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.
The third week of summer vacation was basketball camp for Noah and cheerleading camp for Anna. They both had a great time. Noah always loves basketball, and I think he did a lot better this year than in years past. Anna didn't love cheerleading as much as she loved dance camp, but she still had a good time.
Noah practicing.
Orange hair for crazy hair day at basketball camp.
Going in for their last day of camp.
Noah playing in the game at the end of the week for the parents.
Noah trying to get the ball.
He got the hustle award.
Anna in the very front center of this picture doing her cheers. She's wearing the blue ruffle skirt and pink socks.
Anna doing more cheers.
Watching the big cheer leaders for what to do next.
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.
