The Cadillac of Strollers...

Alayna and Joel like to ride in "style." Well, Joel is learning to ride in style. He's not thrilled about being put down anywhere for long periods of time.
Thank you to our good friends, the Cole's, who gave us this amazing gift before Joel was born. When someone asks you what you still need for when the baby comes, I've learned to always mention the "bigger", and more "expensive", items. I'm only kidding, but it certainly was such a wonderful gift. Any time I have to be outside doing things, other than just playing with the kids, I push them around in their "cadillac."

Indiana Bones and the Search for Lost Truth!!!

Yes, that is our theme for VBS (Vacation Bible School...for those of you that weren't sure) this week. The title being Dave's idea...guess who Indiana Bones is??? I don't have any pictures of him yet in his "get-up", but I hope to post some soon. His side-kick is our good friend Frank, and his title this week is Dr. E.V. Lution....get it??? :) Dr. Bones is out to prove to Dr. E.V. Lution that the world was created in 6 literal days by God. Last night was our first night, and it seemed to go very well. I wasn't out there much as I now have a child (Alayna) who has been running a fever around 103, since Sunday night. Yes, I needed more to do, in case you were beginning to think I just sat around all day, watching "What Not To Wear" on TLC, or Paula Deen on the Food Network. The fever is Alayna's only major symptom. Some slight congestion, but nothing else. This fever stuff has been going around, and I've talked to a lot of people who's kids have had this. What I'm hearing is that it's short-lived, so I'm praying that's the case for her. She doesn't "act" too sick, but the fever won't break. Motrin does help.

Okay, back to VBS...I get side-tracked, sorry. Dave, and many people in our church have been working feverishly (no pun intended) to get ready for this week. They never do things on a small scale...and I'm learning not to say "if you don't get that part done, no one will notice." Silly me...DAVE will notice!

So, below are some pictures of what took place in our yard yesterday afternoon, while everyone scrambled to finish getting things together for last night.

Here is the flyer (designed by "yours truly") we sent out to all the kids.

This is the entrance to the cave. The tarp is only there to protect it from the rain they were calling for yesterday, but thankfully we did not receive. I will post pictures later of it without a tarp. The inside of the cave is very very dark, and they have black lights set up. There is also a revolving door that Dave and another kid built that the kids turn and it takes them to the other side of the cave. Like I said "nothing on a small scale."

Julie standing at the archaeological digging pit. After the kids exit the cave they dig for buried fossils, dinosaur bones, etc. in the pit.

The rope bridge that leads them to the cave.

Our gigantic meeting tent. The church purchased this a few weeks ago, and we are so thankful to have it. It will serve many uses for our little country church.

Pics Cont'd

Here are some more photos of VBS being set up in our yard.
Classroom for Bible lesson.

View of my front yard. The "Indiana Bones" obstacle course.

Julie with one of the dinosaur wooden cut-outs. Thanks Lisa for painting these!

Part of the obstacle course the kids run through.

VBS Is Taking Over My Life....

Let's bring you up to date...VBS is only a week away. There's still a lot to do for VBS. My husband is very busy with VBS. People are at our house every day to help him get ready for VBS. I have been making extra lunches for the people here to help for VBS. There's cut-out dinosaurs and a cave in my yard for VBS...and that's not the last of the props being made. I made the flyers to advertise for VBS. I mailed the flyers to last years VBS attendees. I'm organizing all the snacks being made for VBS. I still need to update and print the VBS parental permission forms. I still need to update and print all the registration paperwork. OH MAN, what am I doing enjoying some leisurely computer time when VBS is just a week away! Have I mentioned that VBS has taken over our home??? Are you tired of me referring to "VBS" yet??? VBS is always an exciting week around here, but I'd be lying if I said I'm sad when it's behind us. I genuinely enjoy it, and I enjoy watching the kids get in to it, and hearing about kids accepting the Lord. That's why we have VBS...but I know that as soon as it's over we get to head to Erie for some R&R. We get to let my parents take over for a couple weeks with raising our kids. Okay, we don't let them completely take over, but it's a dream I have...uhm...sometimes. :)

Here are some recent pictures of Joel. I guess this one below will need some explaining...especially to my mother who is probably saying "why are they dressing up my baby?" All I can say is that this is what happens when I leave Dave alone with the kids.

Here is my happy boy. He is smiling lots and lots these days, and cooing.

After his baths he loves to be snuggled up in his towel.

