Show us your life, Activities for the kids!

I look forward to the summer every year, because I am a teacher and I get summers off to spend with my child.  I try to think of fun things to do with Gavin.  Here are a few things we do...

1.  We have "school" about an hour a day during the summer.  We do all kinds of things and I try to make it fun for him.Right now he is learning to read, so I read to him and he reads to me.  We also do art projects, use play dough, paintpractice writing.  Right now he is really into writing words and sentences.  His handwriting is not great yet, but he isloving sounding out and writing words.  He will start Kindergarten in a couple of months, so he is excited!

 reading to me!

 This was a gift he got for Christmas and he loves to learn about different places.  This Globe tells about the food they eat, the activities they do, landmarks that are located in different areas of the world and so much more.  He LOVES it!

One of his writing pages...

Close up...

2.  I also love to scrapbook and now Gavin likes to help me.Since most of my scrapbooking involves pictures of himhe really gets into helping me pick out pictures,&  add stickers.

3.  He also loves the water, so sprinklers and swimming

are a big hit with him!!!

4.  We also love to go to the zoo.  We usually go several times throughout the summer, although we have not yet been this summer.  

What do you like to do with your kids in the summer.  Go to...

Kelly's Korner to see more ideas!!! 

Happy Summer! 

Date Night

After coming home from camp Friday afternoon, we went out with some friends of ours, Brandi and Mitchell and their sweet girls.  We went to eat dinner at Tamolly's and then went with them to pick out a new laptop.  The following night however we went out without the kids, which never happens.  A few weeks ago, I thought Shawn and I were going to get to go to the movies and to dinner by ourselves, but it didn't work out, last minute work problem kept us from it.  But Saturday we finally got to go.  We went to see the Ashton Kutcher / Katherine Heigel movie, "Killers".  It was cute,but not as good as I had hoped.  However it was nice to get a "double date night" with friends.   

We also went to eat at Magels where the guys both had prime rib. When Shawn goes out to eat, he thinks he has to order the most expensive thing on the menu!  haha

VBS

This week we (our church) are working on decorating for VBS.  Our theme this year is Soul Survivors on Danger Island.  My friend Brandi and I are decorating the stage, and doing the music for the week.  Today I worked all day on decorations.  We made a big volcano (which we are going to put a fog machine inside), we are working on a waterfall with twinkling lights in it.  I also made a background scene with rocks, plants and flowers.  I will post pictures tomorrow.  We have a lot more to do, but it is coming along.  We will start on Sunday night so we will be busy all week! 

He's 6 years old!

He turned 6 while at church camp.  We had a "  mini"  birthday party for him after church that night.  Here are a few pictures we took..

 Happy 6th Birthday!!!

Camp 2010

WOW!  God is Good ALL the time!!!  

 Our group practicing for their special

( a couple of them are a blur...hard time standing still)

We had an amazing week at church camp.  Totals for the week were...38 souls saved, and 18 rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ!  Again I say WOW!  6 of those saved were from our church!  Dalton, Angel, Triston, Sydney, Jady and James.  

I have been going to church camp my entire life (literally)  I started before I was one.  With the exception of a couple of years in there.  I love camp.  You get to spend an entire week away from the "world"  and all it has to tear us down.  You get so built up, and excited for Christ.  My cup runneth over!  

 Angel ringing the bell after getting saved!!!

Gavin got to go with us this year (his first time) and he did great!  His birthday was on Wednesday while we were there.  (I will do a separate post on this).  

I was so proud of our youth.  They really stepped it up.  Our group sang a special on Thursday night, ""  That's Why we Praise HIM"   and they did just that.  PRAISED HIM!  They sang out with smiles on their faces, and worshiped our God.  

Take 1...

I was sitting on the front row and couldn't get them all in the picture... 

Take 2...

Take 3!

I watched lives being changed, attitudes being changed and hearts being broken and filled with Jesus. One of our teen girls during the last night devotions said her favorite part of camp was the invitation.  I would have to say I agree.  Knowing their lives are being changed forever is an amazing thing to witness.   It was yet again an amazing experience!  I can't wait for next year.  

Gavin getting his "Air Mail"

Night 2 of receiving "Air Mail!"  He was so excited!

We had a GREAT time!!!

He did this for YOU!!! A video we watched at Camp!

This is a video I encourage you to watch. It is what Jesus Christ had to endure to pay our sin debt. It is emotional, heart wrenching, but necessary,...HE is the only way to Heaven. He already paid the price, will you accept the gift of eternal life?

PACKING!!!

