Awesome God- Amazing Power VBS

 July is in full swing and we had our VBS at church last week.  The kids were really so very excited about VBS this year.  Molly especially was looking forward to seeing her friend Nikki who was coming in from out of town like last year.  Molly remembered her from last year and was ecstatic to find out that she would be coming back again.  So cute how a friendship from  1 week at VBS has continued.  I can not wait to see is she continues to have lasting friendships with people as she grows older.
Since Sam just completed Kindergarten he was able to be with all of the 'big kids' again this year and he loved that.  Molly is still in with the little kids, and yet again, Sam loved that ha!
The theme was Awesome God, Amazing Power.  Sam really got into it more this year than years past,  It was neat to see how much he learned (and actually soaked in)  Unlike Sam, Molly usually always knows her stories etc. 
Sam was an active participant too.  Our Associate Pastor (Jody) spoke to the kids each day. Together we sang, said out pledges (to US flag, the Bible and the Christian flag) etc. Jody would then enforce the theme etc.  He would say " I say awesome, you say God..."  I could hear Sam yell God and Power clear across the church!!  It is so fun to see the kids chatter about the events of the day.  I was also corrected several times by Molly as I would accidentally say something like "when we go to church tomorrow..."  I would then hear (ever so sweetly) "No mommy, we are not going to church... we are going to cation Bible school."  Funny how she was able to differentiate the two even though she was in the same room that she is always in for Sunday school and M and M's.

I did not go all crazy with the pictures this year... in fact, I only took a few.  Crazy, I know!

 some video:  I did not go down to Molly's class at all this week (sorry Molly)  These are the songs Sam sang in church on Sunday:


and yet again, gotta have a blast from the past.  I love looking at the same event several years in a row.  I have been teaching VBS a this church since Sam was 1, I took the next year off since Molly was going to be just a couple of weeks old and I was recovering from a c-section.  I do not have any pictures from my first year.  I was sure I had blogged about each of these years, but could only find one from 2011.

2011  here and here

2010

 2009

frenemy's

I know I have mentioned many times about how Sam and Molly have a love/hate relationship.  They LOVE to pester, touch, pinch, pull, tug, push etc each other.  They HATE it when they get in to trouble where they can not touch one another.

And then there are moments like these:

sure makes my heart happy...  this was one day after VBS they were watching a cartoon while I made us lunch.  (you would have thought they looked like they wanted to actually take a nap huh?!)  fooled me too...

my little 'baby'

I was making lunch, I heard:  "look at me mommy"

she was all snuggled up in her baby doll pack n play.  ---  and she claims she is NOT my baby...

mishap at the petting zoo

Since  school is out and our Bible study is over for the summer, I have set up weekly events/play dates for all of our friends like I did last year.

One of the play dates was at a local farm/petting zoo.  

It is always fun to feed the goats, they love to eat that is for sure!  So hungry in fact, that one took Sam's cup right out of his hand...  poor kid, this occurred minutes after the horse event (see below)  Needless to say, this was just another day in the life of poor Sam.

Molly got a kick out of feeding the goats

But my sweet boy continues to smile even through all of the mishaps (oh, and getting to use my cup of feed doesn't hurt)

The kittens were another grand attraction for all of the kiddos

(Now if only we can convince Kirk to let them have a sweet little kitty)

And now for the event you have all been waiting for---  We had just arrived, our first stop was to see the cute bunnies.  There was a fun, nosy horse who decided to join in on the action.  He was tickling the kids with his wet nose, it was all fun until....

Out of no where, for whatever reason he decides to have a little snack--- and munch on Sam's little arm.  It took me a minute to realize that his screams changed from-- "oh how fun, he is tickling me" to "Ouch, he thinks I am his lunch!" 

duece and daisy

As I have said before, Summer is here, so... Take me out to the ballgame!!!  We went to our annual Sunday school class outing to the ballgame.  The highlight for the kids is Duece and Daisy.  They are hard to get to...  apparently they are hot in those suits at 100 plus degrees outside---  who would have guessed?? ha.

But, if you keep your eye out, and can quickly jaunt from your seats and run to a spot where they are, you might just catch up to them and hopefully you can weasel your way through the crowd of kids and get to say HI. 

or better yet... get a HUG!
Daisy---  what an awesome mascot!!!!

Molly joined us this year-- she decided to skip the past 2 years (or was that decided for her?!)

after getting your hug, the next exciting thing to do is get your hat signed

Molly got in on the action as well

cute kids, they sure do love each other

gotta have our favorite poses in there too

Deuce was NOT as "family friendly" as Daisy.  He would go out onto the field and then head into the dug out area as soon as he was done "performing".  Sam was determined to meet him this year.  We chased him down several times---  and Finally caught him... before he hid away again. 
I was so proud of Sam- he asked Deuce if he would sign his hat...

can't leave out little sis...

Then my sweet boy asked if Deuce would take a picture with them.. that's my boy!!  he sure knows the drill, guess he has heard it over and over and over for the past 6 years---  "wait, we have to get your picture with..."  but see how worth it it was?!

A blast from the past.... 2011

2010--  see blog here

2009--- our first ballgame as a family

I love summer time and the rough riders!!!!  until next year....

Wow, what weather we have had

 It has been a crazy weather season for us.

 

  We have gotten a lot of rain lately which is wonderful after the horrible drought we have been in.  But it hasn't just rained, it has poured and flooded and poured some more.  We have had BIG winds-- knocking down trees and fences in our neighborhood (thankfully our new fence from last year has proven itself!!)  We have also had hail.  Lots of hail, like hail 3 different times in the past 2 weeks.  Thankfully a couple of the storms were  during the day and the kids were able to see it.

end of year M&M's sing

Sam's final singing with the M&M's.  The last songs for Molly's first year.  What a whirl wind of a year for M&M's.  It is hard to believe it is over.  I love to hear those sweet voices singing.

 there were 3 songs, but in passing the camera to Kirk, we missed one---oops!

Princess Diva in the making

This is a usual occurrence when I get Molly up from rest time...  As you can see, she uses her time wisely

Take me out to the ballgame...

 It's spring, time for warmer weather, hot dogs on the grill and BASEBALL

We signed Sam up for t-ball this year.  Because of his age he is on a modified t-ball team even though this is his first year.  Modified means that the coach pitches you the first 4 pitches and if you do not hit it by then you get to bat off the t.  It has been challenging for Sam, but he is getting the hang of it, and hopefully by the end of the season he might actually like it ---  right now he says he doesn't because he has to learn too much :)
He has a hard time keeping his attention on the ball, but when he does he really has some good baseball skills!  I LOVE the way he stands at bat... perfect form!  and oh, he is just ADORABLE in his uniform!! 

 at bat

 at third, getting ready to bring it home

 catcher

 um, he has to wear something new... gotta protect the future, even if it is uncomfortable!

what a proud point earner!!!!  it is amazing how good it feels to make it to home plate!!

I am so proud of that cute little boy...  he is on a team

•  with boys he has never seen before, 
•  of a sport he knows nothing about,
•  with shoes that feel funny when you run,
•  and he is trying to figure it all out!

gotta watch this mama bird

This is an amazing video clip an American robin lays her four eggs in a hanging basket and the home owners set up a camera to film the results.

To see it all, click here. Should hear it with speakers on...and click to start video.

 

It makes me sad to see the mama at the very end....

Uses for Bounce

Bounce This Along
The U.S. Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away.
Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you.
All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often. 4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from 
resettling..

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing. 12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket. 15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds..Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight. 20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
23.Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it.

surprise!!!!

Molly got a a new vanity for Christmas.  It came with a nifty big box....