Joel in his baseball outfit from Uncle Ed & Aunt Shelly.

Nothing Much...

Wow, I almost hesitate to type this, but it's actually farely peaceful and quiet around here at the moment. I'm sitting at the computer typing out full sentences, and that in itself is rare these days.

Julie is outside playing with a kid from church. Alayna is in the room with me, but playing contentedly by herself....hold on, she just took my Bible in to the bathroom, I should probably see why....okay, nothing major, all is safe & sound. I do have a third child...let's see, where did I put him??? Oh, yea, he's sleeping, and has been for the past couple of hours. He's due to wake up any moment, but so far the quiet continues.

Yesterday, Dave & Julie spent most of the afternoon with some friends of ours. Dave is busy planning our upcoming VBS, and he met with one of the guys yesterday that helps him with the skits, etc. Julie played with their daughter, and had a wonderful time.

Our VBS is a "dinosaur" theme...with a safari flare. I guess that's a good way to describe it. We are using material from "Answers in Genesis", by Ken Ham. All I can say is that at this moment props are being painted to construct a dinosaur in our front yard. VBS is held in our yard each year, due to lack of space at our church. Last year a western town took up our front lawn, this year a dinosaur, an archaeological digging pit, an obstacle course, and whatever else my husband decides to build will be taking it's place. I am completely staying out of it this year, for obvious reasons...and for the fact that my brain just doesn't think that "big." When Dave mentioned having a digging pit for the kids to dig up fossils, and so on, I mentioned getting a kiddy pool, filling it with sand, and letting them dig in there. WHAT WAS I THINKING???? Apparently that is not "grand" enough. Instead he will be hauling in 3 yards of dirt or mulch or sand or some kind of mess, and making a much bigger digging area. I've learned to just nod and smile. Isn't that what Pastor's wives are supposed to do anyway? Nod & smile, just nod & smile, Kristen.

Okay, enough about that. Have I mentioned that parenting 3 children is a lot of work? I'm enjoying it, don't get me wrong...who doesn't love sleep deprivation, spit up, diapers x2 (Alayna hasn't mastered the potty training yet), standing up to eat a luke-warm meal, while trying to keep the baby's pacifier in his mouth with the other hand???? Really, doesn't it sound glamorous? Well, overall, it's wonderful.

The peace & quiet is ending. Joel is awake, and Alayna is now covering the office floor in scrap paper. Guess I should stop ignoring my children and get back to work. Duty calls...

Keeping You Informed...

Does the look on this child's face read "GUILTY," or what??? And guilty she was! The other day I was so pleased at the length of nap Alayna seemed to be taking. She has been fairly miserable lately, and I am reminded that she is quickly approaching the age of two. So, naps are crucial. After thinking that she had napped 2 1/2 hours, and realizing that if she slept much longer she'd have a hard time going to bed that night, I decided to wake her. When I went in to the room she shares with "Gigi" (her name for Julie), I discovered quite a mess...to say the least. Julie has a bag of "play" make-up...and by play, I mean VERY REAL make-up that is made to look cute for little girls...it's not the plastic lipstick stuff I had as a kid. Anyway, I did not realize when I put Alayna in for her nap that the make-up was out and on top of the dresser near her crib, well within her reach. Needless to say, I needed some assistance from Dave, since it seems like when one of my kids needs some immediate attention, the baby decides to scream at the same time. It may not be too visible in this picture, but the make-up was all over her sheets, her clothes, fingers, face, etc. She was placed right in the tub, her clothes and sheets were put in the wash, and since the make-up was obviously ruined, was thrown in the trash. Have I ever mentioned that life is never dull around here?

Sunday, Dave's sister, Shelly, and her family came to visit us. Shelly, Ed and their two younger boys stayed the night at our home, since they live over 3 hours from us. We had a great time, and Julie thought it was a lot of fun to have her cousins to play with. This is Julie, with Christopher (on the top bed), and Jeremy. They were waiting for Uncle Dave (a.k.a., Julie's daddy) to read their bedtime story.

Our baby boy is now one month old! The time is already going by so fast. He had his one month check-up on Monday and now weighs 9lbs. 5oz., and is 21 1/2" long. He is even starting to smile a little bit, and I don't mean the gassy smiles either, for all you skeptics. :)

Julie & Joel sharing a moment. He loves the attention of his oldest sister. She's not quite as rough as Alayna, who is known to sit a little too close to his head sometimes.