Hoopla

This weekend was full of all kinds of activities. Friday night was my dad's big birthday bash, complete with a whole roast pig and a keg of bear. Good times were had by all. All us siblings sang a song with or for Dad. That was his birthday request. My brother flew in from Iowa as a surprise for Dad. We got him good, and even caught the moment on his new DVD camcorder. Saturday we got together again for dinner. That was an adventure since the power was out for all most the whole day. We had grilled pizza. Sounds strange, but it was really good. I think I may try it myself sometime. Then Sunday again was dinner at Mom and Dad's after church before Sam and Sara headed back to Indiana. I really do treasure these family moments and it makes me want to have a big family for my children. There's something joyful about it.

Cousins

The boys cousin, my brother's daughter came to play on Friday. We went out to visit them in April, so they had recently gotten re-aquainted which was good. They had a great time. E. and A. are like two peas in a pod. I think N. was a little bothered at times since E. kept sitting on his train tracks and recking things. I had to keep reminding him that she isn't doing it on purpose, she's just alot younger than he is. It makes me so happy to watch the kids play together and enjoy each others company. I think that cousins are a special blessing in life.

Books books books

So, I tried to post yesterday and my computer went bleh! on me

We made it to the library yesterday. Always a fun time with the boys. Every week or every other week depending on our schedule I print out a list from the library website of the books we have out and begin my hunt. It seems that every time there is at least one book if not two or three that have manage to hide themselves away in some obscure place. I am so thankful for the print out other wise I would never know whether we had all the books are not. Once I find them, I load the books and the boys into the care and head out.

When we get there they head right for the movie racks. We're allowed to check out four movies at a time, so they each get to pick one, I try to pick one for Dan and I to watch together and I get one chick flick for myself.

The recent attraction in the children's section is their computer. I know others may feel differently about this than I do, but there's something about having that computer there that bothers me. Now, instead of going straight for the books, my boys head straight for the computer, and I have to remind them to pick out a few books. Isn't the library supposed to be promoting books and reading? I guess some would argue it's supposed to be more about education and information which the computer fits into but...... I don't know.

I am so thankful that both of my boys are interested in books. I do not see it being a chore when it comes time to teach them how to read. They both already sit for extended periods of time "reading" books and looking at the pictures. N. will sit and listen to chapter after chapter of the book I am reading to him at the time. I'm so thankful that I'm able to pass my love of reading onto my children.

Routine

Slowly, slowly, we're gettin back to normal after a crazy busy week. Yesterday the boys and I did nothing all morning. They both slept in and I wasn't about to disturb them. I took care of bills and a few phone calls that needed to be made. Then in the afternoon we did our weekly grocery shopping. The boys got their cookies and said hello to the lady at the fish counter who always calls them the cookie monsters. It really does please me to see how friendly and excepting they are.

This morning "the kids" came. "The kids" are a family of ten (that's ten kids!). I teach piano to the two oldest girls and the rest of them keep the boys busy. The pleasant summer weather is a real blessing when they are hear because that means they can play outside instead of being cramped in our little living room.

I'm very glad to have these low key days because I don't know what the rest of the week will be like. We'll see if we make it to the library tomorrow or maybe go blueberry picking. We have co-op this week and Friday will be filled with my Dad's big birthday bash. My Father is now sixty years old. I think I'm more in denile about his age than he is. I don't like the idea of my parents getting old.

Erie

Dan and I took the boys to the beach yesterday. The weather was perfect. It was sunny in the mid seventies. The boys were true to their form, N. spent most of the time digging and A. wanted to be in the water constantly. He even got mom to change into her swim suit and go in with him. Isn't it amazing what kids can get you to do Preciouse memories.

Done

Well, another year of VBS has come and gone. I am very thankful to be done. It was a wonderful year this year. Our church kids only accounted for about a third of the participants. We had some many kids from outside our church and I think a record turnout of those kids at the picnic Friday night. The kids did very well during the program show casing their memory verses and some of the songs we sang all week, and we also had a video of pictures from the week. We had the annual egg toss and water balloon toss and some how I ended up in charge. All went well and I believe a good time was had by all. Now we can get back to our regular routine.

Tired

Only one more day of VBS. I am very thankful for that. I have been enjoying myself, but it gets tiring. I'm not one who likes to be on the go all the time so haveing to get the boys out of the house at 8:30 every morning for a week is a bit hectic. I'm also tired of being excited and hyper in front of the kids every morning. It's draining. I don't thrive on it the way some people do. I guess I'm getting a little bit of my theater fix this week. That strange desire inside of me to be in front of people and preform. It seems so contrary to other parts of who I am and yet every once in a while I crave it.

The boys are holding up well. It helps that they're a little older this year. I think that N. is actually getting into everything more as the week goes on. It takes him a while to warm up to everything. A. is just thriving on all the attention all the girls are giving him. Everytime I see him he has a different one by the hand. Neither of my boys have ever had any trouble with the ladies.

Singing in the Rain

We had a pretty nice down pour last night. Dan was at a meeting in Beaver Falls so I had the boys by myself after a long day of VBS in the morning and an afternoon in which A. didn't nap. When it started raining the boys wanted to go out and get wet, and I thought, "what the hay." It was a better alternative than trying to keep them in and having them behave in ways only brothers can. When I went to check on them they were standing on the top step with their arms outstretched. I had to show them how to really get wet, but they soon caught on and were soaked through in no time. When they were done they came inside dried off, got into their P.J.s and watched a video until dad came home to put them to bed. Ahhhh, the joys of childhood!

VBS

VBS started yesterday at our church. I'm in charge of the music.
I decided to do a few things differently this year. For one I'm using the auto harp and not the piano.
I guess this is really the only change that I instituted, but it is a big one.
It allows me to be much more involved with the kids. Before we start in the morning I gather all the kids by the front door and we sing a few fun songs like "If you're happy and you know it" and "Father Abraham"
I'm enjoying my job this year. We have a full thirty minutes for opening and closing exercises this year which is down right luxurious. I'm also enjoying being able to walk around and help out where I'm needed inbetween times.
Over all the first two days have gone well. We have a whole slew of kids this year and quite a few kids not from our church. Several are repeat attenders. Meaning that they don't attend our church, but have come before.
My boys are doing well. I didn't have to give N. Any ultimatums today. Of course A. is getting along great and why wouldn't he? He "loves misser Hinks"

Blogs

Well, I've decided to give this blog thing a try.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. I really enjoy reading other people's blogs and keeping up with what is going on in their lives. I like the idea of haveing a place to share things with other people. But I've always been somewhat private when it comes to my inner workings, so we'll see how it goes. I'm not an artist like my cousin and I don't write amazingly like my sister-in-law, but I willing to give it a try. so here goes nothing, like it or not I'm now an official blogger.