And so do six-years-old, presumably.
This six-year-old hopes to reap pumpkins in four or five months.

And her mom stands on the promise, Isaiah 55:11 that God’s Word will not return void as we bathe Tabitha in the Truth.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”  He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The apron is optional.

We celebrated our April-baby and May-baby girls’ birthdays this past Sunday with some of our family and friends.  We spread out all over our downstairs to enjoy our dinner.  The girls were then terrifically blessed by some thought-filled gifts. 

Then we enjoyed some pink and orange cuppy-cakes.  Tabitha was a tickled pro.  Johanna was delighted by the attention.  She was joyously processing it, as she glanced around and around the room as her loved ones sang.  She was a little uncertain about the candle… but Daddy helped her out.

I was at work when I got the call.  Tabitha had burnt her hand on the lawn mower.  It was off and parked when her ball rolled under and she sustained a burn as she retrieved it. 

I gave Daddy directions to abbreviate the damage: submerge her hand in room temperature water for as long as possible.  I then asked to speak to Stewart and asked him to set her up with a movie without her knowledge.  “Just bless her.”  He did and she was tickled. 

She also shared. 

You have to check out my friend Martha’s blog. 
I LOVE this!

http://justseven.blogspot.com/2012/04/pink-or-blue.html

Okay – I love being surprised on the birth-day more… but this is a good second.

Congrats, Martha.

Baths before bedtime are wonderful.

It took way too long to get her a Big Girl Bed.  But now she has it.  And likes it.  And sleeps upside down on it.  Or sideways.  Or just right.  Or on the floor next to it.  Isn’t she sweet?

(Don’t worry… she’ll go cold turkey on the “Beah” (a/k/a pacifier) on June 1st.)

And thankfully, no one got wet.

A few years ago, God saw fit to move two cool families a few miles from one another.  We enjoy a lot of play-around-in-the-yard days with one another… and we REALLY enjoy our outings.

Today was an outing.  WE headed out as early as these two particular groups can GET out… 8:30A.M. to go to the Aquarium of Niagara.  It was a great time.  The trainer even came out to meet us personally and answer a barrage of questions. 

We enjoyed a few sea lion shows…

Watched them feed sharks.

Check out a tidal pool.

Poison Dart Frogs? 

Watched them feed harbor seals, and had a ton of our questions answered.
 

Are YOU as tall as an Emperor penguin?  Or a shark?

Lunch.

We walked over toward the Niagara Gorge, but construction kept us from seeing much. 
So instead we drove over to the American Falls. 
Wow. 
I am so glad we did.
Did I mention, WOW?

I haven’t been to the American Falls since I was a BABY.  I have, for most of my life, regarded the Falls from the Canadian side.  I had no idea how close you could get on the U.S. side.  Sure, it cost us $10 just to park our car… but that worked out to $1 a person, and we surely got our money’s worth.

I’m thanking God for SUCH a good day.  And some fun friends to share it with!! 

Here is a link to our trip in 2009!
Stewart has the same coat on… FOUR summers later!  ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12!  Get out!

 

 

For John, this was not really a WOW kind of birthday.  To “celebrate” he didn’t go into work at 5:30 A.M. like he had been doing much of the month.  Instead he stayed home so the kids could watch him open gifts at 6:55 A.M.  Johanna helped him unwrap them all.   Good practice for her upcoming birthday, I guess. 

 

 

 

He got a cool new Crown of Thorns tie, two shirts, and two books.  One was by Dr. David Jeremiah on the upcoming economic Armageddon, and the other was a Focus on the Family book on Raising Knights.   The kids were a little dubious about his spoil.  It seemed to be a little lacking. 

He sped off to work and we celebrated with waffles FOR him.    It was the least we could do.

 

 

 

 

 

We then headed off to our second-to-last-day at co-op.  Nigel made, um, something or other, in his science class.  It looked pretty cool. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marie studied Indians in her Little House on the Prairie Class. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tabitha made a tree in her Art Class.  A/K/A “Mommy class.”  Then we were home and fixed a not-so-amazing dinner of Zweigle’s, potato salad, and cole slaw for Daddy’s dinner before he took the big four to their first night of HIS Baseball.  Hanny and I ran errands.  Not so wow… huh?