Well I have been up to my eyeballs in last minute preparation for next week...Laundry, cleaning, packing, more laundry, planning food for my husband while we are gone, planning a birthday party, preparing for VBS, preparing for lessons (Sunday School and Wednesday nights), more cleaning and laundry...  Wow summer is a lot of work!  haha  

However, I am excited about next week at camp.  We have about 50 going to camp this year and we are really looking forward to it!

this is the tabernacle at camp

We leave Monday morning, (Gavin and I).  We are looking forward to seeing what God has in store for the week ahead!  While we are there Gavin will turn 6.  (On Wednesday)  I have a "mini-party" planned for him!  Hope Shawn makes it ok without us.  I will have to do a lot of praying for him!  haha  Wish he could come with us! 

Summer Sleepovers!

Dark photo...but still cute!

Gavin has been begging for a long time now to have his best friend Dalton over for a sleep over.  Last night we finally made that happen.  He got here about 3:30, I thought they would knock each other over when he walked in the door.. They were so excited. 

first things first...wii!

oh so intently concentrating! 

Dinner time...Spaghetti with meat balls...correction Dalton's was Spaghetti without meatballs :)

They took turns saying the blessing... you see Gavin had already said his...haha

Shawn also made them milkshakes after dinner.

Talking to the dog in the backyard through the window.

Mom is on her way to pick him up. 

They had a wonderful, first of many I am sure, sleepovers!

Scrapbooking!

I LOVE to scrapbook!  I have always loved taking pictures and I started scrapbooking in high school.  Nowadays I don't have as much time to keep up, so I have to do a lot of catching up in the summertime.  Today Gavin and I worked on his T-ball scrapbook.  (I had to finish last years t-ball before I could start this year).   I love making things that will be a treasure to pass on to my kids and grandkids, and so on. 

Customize a free digital slideshow

Monday Madness!

Today was a busy day.  I worked on planning somethings for Gavin's 6th Birthday party.  He chose a camo/army theme so I am really having to think hard on this one!  I have the invitations ready except the date, every date I chose there seems to be some conflict...So I guess I am just going to have to pick one and it will just have to work.  

I have been trying to think of fun activities to plan for the party.  Everyone around here has bounce houses a lot so I am trying to prepare something a little different.  Here is what I have come up with...

An "army" themed obstacle course

A pinata filled with "army" type prizes

Best dressed camo contest

A camo "craft" project  

(I found a cute army tank project they can make)

I also found dog tags to write their names on, a ton of army men to put on the tables...and so much more!  

Now to find someone to make a cake that I am envisioning!

Here are a few I found online that I thought were cute...

I have everything else ready, the cake is the last thing I have to get.  We will see what I can get from the local bakeries around here.

I will be leaving for church camp next Monday so I have to get everything ready this week, including sending out the invitations.

I can't believe my baby boy is turning 6!!!  

 

Breakfast at Noon!

I love lazy summer mornings!  Today we decided to make donuts at noon!  There is nothing like spending time with Gavin, even if it is the simplest of activity.  He loved making them, but loved eating them even more!!!  Yum!

Memorial Day Weekend!

I am officially out for summer break!  I am looking forward to relaxing, getting more done on the house we are re-modeling, scrapbooking, going to church camp, VBS, but most of all spending time with my son.  This is the last summer he has before he starts school!  WOW!  I can't believe he is starting school!  I have a lot planned for us this summer.  Nothing too exciting because Shawn doesn't get vacation yet, but a lot of time spent together! 

This past weekend was full of excitement.  We went to 2 birthday parties on Saturday.  Colter, who turned 3 was the first at 10:00 am.  

blowing out the candles 

Birthday Boy!

Gavin, hot from playing in the park!

The second birthday was Shanlee, who turned 6.  Her mother, Kortnie and I were pregnant at the same time.  She had a cute birthday party complete with a bounce house, treasure hunt with burried treasure, and a pinata.  Unfortunately I forgot to grab my camera for this one!  :(

Monday morning Gavin wanted to show his Daddy his new love of water.  Not only a week ago, he was terrified to go under water, and now he is doing back flips, jumping off the ladder, attempting to swim underwater.  I am so proud of him!!!  

loving the water!

Monday night our friends Mitchell and Brandi and their 2 precious girls came over for dinner, hamburgers and hotdogs!!!  The kids had fun playing after dinner.

playing with trains

train tent

sweet friends!

Gavin, 

Anna & Maggie

cutie pie Anna!

Shawn and I

Maggie- look at that smile! 

Gavin, Anna, Maggie and Brandi

We had a wonderful relaxing weekend!

Thanks to all who serve our country.  Thanks to the families who stand by them as they serve!

A special thanks to my friends who have served or are still serving this great country!

Kyle Stansell- Army National Guard

Tommy Newcomb- Navy