Sunday, August 30, 2009

Just remembered: roadtrip take-aways

Although we tried to protest, people along our journey just insisted that we bring back all sorts of things with us.  "You have a big car - it'll fit!"  "This way we won't have to ship your birthday gifts to you"...the reasons were endless.  As you can see, things ranged from a rug to picture frames to crystal vases to a life jacket to duffel bags to beach bags to plastic cups to books to dolls to a cooler to puzzles to a kids' computer to golf balls to movies to stuffed animals...seriously...
People also thought we each needed a new wardrobe...including hats, shoes, belts, purses, sport coats, pajamas, dress-up fairy wings...

and an extra golf bag, of course.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

VBS

Our church hosted VBS this past week and we had over 90 kids attend, which is pretty good for a church of just 250 people.  Over 50% of them were not affiliated with our church, which was very exciting, and over 70 kids live right here on campus!  We are praying that they will continue to come to UC even now that VBS is over.  Our theme was Veggie Tales' "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" - Calling All Heroes!!  We looked at how God used ordinary people to do big things in the Bible.  I was very involved in the week, playing Bumpo the pirate in our daily skits as well as leading preschool songs & games for 45 kiddos.  It was exhausting but, at the same time, so much fun.  Charlotte had a blast and is so sad it's over - the only part she didn't like was my skit on Day 1 when another pirate put a bucket on my head - she freaked out and ran up on the stage sobbing 'Mommy!  Mommy!'  Good to know she's got my back :)  I was 'interviewed' at the end of the week and asked the question, 'what did you learn this week?'  At first I thought, 'it's the kids who were supposed to be learning, not me!'  But then it hit me - I learned that the simplest truths of God's word are just as applicable to me as an adult as they were to me as a child, and that I need to let them indwell every part of my life.  Looking at God's Word through a child's eyes opens you up to new things all the time, and I'm glad I was reminded of that last week.
My friend, Karen, helped me lead preschool songs & games time - I was Captain Connie and we had a blast!  I learned a lot about improv during those times...
Building 'Nebuchadnezzar's statue' in Bible time - Charlotte and Clay were in the same group, which was a lot of fun!
Dana (left) and our friend Rachael (with the baby hanging on her) were in charge of the preschool 'free play' and craft area - thanks, girls, for making Charlotte's VBS experience awesome!
My friend Marnie was in charge of preschool Bible story time - here she is Gideon, about to have her troops defeat the Midianites
Yes, that's me in the middle as Bumpo the pirate...part of what I did all week...skits 2x/day, every day - to my left is Bones the pirate and to my right, the Commodore
We had the audience mesmerized :)
It was so much fun doing this with Dana :)

Visit from Paul

Paul, my brother, came to visit at the end of July.  He came with quite an agenda and we managed to do everything on the list!  Play golf: check.  The beach: check.  Chicken masala: check.  Scrabble: check.  Fireworks: check.  Stanley Park: check.  We had SO much fun and Charlotte has taken completely to her 'ankle Paul'.  Thanks for coming, Mid!


Backyard Friends

Something I love about where we live is that 2 of my closest friends share our backyard!  Megan and her family just moved onto 'our grass' 2 weeks ago so now the 3 kiddos can see each other (and us adults) whenever they want!  We had a family lunch together just before our roadtrip and that's what these pictures are from.  There was an old tire lying on the grass for some reason and the kids were absolutely enthralled with rolling it down the hill at us parental targets.  I am so grateful for friends like these and that our families have grown so close!
Megan, Dana and me
Cora, Charlotte and Clay aiming at their target
Watching as the tire hit one of us at the bottom of the hill

(L-R) Cora, David, Charlotte, Megan Hannah, Justin, Dana, Clay, TJ, me, Jonathan

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Hanging Out

Here's a huge posting of pix from the last 2 months - just 'hanging out'

Our friends Amin and Ismael (and their sweet parents Ali and Hind) moved back to Paris last week - Charlotte wanted to go with them!
Charlotte loves picking blueberries off of our bushes
Teaching TJ how to swing
Charlotte is learning how to do puzzles - apparently it takes patience...we're learning
Yes, that's 5 raccoons on our patio 
At the beach with Matt and Ramie for a picnic and fireworks!

Hot day in the pool with Jaeden
Learning how to relax
Sprinkler fun with Cora and Clay

Learning how to ride his 'car'
Kisses from Amin
Body painting on me - fun for them, messy for me
Fun with Amin and Jaeden
Peekaboo
All done!

First bath together - Charlotte loves it, TJ's not so sure
The 3 Musketeers


Snuggle time!
Trying to escape the pool enclosure during our pool outing with the Jenkins

Apparently, Hannah's not shy
We need a chaperone and they're not even 1 yet???
Cora and Charlotte tea party-ing
Charlotte and Jaeden - next door buddies!

TJ loves his Jolly Jumper - look at that maniacal face!

Charlotte and Clay after a day at the pool/beach - how much longer can they do this?
Beach day with Clay and Dana





Abigail and TJ meeting for the first time - Jonathan and Travis as chaperones