I just need to take a moment here to thank ALL my teachers and teen helpers in the preschool department. They pulled together fabulously and made it work, and made it memorable for the kids.The last day just flew by in a web of events, literally. The kids got to play spiderman (or missionary), making "yarn collages" out of their rooms. They batted balloons around, and made stoplights with how to "Go" to Jesus. We sent home "skyscraper sacks" with life sized "missionary dolls" and had a great time. All that was just the morning.
Last night they sang and (Y-E-L-L)ed to their parents, then settled in to watch the big kids play. Our family had two roles, as the "adult" VBS leader, and the "unbeliever-who-comes-to-Christ." This was our oldest's final year to be in the childrens play and E1's acting debut. They both did fabulously. A good time was had by all, especially at the cookie table afterwards.
Now it's on to Girl Scout Camp!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sand and paint and water oh my!
Today is day four of our VBS journey! I'm so thankful all the little people seem to still be having a good time. Today I watched kids scoop sand, build pretend playgrounds for little people, make handprints while riding a skateboard, and float boats they made yesterday.
We also had our first "real" singing practice in the sanctuary for tomorrow night. The preschoolers will sing T-E-L-L and "Help one another" before the big kids have their play. We're so privileged that the parents of these thirty preschoolers chose to share them with us this week.
I'm also blessed by the four teens we had to help them. Really big kids make it more fun for the little ones.
Tomorrow is the last day. Then I get to just be a mom again...for one day. Then it's day camp, where I'm with the preschoolers. I just can't get enough of the tiny humans, but after that, it will just be me and my not as tiny anymore humans for the rest of the summer.
We also had our first "real" singing practice in the sanctuary for tomorrow night. The preschoolers will sing T-E-L-L and "Help one another" before the big kids have their play. We're so privileged that the parents of these thirty preschoolers chose to share them with us this week.
I'm also blessed by the four teens we had to help them. Really big kids make it more fun for the little ones.
Tomorrow is the last day. Then I get to just be a mom again...for one day. Then it's day camp, where I'm with the preschoolers. I just can't get enough of the tiny humans, but after that, it will just be me and my not as tiny anymore humans for the rest of the summer.
I'm so grateful to be super busy
this week and next. Between VBS, pool passes, day camp, and finally moving (I hope), the time between now and the 20th ought to just fly by. What's so signifigant about the 20th? That's the date I'll have t.v. and home internet available again.
Now, I'm quite willing to take digital breaks. I've been known to declare digital free days to make sure our kids stretch out their bodies and their minds. I've lived for 10 months without internet, and the first 10+ years of my marriage without anything resembling cable. The difference between that and this, is then I had a choice.
This time we don't. We were going to just switch our service over to the new place when we moved. The date for our move has been moved back. Fine, we call Time Warner, and inform them the switch needs to be pushed back too. They say no problem.
Fast Forward to last night, when I sit down after dinner to get some quality computer game time in for the first time this week....and there's no internet. Okay, our modem has flaked out before. I'll just turn on the t.v. No cable. Greaaat.
Mr. M calls. Turns out they only switched the turn on date at the new house, or so they say. Well, mistakes happen. Turn it back on.
They say no can do. It would take a service call.
Why? They didn't send someone over to turn it off. Just flip the same switch and turn it back on?
Sorry, since they removed our address from the system, they are required to send someone out, and they can't do that until the day it's supposed to switch anyway.
Whatever. We know how to find free WiFi and hunt out a new service. Besides, we have a friend who works for At&T. U-verse shouldn't be a problem.
So U-verse it is. Installed at our new residence on June 20th.
Here's hoping we live there before then.
Now, I'm quite willing to take digital breaks. I've been known to declare digital free days to make sure our kids stretch out their bodies and their minds. I've lived for 10 months without internet, and the first 10+ years of my marriage without anything resembling cable. The difference between that and this, is then I had a choice.
