Kaitlin is LOVING drama camp. She will be Smee in their play, Peter Pan on Thursday. I can't wait!

Dinosaur Valley

Jonathan and I met my parents in Glen Rose for a mini-vacation this week. Kaitlin is still in drama camp, so she and Charles stayed behind. It turned out to be a dream vacation for Jonathan.
Thursday, after some hometown bbq we went to our cabin at Trickle Lake. I would recommend this place to anyone - it was fantastic. There was a hot tub in a screened in porch to the side of the cabin. Jonathan spent hours swimming it it over our three days there.
The main attraction was Dinosaur World. Go to my flicker to see pictures.
It has over 100 life size dinosaur statues. Jonathan just ran from one to the next. Then he got to dig for fossils. They let kids keep their favorite three fossils. Most of them are plants, but Jonathan did find several teeth, so he choose those for his 3 to keep. The gift shop there is a dinosaur land of its own - every kind of dino gift you can imagine. We got Jonathan a dinosaur lunch box for kindergarten. We got Kaitlin (who had requested souvenirs) a dinosaur mood ring and mood bracelet.
Friday we went to Dinosaur Valley State Park. Most of their best footprints and fossils are actually in a museum in NY, so we didn't spend much time there. After that (the weather was soooo nice) we went to the historic down town. We just popped in and out of shops and mini museums until lunch. We ate at a great little sandwich shop on the square.
We spent most of that afternoon in the hot tub drinking coke floats and "fishing" with some magnetic fish Jonathan found in town. There is a lake to fish in there - we just didn't do it this trip. We also watched baby birds (teeny tiny ones) and saw bunnies and raccoon and deer tracks.
Saturday was our last day, so we got up early, loaded the van up and headed to Fossil Rim. If you haven't been - you should go. It's 9 1/2 miles of African Animal safari. I got licked by a deer and scared by an ostrich - it was great;) There are pictures of that on my flicker as well. We all loved it. Luckily we had been advised to go as soon as they open, because when it gets hot the animals all go find shade and take a nap. They were very active while we were there. It took about three hours to go through the entire safari and petting zoo.
Then we were on our way back home. It was such a fantastic trip!!! I hope Jonathan remembers it for a looong time.

For Kaitlin

Kait

When you fall asleep at night and I go into your room and put my hand on your head and pray over you and you don’t even know – I thank God for you.

When I see you being a good sister – I thank God for you.

When I read your poems and stories – I thank God for you.

When I hear you laugh because you think something is very funny – I thank God for you and for your laugh.

When we get to have lunch at Dairy Queen and you tell me your thoughts, feelings and secrets – I thank God for you and for who you are.

When I see you dance – I thank God for you and for how healthy and happy you are.

When I watch you walk into the school – so big – so close to third grade – I think how much I love you and how much you are growing up and - I thank God for you.

When I catch you reading late at night – I thank God for you and for your love of reading and for your giant imagination.

When you snuggle up to me at a baseball game and hold my hand – I thank God for you and I treasure that time with you.

When I hear you sing at church, it almost makes me cry, because it is so beautiful. You are worshipping God in such a special way and blessing our hearts – I thank God for you and the talent He has given you.

When you tell me your highs and lows at dinner – I thank God for you.

But please know that I also thank God at other times:

When you can’t figure out your math at school or at home – I thank God for you.

When we argue about your hair before school - I thank God for you.

When you are in trouble at school – I thank God for you.

When your room is a pig sty – I love you for your creativity and thank God for you.

When I seem the most frustrated with you while you are growing up – I am thanking God for you and thankful for every day I have with you.

Jonathan got all hits last night and earned the game ball. Kaitlin caught another pop fly!

The Animal Kingdom is Attacking!

So far this past week, the kids let a frog loose in the house ( I found it by innocently walking around a dark corner), a bird got in the house (and repeatedly swooped at my head), a mouse was in the house (I say "was" but we didn't catch it, so who knows), and Jonathan just found a rattle snake by the front door (on the outside).
We have a softball game and a T-ball game at the same time tonight in different towns. Go Indians. Go Thunder Chicks.

Kaitlin caught two pop flies in the game last night!:)

Lowlights

I got lowlights today and really like them. These pictures were taken in really bright sun so its hard to tell, but they are chunky. Maybe I can get more pictures tomorrow in less sun, so that you can see what I like about them. I've been wanting to try it for a long time.