VBS RE-MIX

Brooklyn and Alex still have VBS fever.

They are dancing, singing and trying to teach Daddy and Riggs the moves to all the songs.

For those that weren't there...here is a sample.

Gotta love it!

BROOKLYN'S MESSY ART PARTY

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, MIDGE!!!

Brooklyn requested an art party to celebrate turning 6 years old.

I may have turned it into the 'messy art party'...

but I want to have fun too :)

We had 3 different projects for everyone to paint.

First: each kiddo had a plate with paint and a long roll of craft paper.

Have at it....

Brooklyn....remember....messy????

Baby watch...under the umbrella...thank you, Grandma & Grandpa

Brad wins the prize for most literal interpretation of 'messy'

Anderson and McCoy were a close 2nd place

Second: watercolor paper clipped to the fence and

objects 'play doughed' (glued) to the paper and then sprayed with diluted paint.

Third: Group splatter paint project.

There was a canvas for each one but only after it was done

could they look to see which one had their name on it

No, boys....the canvases....not each other.

Ok.

Never mind. That looks way more fun!

And, done!

~ CAKE AND PRESENTS ~

GETTING READY FOR THE PARTY

Brooklyn had been asking to get her ears pierced for quite a while so

Scott and I finally decided that she could do that for her 6th birthday.

She went back and forth on when or if to get them....

but, Friday morning she decided she wanted to do it.

You know..."to get ready for my party" and all.

We waited for Scott to get off work, picked him up and headed to the mall.

So excited...picking out her next pair of earrings

before she even had holes.

Teddy Bears always makes it a little easier

Using the purple marker to get the right spot

This girl's name is also Brooklyn. My Brooklyn thought that was pretty cool.

Trying to keep Alex calm, they gave her a lollipop before piercing Brooklyn's ears.

Where was mine???

Here it comes....

Yes, there were some tears...but she tried really hard not to cry. So brave! I could see the tears building up in her eyes so I walked over and just held her while she sat in the chair...letting her get a little bit of sweet sounding, quiet sobs out. Then she was all done and ready to check out her new earrings.

TA DA....so proud of her big sister.

Look at those sparkly earrings...

Daddy knows how to make everything feel better.

They look great, Midgy!

I'M NOT IN COLLEGE ANYMORE...

I should not still be up...yet, here I am.

This is going to be a hard lesson!

It is 3:46am and I am just heading to bed.

Brooklyn has her birthday party tomorrow.

Celebrating 6 years (almost)!

Still having a hard time believing it.

Well...we had quite the adventure late this afternoon (story to come).

But, I didn't get started on the cake until after 10pm.

Bake. Bake a little longer...darn you, toothpick...come out clean!

Cool. Cool some more. Prepare gift bags. Cool more...

alright...cool enough (probably not...but oh well!)

Frost. Make more frosting. Finish frosting.

Clean up.

Off to bed.

Be ready coffee pot!

NAP TIME....

Well...it's 2:15pm.

I've been up since 12:15pm.

I'm exhausted.

Better take a nap.

~Riggs

This kid is apparently way tired.

He went to bed a little after 10pm last night.

He finally woke up at 12:15 this afternoon.

And, right now he is taking a nap.

Ridiculous, right?

And, yet...I still can't seem to get "my things to do" list completed.

MUSIC TO MY EARS

This has been the week of Vacation Bible School for us...

we have been on a 'High Seas Expedition' exploring the mighty love of God!

Alex is old enough to participate this year so both girls are enjoying this week very much!Brooklyn is a Parrot. Alex is a Chipmunk. Me? Well, I'm helping 'Shepherd' the Seagulls.

I have 9 boys and 1 little girl. It's an AWESOME group!

We started on Sunday with 'Family Night' and tonight is the finale. But, last night....well, last night brought me to tears.

One of my boys is hearing impaired. And, it just so happens that an Aunt and Uncle of Scott's is deaf. I met them for the first time this summer and learned a couple signs for various words while they visited. Don't tell me God doesn't prepare us for our journey!

On the 2nd night of VBS, my seagull buddy was trying to tell other shepherds that he had to go to the bathroom. For whatever reason, they asked me to try to figure out what he wanted. He used his hand to sign while also saying "potty". And, I just knew. From that point on, this little seagull will not leave my side. His head is on a constant rotation keeping his eyes on me. And, he just lights up when we make eye contact. Unfortunately, I think that he thinks I understand Sign Language. We have had full conversations...mostly about his Dad...which I learned the sign for from Scott's aunt, so I ask questions and he helps me understand by signing and saying words at the same time. Somehow it works for us but he doesn't interact much with the other kids or adults.

But, last night, he finally 'opened up' during worship before we ended for the night. And, when I say opened up....I mean he was singing with all his might. The kids around us kept turning to look. He was loud. Very loud. He was yelling the words on the screen for the songs but it didn't sound like the words. Just yelling. His face was beaming! It was amazing listening to this little guy singing for the Lord. It was infectious too. After other kids realized that someone wasn't being disruptive....just singing...they started smiling, singing and really participating in the worship songs along with him. And, then there was me...trying to contain my tears of joy.

So, from the impact that 1 little seagull had last night....imagine if we all did that every day?

I encourage all of you to go out and "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" ~ Psalm 100 ~

CRAZY UNCLE MITCH & HIS WILD KINGDOM

No, Scott and I do not have a long lost brother.

Along the way, our friend Mark Mitchell was dubbed 'Crazy Uncle Mitch'.

For those that don't know...

Scott and Mitch played football together at Iowa.

We stopped by his house to visit him, his wife Katie

and their new little one, Cecilia.

What a cutie!

(Not you, Mitch...your daughter. Just thought I'd beat you to it.)

It's fun watching these college buddies as dads.

Mitch has spent a lot of time hunting.

And, the evidence is all around his house.

The girls took quick side-steps to avoid this "rug"

when they first saw it.

Eventually, they made it a friend....

And, this guy will eventually be going above the fire place upstairs.

Luckily, Katie had band aids cause it got a little rough.

Brooklyn left with 3 and Alex had 1.

Just for the record...the dog knocked Brooklyn off the porch.

She did not just fall off!


The whole gang...

Thanks for letting us visit, Mitchell family!