VBS

Last week Mara Kate attended VBS at a local church here in Rome. Our small church doesn't do VBS, so we enrolled her in a program at larger church in town. It was called SonQuest Rain Forest and she had a blast!!

It worked out really nicely for me as well because Kane would drop her off each morning on his way to work and I'd just pick her up at noon each day. It gave Evelyn and I the mornings together and when she was napping I was able to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Also, on Thursday I got some bonus time as a friend from church/Bible study (whose kids were also doing VBS) offered to let Mara Kate come play at their house in the afternoon one day. So, on Thursday Kane took Mara Kate to the church at 9am and I didn't see her again until after 6pm. She had a blast going to play dress up and Wii at the friend's house, then going to the pool and then out to supper at Moe's too! I took advantage of having just Evelyn and went to browse at a few stores and also spent some time at home too. I needed a few "transition" items, so it was good to have the chance to look/shop a bit.

Here's Mara Kate on her final day of VBS. Everyone wore their t-shirts that day!

The closing ceremony. Performing songs with hand motions for all the parents.

She spotted me in the crowd of parents---so I quickly snapped this picture!

Back at home modeling her explorer hat.
All their crafts were related to exploring a rain forest.

Preschool Easter Egg Hunt

Yesterday was our church's annual preschool Easter egg hunt, lovingly hosted by the Director of Children's Ministries. The weather was absolutely beautiful and it is one of our favorite events each year, so we decided to go in spite of our pesky little coughs.

I'm glad we did too, because we had a blast (as usual) and Mara Kate came home with some loot too!

A creative, yummy dessert on the dessert table. Rice crispy eggs half dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. Could it get any better than this?

All lined up and ready to GO!

She found a pink "princess" egg, with stars and wands all over it.
She was very excited about this egg!

"I see a blue one, Mommy!!"

Checking out her loot!

The beautiful yard where the kiddos hunted for their eggs.


And...

...after the hunt on our way home there was this crazy "chick" standing outside the leasing office dancing around, trying to get people to come in and check out the apartment complex where we live. So, of course Mara Kate wanted to go see the chick. She was excited that she got to give it a big hug and have her picture made with it. I was surprised that she wasn't afraid at all!

Mara Kate with the "chick".

Input Wanted

To My Faithful Readers,

Our church is hosting a chili cook-off this coming weekend and those who are entering have to give their chili recipe a "name". Well, I am one of the contestants and the recipe I use sort of evolved out of a basic recipe my sister and her roommate made up to the one I currently use, but it never really had a name.

So, I thought I'd see if anyone who reads my blog can help me come up with a catchy name for my chili recipe?! So, put your thinking caps on and let me know what you come up with!

ChristChurch Retreat

The beautiful view from our hotel room
at Cohutta Springs Conference Center

We made it home just fine from our church retreat and are hoping the gas stations near us get some more gas soon as we only have 1/2 a tank and every station we passed today was OUT!

The retreat was wonderful and a much needed time away! We so enjoyed the scenery, the fellowship and the teaching (from Dr. Richard Pratt). We had free time to relax, chat, canoe and paddle boat and also to just spend time with friends we don't get to see nearly often enough.

I took lots of pictures...too many to upload, so if you want to see them all, click here to view my album.

Retreating

Doesn't it look wonderful?!

Tomorrow we head to our church's church-wide retreat. I am really looking forward to our weekend away as a family and the extra time to spend with friends from church.

The place we are staying has canoes, a petting zoo, a big front porch for sitting and visiting and I know there will be a bonfire with smores...Mmm! I think it will be a great weekend all the way around.

Today I am laundering, starting to pack and get things in order to be ready to go.

Look for pictures upon our return!

Mara Kate's Memory Verse

Mara Kate memorized her first Bible Verse this week at VBS, so of course we had to video her saying it. For those of you who can't understand her perfectly clear English, she is quoting Hebrews 12:2, which says:

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus who endured the cross."

Day 3

We have made it through 3 days of VBS...Phew. I think all the kids and teachers were dragging today. Our 4 year olds are doing really well learning their bible verse (which we add onto each day) and by the end of the week they should have it all memorized. It helps that we are teaching hand motions to go with the words---I should remember to use hand motions for other things I need to remember---it really is a great tool! ha!

Mara Kate officially hates the morning assembly time where all the kids gather in one room and sing and listen to our youth pastor present different parts of the gospel each day. They usually have skits to help "tell the story", which really scares Mara Kate for some reason. The last two mornings her teacher has held her out in the hall way during the skits and songs because she refuses to even enter to room. She does seem curious enough though to keep looking into the room, but only from the safely of the hallway.

Below is the only picture I took today. Not the greatest, but still cute of Mara Kate and Ella Ann. Their teachers told Katie and I that they pretty much hold hands everywhere they go. So sweet to see friendship blossoming between them, even at this age.

Pray the rest of this week would go well and that we would all have the strength we need to persevere to the end!

Ella Ann and Mara Kate (holding hands) at the end of VBS, Day 3

Vacation Bible School

...or "Bible Cation School" as Mara Kate called it today.

This week I am helping with our church's Vacation Bible School and I am co-teaching 4 year olds with my friend Katie. They also have a class for the 2 year olds that Mara Kate is in. This class is the cutest by far as their extra-small t-shirts still hang off of them. They get to participate it all the same activities as the big kids and they all had a blast! Mara Kate loved seeing her friends Ella Ann and Diego as well as several other sweet little two year olds. They all had their matching t-shirts on and looked so grown up. The 2's are called The Apples of His Eye, so sweet.

Our 4 year olds are called Kingdom Kids and our theme this year is Olympian---so all the teaching, decorations, crafts etc. have to do with running the race and being star athletes.

We made it through the first day with lots of questions, confusion and schedules running a bit late, but I think overall everything went well. I know by Friday I'll be exhausted, but I'm excited to be a part of making this year's VBS a success.

I snapped some pictures of our Olympian Training Center (classroom) and of Mara Kate with her class as well.

Enjoy!

This morning before heading to the church.
Mara Kate wasn't happy because I had to brush tangles out of her hair.
Speaking of hair, this picture also show off my new do too.

Our room

Race gear decor

The "race track" we made. This is where our kids lined up before leaving the room.

Some of our kiddos

"Coach Jana" and "Coach Katie"

All lined up, ready to go

Opening Ceremonies
You can see Mara Kate with her class sitting right there on the front row.

Mara Kate's class having their "recreation time"

The 2's heading back to their classroom

Finished with day 1!

Happy to be at VBS!