{iPhone Rewind} :: August

We worked on a puzzle together over the course of a few days, and Eli was really focused on it!

We wrapped up our Summer of Fun! We didn't quite get to all the things on our list, but we still did a lot and had a great summer!

"Look, Mommy! I made a rocking chair for Norm!" Haha- I love this cute boy :)

We started reading The Wingfeather Saga and apparently there's a lot of suspense for Aiden haha

"Look, Mom! I can do a turban like Maddie!"

"You survived the first week back to school" flowers from Mike :)

We have been learning the books of the Bible {in order}, and the kids have done so great!

Aunt Vi sent some more beads to make bracelets, and the kids wasted no time making more!

Maddie wrote her first book! There are chapters and pictures, and she did such an amazing job. It was not a school assignment {she actually strongly dislikes writing haha}. She just decided one day she was going to write on her own and she sat down with her own creative mind and did it all herself. I'm so proud of her!

He has always made this face LOL

We found a fox hanging out in our backyard! He/she was there for quite awhile, and it was so fun to watch it.

Aiden lost another tooth! We were so glad when this one came out, because the adult tooth had already started coming in behind it!

Grandma crocheted Aiden a blanket for his birthday, and he has carried that thing with him everywhere. Anyone surprised by the colors he chose?

Just a few days after Aiden lost his top tooth, he lost another tooth, completely unexpectedly! He as eating a hard cookie and it just popped out. He was not a fan, but it saved us a little bit of the anxiety leading up to the loss, so I'm grateful it came out the way it did.

I love when Maddie and I get to go for haircuts :)

Maddie's drawings make me happy :)

I made an apple pie with the apples we picked at Stribling Orchard. It didn't turn out half bad!

We had a cookout with our community group, and Eli really loved playing this game with Mike

The kids loved painting rocks at Mrs. Celeste and Mr. Matt's house! (And it was a HUGE win that Aiden did so well with Ellie - their dog - so close to him)

Summer Reading 2025

We had another fun summer of reading!

This summer, I had the kids color a book for each book or amount of time they read each day. I let them choose what rewards they wanted to work toward, and they all chose food treats haha. I did try to mix it up a little by offering some new things, and I think that made it a little more fun for them.

In progress...

June's reward was donuts! Nothing fancy here, we just made a trip to Dunkin' Donuts, and they each got to pick out the donut of their choice. We would have stayed to eat them there, but the store was busy and there wasn't a place to sit, so we ended up just bringing them back home to enjoy. It didn't seem to make a difference...a donut is a donut, wherever it is consumed!

July's reward was pizza! I signed the kids up for the Pizza Hut Book It! program, and they were each able to earn their own personal pan pizza. I remember doing a similar program as a kid. My kids had never been to a Pizza Hut, and I hadn't been since I was a kid, so it was a fun adventure for all of us haha. {What is the deal with Pizza Hut now? Why is there no counter or check-in? How do you actually order? What is the real system? Clearly, my kids got their pizza, but I was SO confused haha}

August's reward was ice cream. I offered a new {to us} option of trying the Moo-Thru! The logo looks like a cow, so the whole summer, Mike kept telling the kids that their reward would be a cow haha. We waited to enjoy our treat until Grandma and Papa were in town, and it was fun to celebrate the end of our summer reading with them.

I am so proud of these kids and how hard they have worked on their reading. They have made so much progress, and I am so glad that they love summer reading {even if it's because of the treats involved}!

{iPhone Rewind} :: July

If last summer was our summer of Chess, this one would be our summer of Stratego! Haha, the kids play it ALL day long, and they barely let Mike walk in the door from work before they're asking him to play!

Aiden finally lost his first front tooth! There's A LOT of drama around losing teeth in our house, but it's out, and he's now happy as a clam ;)

Pretty flowers to gear up for VBS week! :)

Mike taught the kids some silly hand tricks and they just thought it was the coolest thing ever. So now all I hear is, "hey mom! Look at this!"

Anniversary flowers :)

Working on some Picasso-inspired art!

Aiden is all done eye-patching! After 2.5 years, it couldn't come fast enough for him ;)

We have definitely had some scorchers this summer!

Mike got a chance to see my parents before his trip to Colorado, and he got to tour the TX Whiskey Ranch with my dad!

I went to put the trashcan out, and met a deer in our front yard! :)

While Mike was in Colorado, the kids and I had a sleepover in the basement! We basically just watched a movie and had some sherbet, then slept in the basement, but the kids thought it was the best thing ever haha.

Twin cuteness

VBS 2025 :: True North!

This is our third year at VBS, and we were really excited to adventure into the Alaskan wilderness to discover True North. The kids learned what it means to trust Jesus in a wild world, and it was such a fun week!

The last couple of years, I have been a group guide, which means I have helped take a group of kids around to each of the stations. Which I have loved. You're right in the action and chaos of all the activities with your group of kids, helping them navigate the Bible story, craft, snack, and games. This year, I was asked to help teach at one of the stations: Sticky Scripture. I got to teach the Bible verse each day, and the goal was for God's Word to "stick" in the kids' minds, hearts, and lives.

While I missed getting to visit all of the stations and really get to know a group of kids, I loved being able to teach the Bible and see more kids throughout the day!

My "helpers" while setting up the room haha

It's really a wonder that I got anything done ;)

One of our Sticky Scripture adventures: Moose Draw!

If anyone has ever volunteered for VBS, they know how fun, but utterly exhausting it can be. But I am so thankful for all of our faithful volunteers who came each day and gave it their all for the 100+ kids who came through our doors. My kids had a blast, and I was really thankful for how this curriculum was laid out, clearly and consistently teaching the truths across all stations. VBS is one week, but we pray that the fun had and truth spoken stick with each child, wherever they go. We pray that those seeds are continually watered and grow into a deep and abiding faith in Jesus, the only One that we can trust in this wild world. 

Eli's Crew Leader sent me a short video of him during rec time, and I was so thankful to get a little glimpse of his day! {I just included a still shot here}

Glow sticks were a BIG hit :)

Even Mountaineer Mike got in on the fun! It's definitely a treat to see Daddy more often during the day since we're up at the church all week. He came to visit during the songs and skits, but he also gave the closing gospel presentation to the kids and parents. He recruited Maddie to help with his visual presentation, and she did a great job! 

We had a great week at VBS True North, and the kids are already asking about VBS for next year haha!

Aiden was with the Cool Caribou, Eli with the Stellar Sea Lions, and Maddie with the Grandiose Grizzlies