VBS 2012

We had VBS every night this past week from Sunday to Friday.  The kids missed the first couple of days because they were still at the beach with Lolli and Karis and Lucy missed another night with strep but they LOVE VBS!  It is one of their favorite things and I too, love it.  To me, it is one of the most spiritually important things for them to attend in the whole year.  I got saved at VBS when I was 6 and so I know it is effective and we knew this was a pivotal year for Karis at her age.  

We have had several spiritual talks with our kids this week and we think Brayden and Karis are very close to making decisions for Christ.   Oh Lord, please save them while they are young!

I did not take my camera one night other than show night (I know...gasp!) but I did take these with my phone of the girls one night.  These two love each other so much.  They remind me of Karis with Mari-Morgan when they were this age.  So cute!

These were taken Friday night at show night and Mrs. Phyllis every year makes the most incredible cakes ever!

This was my group for the week 4th and 5th graders....

We had an offering challenge this week boys vs. girls and girls won so several of the men got pies in the face for losing.  The kids LOVED it!  This was obviously before....

Karis and her BFF of all time Mari-Morgan....

Ambere got a pie int he face too haha!

Brayden was so much fun watching him sing the VBS music.  I wouldn't ever say that to him it would embarrass him and he would think I was making fun of him but he was SOOOO serious about his music.  He sings to the top of his lungs and does all the motions with every ounce of his being.  It was adorable.  Here is a video I took one night of VBS of him performing with the big kids on stage.

https://vimeo.com/44179037

Here are 2 videos I took on show night of all the kids performing....

https://vimeo.com/44179041

Big run, swimming, VBS show night, and a special birthday present

This morning is a moment in time that my running buddies and I have been dreading for weeks now.  It was the big run in the middle of our Couch to 5K training.  We jumped from 5 and 8 minute runs separated by walks to a big 20 minute run non-stop.  This was a BIG step for us.  So we decided that we would go with NO kids and IF we finished it we would reward ourselves with a route 44 Dr. Pepper.  We LOVE us some Dr. P and we rarely ever drink it anymore so it was an easy reward.  Kind of an oxymoron I know but hey....little rewards along the way are necessary.  AND WE MADE THE RUN!!! And it wasn't bad either so we got these.....

Then the kids and I went swimming for a little while and some friends came too.

Axton wearing Brayden's goggles...they covered his whole face haha!

Tonight was the last night of VBS and it was show night for the parents and grandparents.  Here's our crew before we left...

Precious and Kaya's mom and brother came too.  Meet Charlieon....he is sooo sweet!

The kids had a little performance where they showed us all the songs they had learned.  It was adorable!

Mrs. Phyllis outdid herself once again with the cake.  It was amazing!  I didn't get a pic of it still assembled but it was 3 tiered (all different flavors) and she had these little cookies on it all the way around like a skyscraper for NYC.  It was so cute!!!

Today is my friend Paige's birthday.  She is such a dear friend and I am soooo thankful for her.  I gave her the book Redeeming Love because it is one of my favorites and she hasn't ever read it.  

The girls (Karis and Lucy) went home with Lolli after the VBS show because we are celebrating Brayden's birthday tomorrow with all boys.  So tonight when we came home it was just us and Brayden and he got to open a package Nonnie, Pop-Pop and Aunt Jessie sent.  He was just a little excited can you tell?????  I don't think I have ever gotten a smile this big out of him!

They sent him a pitching machine and he was THRILLED!

It was a great day and looking forward to another fun day tomorrow celebrating my boy's 5th birthday with his friends!  

Dress up night at VBS

Tonight the kids were instructed to dress up as anything "New York."  People really went all out although I didn't do the whole dress up thing but Karis was all about it.  They mentioned rock star and that stood out in her mind.  That is what she wanted to do and was VERY concerned that she have just the right outfit on.  And this is as far as Brayden got on a rock star...a shirt that said "wild" and spiky hair haha.  He wasn't as excited about it as Karis was....he might get some attention or something so he didn't like the idea.  He is such a boy!!!

She got to wear lots of makeup and jewelry which she was pumped about.  Can you tell?!

Lucy wouldn't smile for me so I used reverse psychology on her and told her NOT to smile.  I think it worked ha!

Me and my girls (Brayden took this pic...did pretty good!)

And Karis took this one (that is why half of my head is cut off)

And check out some of these "New York" costumes....so cute and creative!!!!

This is our cook for the week Booboo as we call her (Ellie, Ethan and Eli's grandmother) dressed up as Paula Deen....so cute!

Our children's director Liz as the Statue of Liberty

These are Karis' guests for the week.  You have met Precious before (her friend from school) but her older sister got to come last night and is coming the rest of the week.  Her name is Kaya and is just as "precious" as her sister.  :)

Karis and her BFF Mari-Morgan...rock star and Sharpay Evans. They were both RIGHT in their element!

Mary beth always gets so creative....her and her daughter Ellie were "graffiti!"

Christine as the Statue of Liberty

And look at these hardworking men...they could have fooled you right??? haha

(Our pastor and youth minister...VBS has wore them out I guess!)

Nathan the NY pizza boy

Monica was Times Square and Madison "Maddie" was Madison Square Gardens...isn't that adorable?!

Aren't they cuties???

Miss New York came last night!

Statue of Liberty #3

Brian was a mime (who Lucy was very scared of!)

Cute cousin tourists Libby and Faith

Karis and some of her buddies

Paula Deen's kitchen sign :)

Brandon with his boys Ethan and Eli...they were taxi cabs! 

During the music Brayden and his friends got up and were dancing on the front row and I caught them in action!

Our 2011 VBS crew

Lucy and her friend Story

Karis got to go up on stage to answer a question and got embarrassed and started crying.  She is SOOOO me when I was that age...I hate it for her!  :(

What a fun night!  Only one more day of VBS and then we have a family VBS show night where all the parents come and eat and kids show off what they have learned.  Looking forward to the rest of the week!