Hello, Summer!

School is out and summer has officially arrived! I sure hope it doesn't zip by too quickly!

Halloween Part 1

Halloween has officially begun! Here's the rundown of our day:

Lee's school held a mini fall festival for them. He was so excited to see me there to help. Everyone had a great time playing games and collecting prizes.

This afternoon was our town's "Merchant Trick-or-Treating," so we got all dressed up and went from store to store collecting goodies.

Lee as a giraffe. This was my first year making costumes from scratch, and I was pleased with how they turned out (and so were the kids!). :)

Jess as Princess Leia

Batman and Leia duking it out while the giraffe stands quietly by...

The high school held a mini carnival this afternoon, so that was our next stop.

Banana Toss

Peanut Toss

Football toss

And a fun time was had by all. This was a great warm up for the weekend!

Vacation Bible School

What a week we've had! We've been fully entrenched in Vacation Bible School, and it's been so wonderful (busy, stressful, tiring, but wonderful)!

I was the craft teacher for first and second grade and all the kids really enjoyed the projects we created: cricket callers (skewers with beads that, when rubbed together, make "music"), cowboy vests made from paper bags, photo frames, harmonicas made from craft sticks and rubberbands (which really work and were, hands-down, the childrens' absolute favorite of the projects), cork bracelets, and several other things that I can't remember right now (8 projects in all). Jessalyn loved that I was one of her teachers, which is one of the biggest reasons I volunteer for VBS.

Lee got to participate in VBS for the very first time and he really enjoyed it, too. His class did crafts, music, recreation and Bible stories. The teacher that he'll have in the fall when he starts preschool two days a week was his VBS teacher, so that was really great.

The kids sang songs for all the parents during the closing ceremony. The theme for the whole VBS was Saddle Ridge Ranch: rounding up questions, driving home answers. The music was very upbeat and the lyrics were great.

Here's Lee singing "H-A-P-P-Y."

Jessalyn and her cousin Russ (in the red shirt) sing "Like Jesus."

Big surprise for Jess: I kept one of my horse decorations for her and put it up in her room for her to discover. She was THRILLED!

It's hard to believe VBS has already come and gone. I'm already making plans for next year! :)

Many, many pictures

Well, life has been quite hectic the last few months and my blog has suffered for it. So here are some pictures highlighting our recent life. I'll post house photos is a separate post since there are so many of those.

Valentines Jessalyn made for her classmates. No two are alike.

Jessalyn was the lead (the Queen of Hearts) in her class' Valentine's performance

First girl scout camp. It was c-o-l-d!!!

Spring break vacation to Disney!

Epcot (this is only some of us...there were 15 of us in all that went on the trip)

Lee especially loved the characters.

Easter portrait

Jessalyn's seventh (!) birthday

The cake (my first non-round or rectangular cake)

Birthday horse ride (the highlight of her birthday)

Lee's third (!) birthday

Lee writes his name all. the. time.

Piano recital

Dance recital (Jess with her dance teacher, Mrs. Teresa)

I have to agree with the shirt...for both of them! :)

Homework

We are firmly entrenched in the school year. Other than school this means church activities, piano, dance and homework. Jessalyn is usually very good about tending to the task at hand. But Lee will not be left out. So, each evening when I announce that it's time to begin homework, Lee insists on doing homework, too. What a studious little guy.

Eyelashes (and a Few Freckles)

ABCs and 123s

Jess and Lee and Wii

Lee enjoys the Wii Jessalyn got for her birthday as much as she does!

Lovely Morning

It was a nice morning, so the kids and I played in the backyard before it got blazing hot.

When we move, I sure am going to miss our backyard. It is so big and has some really nice qualities. My favorites are:

1. This beautiful maple tree. It's one of only two sources of shade we have.

2. The natural privacy fence we have which completely surrounds the entire yard. It's blooming right now and is not only gorgeous, but fragrant.

3. Our lovely Live Oak, home of Jessalyn's tree swing. You can find shade there any time of the day.

I'm excited to make new memories and find new things to treasure at our new home and smaller backyard. It will be full of neighborhood children and all the noise, laughing and squealing which will go along with it. I can't wait!