That moment you realize

August 29, 2016 | Stacy

it should have been called, “Double-V.”

Lollypop Farm 2016

August 26, 2016 | Stacy

It might be right next door, but we always seem to forget about Lollypop Farm being a nice place to stop. The girls and I took a quick visit in. The pigs were a lot of fun.

Swim and study…

August 24, 2016 | Stacy

The youth group met here for an evening of swim and study. It was the most people ever in the pool. I have to say, I love this picture because it really shows just how big the pool is.

Marie and her “theatrical father” Jeff. And yes, he is holding a pair of shoes…

Hanny enjoyed holding little Daniel.

Peach jam day – 2016

August 23, 2016 | Stacy

A trip to the public market yielded us a ton of peaches. They cost about double from years before… which was still only about $12.

Nan, Marie and I worked for a few hours to make a ton of jam. Katriel read to us to entertain us.

It is so worth it. Seriously yummy.

SIXTEEN!!!!

August 19, 2016 | Stacy

Hard to believe it, but Stewart is 16 years old. It seems like just days ago when the midwife said, “It’s a boy.”

The day started with Nan and Nene coming by with breakfast casserole.

John worked a half-day and then he and I took Stewart out to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse. It was fun to get him out alone and chat with him.

Then John took him to the DMV where he got his driver’s permit. This is really happening!

For dessert, we had his favorite cake – lemon. Oh. Yum.

It was a quiet day, but it was good. I love this young man.

Wayne County Fair

August 18, 2016 | Stacy

The Wayne County Fair is one of those things I have always said I wanted to go to but never made it over to. It is just a few miles from our house, but always seems to fall on the busiest weekend. This year it was no different. What was different is we just made it work.

It wasn’t free. And it wasn’t cheap. And we were only there for probably 2 hours.
But we have some memories, and we have some photos, and we did it together.

We found some homeschooling friends who were showing their rodents. Ok. I don’t think they use the word rodents. But I don’t know what the word really is. And they are rodents.

The little girls got pony rides.

I managed a hole-in-one in some corn hole. So did Johanna. Do you think anyone got photos of that?

I got a selfie with my big kids. It’s now the home screen on my phone. Smile

We wandered the mid-way where I had to explain to certain children 912 times why we weren’t going on the rides. Answer 453 was something like, “You ate in Cinderella’s castle a few weeks ago; you do not need a ride on Krazy Korn Kutter,” or something like that.

We tried to watch this guy carve things out of wood using a chain saw. He was working on a woodpecker. He was asked to stop however, by a lady who pointed to the back of a building. He politely ceased. Then we saw some tweens by a microphone. Said tweens ~~droned on~~ made announcement after announcement after announcement until this guy’s audience evaporated. They might still be droning on. It was a terrible set up.

We got some balloon animals made.
Katriel picked an elephant.

Hanny and alligator.

Tab asked for a bear.

Some of the kids ate deep-friend Oreos; others had sno-cones.

We headed home and to bed. It was nice to be out together. Not sure we’d rate it as a must-do, but it definitely isn’t a must-don’t.

boo boo

August 18, 2016 | Stacy

In the middle of the night she came. As is always the way with this little one we could hear here before we could see her. On the very rare occasion she needs us at night she CHARGES from her room at the distant end of the hall down to ours. She bursts through the doors and the footsteps ring out heavily.

John was already up ready to swoop her into his arms. He softly shushed her and led her back to her room. Soft words, gentle reminders, and a snuggle and kiss were not enough this time. The tears were different and flowed unceasingly. He made the quick decision to let her sleep between us; a decidedly rare event.

When his alarm went off at 4:15 AM she stirred. He offered her to return to her own bed. She took him up on it.

A few hours later when she and Johanna descended the stairs in search of resuming the princess play they’d left the night before, I saw her sweet face.

Ouch.

She had fallen out of bed. Through tears she couldn’t explain it, and in the dark John never saw it.

And don’t you love those EYES?

Our second Ocean Commotion–VBS at POP

August 17, 2016 | Stacy

It was our second chance to bring Ocean Commotion to life, this time at the Pines of Perinton.
Our church partnered with Pittsford CC to bring the VBS to the kids right in their own backyards. It meant daily set up and clean up. It meant enduring rain storms, which was VERY ironic given the theming of Noah’s Flood AND the fact that we’re in a draught. It meant not knowing if kids would stay an hour, a day, or all three days.

It meant FUN and a beautiful opportunity to share how much God loves them.

The youngest girls helped right along with the older siblings.

Tab got to play the part of Alex in the VBS drama.

Stewart worked on the Bible team again.

Johanna and Katriel got to be part of the VBS programming a second time.

I had the idea to bring water to help out. This was a great idea til Stewart mentioned, “Mom, why is the floor of the van so wet?”

Speaking of wet – the rain-rain-rain came down-down-down on Tuesday.

But production went on a little later and we were no worse for the wear.

Nigel played Penguin a second time.

And me? I led a group of kids through the stations. Ages varied daily, but it was mostly 9-12. I did have a 2 year old for a short time, as well as a 14 year old.

Tab bounced around after drama. Her favorite thing was holding Daniel when he came around.

Katriel helped with daily set up. She’s a Butler.

Love this kid.

Final day, closing performance. Kids were invited to the stage to share the songs they learned. This posed a conundrum for Katriel. She wanted to be part of the stage singing, but there was that sticker page that looked like so much fun. Hmmmm….