This time we don't. We were going to just switch our service over to the new place when we moved. The date for our move has been moved back. Fine, we call Time Warner, and inform them the switch needs to be pushed back too. They say no problem.
Fast Forward to last night, when I sit down after dinner to get some quality computer game time in for the first time this week....and there's no internet. Okay, our modem has flaked out before. I'll just turn on the t.v. No cable. Greaaat.
Mr. M calls. Turns out they only switched the turn on date at the new house, or so they say. Well, mistakes happen. Turn it back on.
They say no can do. It would take a service call.
Why? They didn't send someone over to turn it off. Just flip the same switch and turn it back on?
Sorry, since they removed our address from the system, they are required to send someone out, and they can't do that until the day it's supposed to switch anyway.
Whatever. We know how to find free WiFi and hunt out a new service. Besides, we have a friend who works for At&T. U-verse shouldn't be a problem.
So U-verse it is. Installed at our new residence on June 20th.
Here's hoping we live there before then.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Give me a V!...
Give me a B! Give me a S! What's that spell? VBS!
VBS is this week. As the preschool coordinator most of my work was done last week, so this week is starting out to be a lot of fun!
Besides coordinating I also get to do music with the kids, and my two youngest were front and center. T-E-L-L is everyone's favorite song, probably because they get to Y-E-L-L! We "like to march" and "clap our hands" too.
I watched all the kids in their recreation rotation too. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and playgrounds never fail. In a lot of ways, that's what's fun about preschool. It's all crafts and games and hugs.
Today's song was "Good Things." JESUS is definitely doing good things through this VBS.
VBS is this week. As the preschool coordinator most of my work was done last week, so this week is starting out to be a lot of fun!
Besides coordinating I also get to do music with the kids, and my two youngest were front and center. T-E-L-L is everyone's favorite song, probably because they get to Y-E-L-L! We "like to march" and "clap our hands" too.
I watched all the kids in their recreation rotation too. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and playgrounds never fail. In a lot of ways, that's what's fun about preschool. It's all crafts and games and hugs.
Today's song was "Good Things." JESUS is definitely doing good things through this VBS.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
It's been a while since I've taken a day "just" to be a mom.
Today was truly a gift.
It started getting hot. I had requests for the pool, and thought "why not?"
Another hour later, we had found swimwear and towels,
sunscreen was applied, amidst a few protesting howls.
Into van, to Merriam we go.
There my kids were truly the show.
The first pool trip of summer is like meeting an old friend after a long trip. We test the waters, see what we remember...but eventually you just take a dip.
Our oldest son showed me he could use the high dive. After that he was all smiles and high fives.
The next two asked to dive low, but I made them swim across the pool for me before I'd let them go.
Princess D was indignant at first, that I made her stay close until her strokes were rehearsed.
Slides and splashes we had aplenty.
Then the inevitable happened. Their stomachs were empty.
Now we're back home and crashed out content.
Should we go back on Thursday? They smiled their assent.
It started getting hot. I had requests for the pool, and thought "why not?"
Another hour later, we had found swimwear and towels,
sunscreen was applied, amidst a few protesting howls.
Into van, to Merriam we go.
There my kids were truly the show.
The first pool trip of summer is like meeting an old friend after a long trip. We test the waters, see what we remember...but eventually you just take a dip.
Our oldest son showed me he could use the high dive. After that he was all smiles and high fives.
The next two asked to dive low, but I made them swim across the pool for me before I'd let them go.
Princess D was indignant at first, that I made her stay close until her strokes were rehearsed.
Slides and splashes we had aplenty.
Then the inevitable happened. Their stomachs were empty.
Now we're back home and crashed out content.
Should we go back on Thursday? They smiled their assent.
We're moving, before the end of this month....really.
