"I brushing"

Gini Lu is a tease! Tonight I asked her to brush her teeth and this is what she did then told me, "I brushing."

*I store all toothbrushes in the kitchen because I wash them in the dishwasher daily, so this wisk was in the same drawer as the toothbrushes. 

Something's missing...

Today we were working at a new found friend's home. Afterward, we were just visiting and suddendly noticed something about Bobby! Look at this! 

He didn't realize he even lost the tooth and he's concerned the Tooth Fairy isn't going to come-- since we told him there's no evidence of a tooth. But, he knows we are the Tooth Fairy and he's asking NON-STOP if he's getting any money tonight.... we'll see.

Family Fun

This weekend Martha, my sister, and Joe, her hubby, were here.  It's so sweet to be with those we love so much. 

We went to the STL Zoo on Friday. Martha and Joe saw a Zoo while honeymooning so it was reminiscent for them. Of course, having three kids and two other adults really limited the romanticism, but since they are expecting my niece in December it's just giving them a taste of what life will be like soon. 

Here's our kids hanging out in the bamboo. Gini Lu says, "I hear someping!"

What could be more interesting than a peacock, Gini Lu?

I loved the momma and baby elephants because it's new life and having a new life is so exciting. Unfortunately, I (Suzanne) often say things before thinking and I told Martha something along the lines of -- these elephants remind me of you. Note to self-- Never tell a pregnant woman (or any woman) that an elephant IN ANY WAY is like her. Thankfully, my sister truly understands my heart (and mouth) and didn't have hurt feelings. Yes, it was supposed to be a compliment but not so much... I love you sister! 

Notice this picture isn't taken in front of the elephants! Aren't Martha and Joe cute. That's Ruth Ellen right between them. Could she be any cuter?! Some women really pull of pregnancy great and Martha is one of them. 

Thanks for coming guys. We had a great time! Hope the rest of your vacation was a fun one!

The boys went to Wil-Nor (a hunting club) and practiced with the dog a bit on Saturday. Martha, Gini Lu and I went to MOBOT Best of Missouri. We LOVED the time in a garden without the boys. The last hour was spent sitting listing to and watching the head florist with Schnucks (a local grocery store chain) talk about decorating your home for the holidays with fresh and "forever" floral stuff. It was fun! I hope to share those pictures with you once Martha posts them.

Ian was the photographer at Wil-Nor on Saturday so the pictures are pretty limited. 

DNA... because preschoolers LOVE this stuff!

I've come to the conclusion that I'm a much better mom to children who are reading on their own and are past diapers, bottles, and needing help with baby stuff. I love 'em when they are little, but I LOVE 'em when they are a bit bigger.

I bombed science in college but love learning how things work. (As a side note, one of my favorite things to do with the kids is disassemble broken electronics. Strange-- I know!) I like learning that God designed things to work logically. Johann Kepler believed "geometry is unique and eternal, a reflection of the mind of God. That mankind shows in it is because man is an image of God."

Johann Kepler was no lightweight. He was the real deal! The dude has a Supernova named after himself. And this is before you could just "buy and name a star for your loved one". He's even got a crater on the MOON named Kepler. He discovered the laws of planetary motion.... before computers and calculators! But more importantly he loved Christ. 

(Don't stop reading.... I really am going somewhere with all of this!)

Check out some of what this man said:

"We astronomers are priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature." "God is the beginning and end of scientific research and striving"-the keynote of his thought, the basis of his purpose, the "life-giving soil of his feeling."

"I wanted to become a theologian," he wrote. "For a long time I was restless. Now, however, behold how through my effort God is being celebrated in astronomy."

He believed that "everything in nature is arranged according to measure and number." He was convinced that "the geometrical natures of things have provided the Creator the model for decorating the whole world." (He investigated the regularity of the six angles of a snowflake in "Strena" (1611--  yet no one could prove this theory until 1998!),) His axiom was that "nothing in the world was created by God without a plan"; he sought it diligently.

His dying words were: "Only the merits of our saviour Jesus Christ. It is in Him, as I steadfastly testify, that there rest all my retreat, all my consolation, all my hope."

Since Joseph was in NY this weekend the kids and I went to the grand debut of the St. Louis Science Center's new Life Science Lab-- which doesn't actually open to the public until October 1st. Since we're members we got a sneak peek! And it was fantastic! I love that my kids are learning to enjoy science. I hope and pray that our kids will see science as a reflection of the mind of God and use the Word of God as the foundation for ALL their thinking. 

Here are Bobby, Ian and Gini Lu all extracting DNA from wheat germ. We had already looked at our cheek cells under a microscope and extracted DNA from our own saliva. The DNA was much easier to see from the wheat germ than ourselves. We could actually wrap the DNA around a small wooden dowel because there was so much to see and gather! (That's what Bobby is doing here.)

Before this picture, we were at another station looking at our cheek cells with blue stain under a microscope. As I was telling the kids what we were about to do, Bobby asked me this super important question, "Are we using these cheek cells?" as he pointed to his bottom.  Whew! That was almost an awkward experiment. 

MOBOT

Sometime I'm really taken back by the nature around me. Today was one of those days.

While Joseph is gone the kids and I try to do some out of the ordinary stuff. Today was the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We'd gone once last summer when we lived downtown, but the boys have been asking often to go there again. So, we are now members and can go anytime. (And we can take up to 10 friends with us to each visit- so let me know if you want to go sometime.) Already planning a trip there with my OK sister Martha for Best of Missouri on October 4th. We'll be there when they open at 7 am. (That's my OKlahoma sister, not my OKay sister.  All my sisters are extraordinary!)

The Niki Exhibit is on display- so that's all the pop art shown. We were there for four hours!! We ate at Sassafras and the food was excellent! Can't wait to have a girl day there with friends and read some of the labels on the plants and browse through the gift shop without telling someone to stop touching or quit running. 

Gini Lu only requested her picture be taken one time- this is the one.... I guess she really liked this Niki lion. 

The rest of the pictures are in this web album-- because I need to do some stuff tonight not involving the computer. Daddy, we hope you enjoy these. We really miss you! I love you.