really should be a child's

Happy Place!

And home schooling is a natural

choice for families

who are diligent about raising

children for eternity -

rather than just the short

life we spend on this earth!

 

Grace's Gymnastics Expo

 Grace did GREAT at the 

Gymnastics Exp!

 She was brave and strong

and performed in front of a great 

big crowd with a smile

on her face!

 She looked like she was having 

a good time, too!

 I am so proud of her!

 This was not a competition. It was just

an opportunity for young

gymnast to demonstrate their skills.

BUT - Grace is a champion,

to me, regardless.

She overcame the stage fright

she experienced at the last 

show and did an amazing job!