End of Summerama

Our church's VBS this year was spread over 7 Wednesdays, rather than all in one week, and yesterday was the last one.  I think it went pretty well and I know our kids enjoyed it!

Landed gentry

As of today, we are no longer homeless!  Also considerably more indebted.

There are raspberry bushes in the backyard, which might be the most important thing, as far as the kids are concerned. :)

Jet-setting with the kids

My dad retired a few weeks ago, so the older kids and I took a trip to help he and mom move, which involved flying, days of driving, and flying again.  But the kids were very good for me with only occasional squabbles, and they had a lot of fun with their grandparents.

The pictures are a bit out of order, because, well, because.

On the airplane headed back: there was much negotiation over who got to sit where!

Flying is hard work!  I think this was the second flight: note that seat-switching has occurred, which goes back to the negotiations from earlier.

Cows can be found in the airport.  Don't ask.

Naomi and Luke were happy to see everyone again!

Naomi sporting the boa that Abbey got from Grandma

First day of the drive!

Mom and Dad rented a whole house for us to stay in, which incredibly was less expensive than renting a hotel.  So Abbey got her own bed.

While Ethan and Isaac had a huge king to share.

Waiting for lunch

After lunch.  I love Isaac's helmet.

Swimming on Saturday, or was it Sunday?

Because the drive to church is long and all the restaurants would be overflowing on the Sunday before Memorial Day, we chose to do a home church; Mom did a class for the kids on "Letting your light shine", which they remembered for days afterwards.

One of the local parks: this was a really hot day, as I recall.

The last evening, we drove around and took pictures.  They happened to catch some frogs here.

Must've been baby frogs: they were easy to catch.

The morning of our departure for home

Just some cute pictures

Cute little munchkins

Abbey loves to bake, and everyone else loves to eat

Isaac keeps getting older, every year

Sometimes it's better not to ask

All the kids are (usually) helpful when it's time to unload the groceries

Naomi has a grin like no other

Visiting the local nature preserve

Easter Day afternoon---time for the egg hunt

The twins didn't really get it, but they liked opening the plastic eggs later

Easter is tiring!

Ethan's late birthday party at Grandma's house

Naomi was left unsupervised for just a minute too long

Aunts are good for surprise ice cream treats

Naomi and her namesake cousin

Lots of rain this spring: so much that we got everyone their own galoshes

Riding the penny horse at Meier

Sidesaddle, even!

The monthly Home Depot kid's workshop

More basketball from Abbey and Ethan.  Abbey's cheerleading coach was not there so the girls had to do things all by themselves and did a great job!





There's a mini-devotion at each halftime: this time they invited all the kids onto the court to play tag, where everyone was It and the goal was to see who was the last one standing.  Abbey played the same game last night at her game and proudly told me that she did much better tonight.  The spiritual application was that life wouldn't be much fun if it everyone was always out for themselves only.



The very first game was cancelled because of snow, so last night they played the makeup game.  Ethan's become one of the best at heads-up play, making quick decisions to pass or shoot.

More basketball

More basketball from Ethan and Abbey.  Ethan scored his first points last week, plus an assist and a rebound.  And Abbey got to do her favorite routine!

Basketball

Ethan and Abbey have gotten into basketball and cheerleading this year, with a program called Upwards.  It does a great job of teaching teamwork and Christ-likeness along with basketball and cheerleading.  Sadly, Abbey isn't scheduled to cheer for any of Ethan's games but her games are either just before or just after so we don't waste time going back and forth.