PandaMania VBS

Every year the last week of July is VBS at our Church, Northside Christian Church, and this year the theme was PandaMania!  God is Wild About You! 

As a family we look forward to VBS every year.  John serves as a crew leader which means that he travels around with a group of 4-6 kids from Bible Story, to Missions, to Snacks, to Crafts, and to Games.  This year he was with a pre-teen group - way to go John! 

I got to serve in one of the Elementary School Bible Story Rooms.  This means that I (along with 2 other people) presented each night's Bible Story to the kids using interaction with the kids and drama.

This was Nathan's second year actually being old enough to be technically part of VBS.  He loves it!  Here is a picture of Nathan with one of his best friends, Romie (the blond next to him).

Elizabeth is not technically part of VBS but is in the toddler room.  They do however bring the entire toddler class to the closing program every night and the kids get to participate in the singing there.  This is so much fun for Elizabeth!  Here is a picture of Elizabeth with one of her best little girl friends, Gabriella.

Nathan and Elizabeth with a giant stuffed Panda outside of the snack room.

Elizabeth's favorite character was Fez the Pheasant, or in her words "the big funny bird".  Nathan did not care to have his picture taken with any of the characters...

Here is a shot of the PandaMania set.  How awesome to be part of a Church that loves kids so much to put this much time and effort into VBS!  Bonzai!

Busch Gardens with Friends

We enjoy our trips to Busch Gardens very much!  This past trip was a very special one for us because we got to go with lots of friends.  This is such fun for the kids, and very good for the Mommies as well. 

Elizabeth and Gabriella splash in the fountain at the entrance to the park. 

There is a great splash park in the Sesamee Street area.  Last year the kids would barely let themselves get wet, this year they dive right in and have fun!

The dry play area :)

Nathan, Logan, Elizabeth, Gabriella and Melissa enjoying a snack during the train ride around the park.

Elizabeth and Gabriella - so cute riding in the hot air balloons together!

I love this picture!  Nathan and Logan are such great friends!

Tabitha, Gabriella and Liz in the wine press together.

Nathan and Logan flying in the bi-planes (I loved those too as a kid!)

Elizabeth, Gabriella, Payton and Reed in the Dragon Land Tree House.

Good friends, Good fun.  What more could you ask for?!

Family Time on "the Rocks"

I have spoken many times about Yorktown.  We love to grab dinner and eat at a picnic table and then either go for a walk, or just relax on "the rocks".  Such great family time.  I love to look back at pictures and see how we have changed.

Nathan can now climb all over the rocks all by himself.

Where Liz on the other hand still clings desperately to one of us.  Either way we all have so much fun enjoying the fresh breeze off the water and time together.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Last year John put up a new shed, this summer he took down the old one.  I have to say it was nice to have the space of two sheds, but the old one was very rotted out and needed to go for safety reasons.  Nathan was so excited about doing some "damage"! 

John was very patient and is a very good teacher.  I am not sure I would let Nathan swing a hammer near my hand...

Father and son working together.

Nathan stuck with the project all the way to the end.  Way to go!

Say Cheese!

Here is what I get when I say "say cheese!"

Dirt Pudding

I was very happy with how cute the dirt pudding came out. The kids checking it out...

Wondering why Mom is telling them that they are going to eat dirt...

Excited about it...

And, you guessed it... took one bite and hated it!  Come on!  What's not to love?  Chocolate pudding and oreos!  Whatever... I enjoyed eating it!

A Yorktown 4th of July

John and I have celebrated the 4th of July in Yorktown, VA for many years.  Yorktown is where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. It is pretty cool to celebrate our nation's independence on the spot where freedom was won.  This year we were able to go to Yorktown with family and friends which was an awesome thing! 

Part of the festivities is a parade.  Nathan and Charlotte are here watching and waving to the people in the parade.

Cousin Ethan chillin.

Friends Megan Wolf and Melissa Cartwright. 

John with Nathan and Elizabeth.

John got the chance to "be in the parade", one of the cars broke down in front of us.  Poor owner of the car, but John hammed it up pretty good while helping to push the car off the road.

John and the kids again.

After the parade John got snow cones for the kids (and himself)!

At this point the storm rolled in and the grounds were evacuated.  Bummer.  No 4th of July fireworks this year. 

I wanted this picture up closer to the top, but it somehow ended up at the bottom and I could not bear to take it out, so here are Gabriella, Elizabeth and Patrick enjoying the parade.

Fireworks or not, it was a great 4th of July!  Love spending time with friends and family!