VBS

A couple of weeks ago (cough, cough) we had VBS at church. It is such a fun and special week--but SO tiring! :) I was in charge of food again this year (what can I say, I have a gift of eating) so found myself in the center of everyones good graces and of all of the socializing. Perfect placement for me, I'd say.

The usual me with children in our tired VBS shirts and 1/2 of the participants not caring/looking/smiling.



We were so excited to bring Anna-Kates sweet friend, Marin, to VBS with us this year! The girls played soccer together this year and will both be in kindergarten at the same school. They had a blast!



Whelps, that's it! I guess you sorely lack pictures when you are across the street socializing, err, making food. :)

Waterworks VBS, 2010

Am I a horrible person for the rush of sweet relief (that it was over) as I drove home on Friday? (I was so crazy tired!! And poor Jack needed a nap in his bed!)

(Did I just admit that across the web?)

My kids, however, had a blast. There were 100 kids this year (up from not quite 80 last year!) and a sizable number of kids from the surrounding area who were introduced to church and to the Gospel for the first time--I'd call that sweet success! The kids learned about "riding the 'wave' of God's love for them". I love vbs each year because of the concentrated teaching and fun my kids get, but also because I get to hang out with my friends as well. We are so unbelievably blessed with amazing families in our church body and the women are just incredible. I love getting to spend time with younger girls, my peers (and bounce of kid stuff) and older women for such special nurturing and mentoring. We really have an amazing church! It's amazing to see God provide for each little job with people whose personality and gifts are perfect for the need.

On our way to church. We had to leave our house at 8:40 every morning. This was a huge stretch for me. But, as I was leading music (and, the opening ceremonies) being late wasn't optional for us. :) They were all such troopers!



Sad that the only child looking at the camera is the baby. Sigh. One day. :)



Bed-head much?? Ryan's class sat on the front row, since they were the smallest. As I was standing up front leading I got to watch him interact with his playmates and participate in worship. It warmed my heart to see him learning the words and motions for the songs. Look how well he is paying attention!



Anna-Kate with her sweet friend, Ella Ann. These girls were inseparable all week. Katie (EA's mom) and I joke that we are raising the same kid. They are so alike (only wear dresses, big bows, love dressing up, very "girly-girls") but they both got it from their mama's--Katie and I are so alike as well. It's so fun to hang out with them...kindred spirits for sure. :)



Anna-Kate was so intent on her craft that she didn't even notice me walk in the room and take the picture!



Playing outside. Doesn't she look so grown up?



Amazing how much fun can be had with a pan of water and a few cups. :)



This morning at church the children led worship singing the songs I taught them this week. They did great!



My handsome man in his gigantic youth xs VBS shirt. :) So sweet.



Me directing the kids this morning. Not my best picture, but Ryan absolutely cracks me up. He looks like he's reading a script to direct or something. LOL, alas, just the bulletin. :)



The kids signing "forever" a la, "forever God is faithful".

Vbs and the weekend

I asked Anna-Kate a question and she responded "yes ma'am. Oh, and my pinkie (the pig) says yes ma'am too. So, I get a sticker and Pinkie gets a sticker, but pinkie give me her sticker for my manner chart."

Got it all figured out.

VBS (finally!) came to a close this week. We had a wonderful week but are all SO very tired. In case I had forgotten, we do not live close to our Buckhead church. Leaving my house at 8:15 is a killer for sure. I got a couple of sweet pictures I'll share.

I went out to watch her at recreation on Friday and got this picture. She was sad because I said I had to go back inside afterwards. She had such a good time though! I look at this picture and cannot believe how big she is. I was looking through some old video of the kids today and found one of Anna-Kate when she was Ryan's age and it was all I could do not to blubber...



Dancing in the closing assembly. Ryan was so cute. He was watching the big kids and trying to do all the hand motions like they were.





Anna-Kate was totally in to it, watching the choir director, then she noticed me and became a total ham!



Poor Ryan, every day on the way home from VBS he ate lunch in the car and fell asleep. (He usually naps at 1, we weren't getting home until 1:30ish).



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Saturday night we took the kids to a cute little market area to eat at Moe's (Anna-Kate's favorite place to eat). Hey, kids eat free on the weekends, what more reason do I need? There was a fountain area they loved running around playing in.





I promise, this happened all on it's own. I had my camera out and was just waiting to snap pics as they happened. Anna-Kate walked over to Ryan, put her arms around them and they both just looked at me and smiled. This was cuter about 3.5 seconds before I snapped the picture, but still sweet. I love how much they love each other!



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Today the kids led worship at church. Mom and Dad came up to see Anna-Kate sing and to celebrate my Papa's (Mom's dad) 84th birthday. A delicious spread for lunch followed by chocolate cake. Weekends like this, full of sweet family time, make me so thankful for the family God has blessed me with.

Wonderful and relaxing day...now, for Monday.

What she's learned

I asked Anna-Kate what she learned about today at VBS.

AK: "I not 'member"
Me: "Was it about Paul and Silas?"
AK: "Umm, I think I learned about mean guys and turtles. Yes, mean guys, turtles and nice guys too. And turtles."
Me: "Are you sure you didn't learn about Paul and Silas and how God kept them safe and opened the jail doors for them to go free?"
AK: "O ya, we did, and turtles too".

Well alrighty then. It's really sinking in.

VBS

Vacation Bible School is a fond memory for me. I used to love to go as a child, help as a teen and now I get to enjoy it as a mom watching my children enjoy it. Well, kinda. Anna-Kate talks about it at home, says she had so much fun, can't wait to go back. Etc. Etc. Go to drop her off--crying for me to stay, for Ryan to stay with her, or for her to come with me. Why oh why?

At our church they have a preschool program for 2 and 3 year olds, but it's only available to those who volunteer to work. So, I work. :) For the past 2 years I've been in snacks, this year kinda heading that up (as in, doing the shopping and prep work for it each day). Not a bad job at all, I'm inside the whole time and surrounded by food (and diet coke!). Who can complain?

I'm trying to capture a good picture of all of us in our matching shirts. Bless her heart, that shirt is SO big on her, but she loves it anyway.



Ryan and me waiting for closing assembly to end.



He's had a bit of a rough week. I think he's going through a growth spurt as he's been sleeping about 8-8:15/30 in the morning and 1-4:15/30 in the afternoon. I've had to wake him up to leave for VBS the last 2 days, feed him in the car, drop him off, feed him lunch in the car, where he falls asleep, then transfer him to his bed. He and I aren't getting much time together, so I picked him up a bit early and ran around with him. He also got a goose egg on his head yesterday and then fell and got another 1/2" away last night. Hrm. I'm calling this "boot camp" for him. He's reached that stage where he cries, well, falls apart when I drop him at the nursery for church on Sundays. So, I figure going every day should help him get used to it. Right? :)