Day at the Zoo

Everyone is getting a little spring fever, so it was a good Friday to go to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco.

Upward Basketball

Johnathan and Coach Kevin had fun with the Rhinos basketball team this winter.  Johnathan learned a lot, since he's never played before (other than pickup games with Dad, of course!).  And  Dad loved introducing his son to his favorite game!

Abby at 21 months

Abby is rounding the corner to her second birthday, and it occured to me I haven't posted any updates lately as she rapidly grows.

She's a busy girl these days... There are so many tables to climb on top of, cupboards to investigate, phones to grab and practice making calls on, and big kids' toys to snatch.  Abby loves noodles, blueberries, and red meat (she is a native Texan, after all!).  Her favorite activities are being read to (especially books with babies or animals), slinging baby dolls around very lovingly, talking on the phone to anyone who is willing to chat, running outside, and climbing.

Her vocabulary is exploding these days.  She can call everyone in our family, name her favorite foods and activities, request her shoes and socks, point to numerous body parts, and knows helpful phone conversation phrases such as "HI," "bye-bye," and "mm-hmm," along with a conversational babble.  She is also prepared to converse with a wide range of farm animals!

She makes you feel great when you walk in the door or pick her up from the nursery.  She grins, runs, and holds up her arms while hollering your name.  And when she gets tired, she snuggles right into your shoulder.  Pure sweetness!

Conversations with a Three-Year-Old

In the kitchen, before bed

Ezra:  Momma, can I do something interesting?

Momma:  What do you want to do?

Ezra:   I will take two pieces of oil, and a knife, two cups, and I'm making some kind of recipe.  [Brandishing a knife]  Now I need the yemen (lemon) and one piece of orange.  I need one piece of peach.  I think I need to cut, cut, cut.  I know, I'm making a recipe!  It's called yemen ice cream.  It's called "Ezra's Recipe that Momma and Daddy like."



In the gym, after Johnathan's basketball game

Ezra:  Do you know what's in my hand? [Fist tightly clenched]

Momma:  What?

Ezra:  Don't be afraid.

Momma:  Umm...

Ezra:  It's an M&M!  [Unclenches fist to reveal a smashed red M&M]

Momma:  Where did you find that M&M?

Ezra:  Over there!

Momma:  Don't eat tha-  Aaand, it's gone.   

How to Build a New Ministry Building (Part 1)

 Last month the old building came down, and now we'll share how the new building goes up!  Here's how we started...

...With prayer and a very special group of ground-breakers.

This was the ground-breaking crew, ready with the little shovels to dig in.  They were an enthusiastic and thorough bunch.  No spot was left untouched!

Even little Abby got in on the action.

Let the construction begin!

How to Demolish a Sunday School Building

 The day we've been waiting for - especially certain little boys who love heavy machinery - the demolition of the old Sunday School building!  It started out a bit less exciting than we anticipated, though.  Asbestos abatement was the first step.  Naomi put up this sign to remind everyone to go to the sanctuary for class, because the building became off-limits while all the building materials containing asbestos were pulled off.

After a week of abatement, the building looked like this. 

And then the exciting part!

In less than 20 minutes, the site looked like this:

And the excavator spent the rest of the day scooping up the mess.  And we spent the day watching out the window!

And that's how you demolish a building!

Happy Birthday, Momma

My very happy birthday with my sweeties (and some chocolate cupcakes!).