No More Jolly Ranchers!

Caroline has a teacher this year who likes to reward the students with Jolly Ranchers...
after today, Caroline will keep a tally of the Jolly Ranchers she's given...
so that in 15 months she can have them all at once!

Kairos Class Camping Trip 2009

Our Bible Study class (most of us anyway!) went camping at Pocahontas State Park. There were a lot of us! We got there in the rain and pitched our tents in the rain and ate in the rain and went to bed in the rain! It was a fun time. In the morning the sky looked like it might bring still more rain. But the clouds cleared and the day was beautiful!

Most of the parents and kids biked or hiked down to the pool. Those left behind waited on some latecomers and then brought lunch down to the swimmers. The pool was amazing! There was time for long bike rides, longer runs & even canoeing on the reservoir!

The weekend was full of light sabers, rubber snakes, bike rides, and glow sticks! The kids all got along really well and everyone is looking forward to another trip!

Team Building at Flower Camp

Bright and early, we all arrived at Flower Camp, where we were met with monkey brains and coffee! Oh wait, I brought the coffee!

What's with the pink? It's all about team building - coming together for a common purpose. Okay, really it was the color most disliked by our honorable Trustee!

There were flowers in the garden - people actually come here for retreats on flower arranging. Not us, though!
We took off our shirts and played games!

We died - RC was the assassin - Herb (the Tie Boss) was the first to go! If there were awards, Cassandra would have won the most dramatic award!
We got untangled!
We played Giants, Wizards & Elves!
There were lots of blindfold opportunities!
This was the most fun!
Everyone had a great time!

Wild Thing -You Make My Heart Sing

This is the new and improved Wild Thing!

It used to look like this....

What do you think? Not that it matters anyway. I am not ripping out even one more seam in this quilt! This will have to do!

Happy Sweet Sixteen!

Our next door neighbors are so sweet! Look what they left for Morgan!

Here's the table - set for dinner. Morgan asked for rotini with meat sauce a la Grandmama, caesar salad & garlic bread. We added sparkling lemonade and, of course, cake & ice cream.

Here's the birthday girl!

With her Sweet Sixteen crown - and her sixteen pink roses! The cake was pretty, and tasty, too!

Cards and gifts were opened - no toys. Alas. Only pretty jewelry and quilting supplies!

Happy Birthday Morgan!

A New Ball & Glove

First Day!

Last night's crowns were so popular that Katherine decided they needed to wear them again this morning! Will loves his and wants to keep it forever so I wasn't surprised that he acquiesced so easily, but the other two, known for their contrary natures, also readily put theirs on too!

A not-so-great family picture at the bus stop - Thanks Jill! It's nice to have one of all six of us!

The boy ran across the street to catch his bus - There's no way Mr. C would leave without him, but he wasn't taking any chances!

Back to School Celebration Dinner

I hurried home from work today to start working on dinner and to make the kids their crowns. Each child got a crown decorated with his name, grade and various interests. They were all receptive to the crowns and kind enough to wear them throughout the meal.

We had candles and cake and sparkling grape juice - just like a real party!

Back to School Fiesta!

Taking the Kids to Work

In between camping out at my office and reading their books, the kids spent some time at the library and in the park. They checked out oodles of books and promptly came back and read them all!

Meet the Team

Happy Birthday Grandmama!

softball playoffs 2009

Wet Noodles

Summer Sundays - each Sunday during summer vacation the Youth descend upon a church member's house for good food and fun. Most times it's a youth member's family that hosts but sometimes it's just some really wonderful church member who has a soft spot for the young people.

Tonight they swam and ate two whole pans of lasagna & three loaves of garlic bread! They also welcomed our new rabbit Savannah to her new home.