The start of December meant it was time to head back to the horse ranch for our homeschool association's monthly field trip. The kids love going. They can't wait each month. This was our last time going before Christmas and for this year. The kids all made Christmas cards for the people at the ranch to thank them for teaching them about horses and showing them how to ride them. Then they split up into groups by size and took turns brushing the horses. After that they got to ride the horse they groomed. Once every one had a turn riding they went on a scavenger hunt on the ranch looking for candy canes before we headed home. They had such a good time.
Noah and Anna did 3 more VBS's throughout the summer, and all were a different theme. One was Amazing Wonders Aviation, the next was SonSurf, and the last one was Sky. They had a blast at all three doing the crafts, learning the songs, and playing games with all the kids. Even Gracie got so used to taking them to VBS (or Bible School) every week that every time we started to go somewhere she asked if it was time to go to Bible School. They looked forward to all the VBS's every week. I hope Gracie will be a little less shy next summer so that she can join in on the fun. Noah also did a science camp after the all the VBS's too. He really loved that. It was a detective camp, and he got to learn about evidence gathering and analysis as well as finding finger prints, he got to discover the science and technology behind locks, surveillance systems and burglar alarms, and he got to check out spy equipment and metal detectors and night vision. He couldn't wait to go to each class and can't wait to try out some of their other classes some other time.
Face and arm painting first night at Amazing Wonders VBS.
Noah's face painting took over his whole face.
Noah in the blue and white striped shirt singing at the end program.
Anna in the pink dress singing at the end program.
Noah singing again.
Anna's crafts she made at that VBS.
Noah's crafts he made at that VBS.
SonSurf VBS was next with our bestest friends.
Anna and Lexi were always holding hands. They were in the same class and Anna took Lexi under her wing and made sure she went where she was supposed to.
Anna and Lexi off to the right singing at the end program. Joshua is just in front and to the left of Anna, and Noah is in the back if you can see him.
Hanging out at the end of VBS.
Playing on the stage.
Noah and Anna's crafts from that VBS.
Headed to Sky VBS.
Noah in the back again singing at the end of Sky VBS.
I never thought she'd give it up so easy. She was so very attached to it, but Gracie got rid of her papi (as she liked to call them) this week. She loves Sonic the Hedgehog for some reason. I guess we have Noah to thank for that. She has a tiny Sonic plush doll, but Noah has a bigger one, and she is always stealing his to play with. I decided to tell her if she'd give up her papi and get rid of them all we'd go get a big Sonic for her just like Noah's. Thursday night, June 21st was the last night she went to bed with her papi. The next morning she got rid of it in hopes of getting a big Sonic. She asked about her papi a couple times, but never cried or fussed for it. So the next week while Noah and Anna were at Vacation Bible School Gracie and I had a fun evening out just the two of us. We walked around ToysRus and looked at all the toys, and we picked out her big Sonic. As we were checking out she picked out a ring pop too. The man at the register was very nice and gave her a princess crown to wear even though it wasn't her birthday and let her have the ring pop for free. On the way out she got to ride the dumbo ride with her new Sonic. Then we stopped and got a pizza that we shared when we got home. She was so excited to play with her very own big Sonic, and we were all so proud that she gave up her papi without a fuss. Makes me a little sad though too. No more diapers, now no more papi, makes it very real that she's not a baby anymore. I miss my little babies. At least she still likes to be held and cuddled by mommy.
Getting to ride the dumbo ride at ToysRus.
Showing off what she got, a new big Sonic and a ring pop.
I decided our summer schedule wasn't quite busy enough so I decided to add one more thing to the list this week....being in two places at once. While Anna went to dance camp from 9-12 in the morning at one school I sent Noah to VBS at my old school also from 9-12. It wasn't easy trying to get them both where they needed to be at the right time when they were in two different places, but we got a routine down that worked. Noah had so much fun at VBS. The theme was Incrediworld Amazement Park. It was a great theme that I'm really glad Noah got to be there for. It taught them about the days of creation and how God created everything in seven days, and the world was not the result of a big bang, and it did not happen over millions of years unlike many of the things they are taught in public school. Here is a link to the website for the VBS...Incrediworld. It was nice being back at my old school and getting to visit with some of my old teachers. Noah even had my fourth grade teacher for his VBS teacher this week. How cool was that? My teacher now teaching my son. Makes me wish he could go to school there just like I did, but it was nice to at least get to see him playing in the gym I used to play in and walking around the same halls and classrooms I did. He had a fun week there and so did Gracie. By day three she warmed up to everyone and wanted to stick around for awhile and participate in some of the things Noah did.
Noah's ferris wheel craft from day one.
Noah working on his roller coaster craft while Gracie watches.
Gracie, Noah, Lilly, and Rebekah with their crafts.
Noah playing at game time.
Lilly and Noah at morning assembly.
Lilly and Noah singing songs in the morning.
Gracie decided to join the fun and not just watch. Noah and Gracie making their birdie crafts.
Gracie's birdie craft. She loved it and carried it all around that day.
Noah and Gracie with their birdie crafts.
Noah in the very center in the bright blue shirt playing dodge ball.
Gracie at morning song time.
Gracie working on her dinosaur tooth necklace.
Noah working on his dinosaur tooth necklace.
Gracie wearing her necklace.
Noah wearing his tooth necklace, although you can't see it with his wild shirt.
Noah saying one of his Bible verses for VBS up on stage for everyone.
I had a little birthday party for Gracie at my friend Jacqueline's house so the kids could run around outside and play since it was a beautiful sunny day. They played on the swingset, on the trampoline, and in the sandbox. Then we had lunch, opened presents, and had birthday cupcakes. She had a fun little party with friends.