Well. We haven't moved yet. A lot of our boxes/totes have though. The powers that be decided the floor needed another coat of finish. That coat of finish was applied yesterday, so we should be able to walk on the floors later this week. That doesn't mean we can move yet though. It just means our new furniture can. That's right, this weekend we'll be assembling desks/beds, moving chairs and maybe a couch...but not ourselves.
Because well, steps to the porches would be good.
So would a sink in the downstairs bathroom, and grates over the vents so they don't look like GI Joe slides. And the shed isn't there yet. So there's not a home for our kids bikes,scooters, and balls or our yard tools and gas can. We still may beat the shed, but we're paying for this house through the end of the month, so it can still store some of our stuff for a week or two while it gets sorted out.
The younger kids are ready to move. They've seen the swing set. They've played on the swing set. Complete w/ climbing wall, lookout point, glider, and picnic table, it's a kids dream. All it needs is a steering wheel...but hey it came with one. They'll put it on.
The older kids are ready to move too. Both the oldest boys are seeing the end of their roommate days...and looking forward to a little more space and privacy, and maybe even having a friend spend the night now and then.
We've been ready to move. Saying goodbye to this house and it's issues and welcoming an easier to take care of, better maintained home from the architectural time period we prefer. Also, it will be nice to be done moving.
I told Mr. M we should have another baby. After all, we've had one per residence after our first year of marriage so far...but he didn't go for it. Really, barring miracles it won't happen. It's okay though. We're entering a new phase. Within a year or two, all our kids will be in school and that big, beautiful house will be quiet from eight to three. Lower maintenance home, lower maintenance kids. A new age of independence for all of us.
Because well, steps to the porches would be good.
So would a sink in the downstairs bathroom, and grates over the vents so they don't look like GI Joe slides. And the shed isn't there yet. So there's not a home for our kids bikes,scooters, and balls or our yard tools and gas can. We still may beat the shed, but we're paying for this house through the end of the month, so it can still store some of our stuff for a week or two while it gets sorted out.
The younger kids are ready to move. They've seen the swing set. They've played on the swing set. Complete w/ climbing wall, lookout point, glider, and picnic table, it's a kids dream. All it needs is a steering wheel...but hey it came with one. They'll put it on.
The older kids are ready to move too. Both the oldest boys are seeing the end of their roommate days...and looking forward to a little more space and privacy, and maybe even having a friend spend the night now and then.
We've been ready to move. Saying goodbye to this house and it's issues and welcoming an easier to take care of, better maintained home from the architectural time period we prefer. Also, it will be nice to be done moving.
I told Mr. M we should have another baby. After all, we've had one per residence after our first year of marriage so far...but he didn't go for it. Really, barring miracles it won't happen. It's okay though. We're entering a new phase. Within a year or two, all our kids will be in school and that big, beautiful house will be quiet from eight to three. Lower maintenance home, lower maintenance kids. A new age of independence for all of us.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Here comes the rain again
Drip. Drip. Drip. I'm keeping an eye on a leak in our ceiling at the base of our stairway, which is on an interior wall, thinking about the things I have to be grateful for in this storm.
I've been stress crying a bit lately, but I'm grateful for that storm too.
I'm grateful Si Guy had a great birthday.
I'm grateful my kids are in a school where I can be involved.
I'm grateful my church includes preschoolers in VBS.
I'm grateful my daughter has the opportunity to attend day camp at a fabulous facility with fishing, horses, a zip line, and more.
I'm very, very, grateful that we will be in our forever home next week.
That means I'll never have to sit and watch my ceiling drip, drip, drip, again.
I've been stress crying a bit lately, but I'm grateful for that storm too.
I'm grateful Si Guy had a great birthday.
I'm grateful my kids are in a school where I can be involved.
I'm grateful my church includes preschoolers in VBS.
I'm grateful my daughter has the opportunity to attend day camp at a fabulous facility with fishing, horses, a zip line, and more.
I'm very, very, grateful that we will be in our forever home next week.
That means I'll never have to sit and watch my ceiling drip, drip, drip, again.
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