More VBC pictures

My BFF
My friend Sandra made this adorable decoration. She used all the names of the kids in the nursery during VBC to make a "Periodic Table of the Deliveries". It was so cute!

BIG FISH

My friend Adriane and I started a new VBC program for rising 5th & 6th graders this year. I have never had so much fun during the week of VBC as I had this past week! Most of the kids had a really good time, too, and we got many positive comments from our adult volunteers.The week's Bible points were:

-Jesus gives us the power to be thankful.

-Jesus gives us the power to help others.

-Jesus gives us the power to be brave.

-Jesus gives us the power to live forever.

-Jesus gives us the power to tell others about God.

On Monday each crew had to walk across the floor stepping only on paper plates. Each time they took a step, they had to say someone or something they were thankful for.

The BIG FISH made 40 blankets to donate to an organization called Project Linus.

The BIG FISH tested their bravery by running through a course while trying to avoid being hit with splash balls.

These are the items we collected so we could put together care packages for soldiers stationed overseas. We did some fun activities on Friday. This is donut-on-a-string - it's pretty self-explanatory.

One of our living sculptures.
Our final activity was an obstacle course. Each BIG FISH had a limitation assigned to them - they couldn't use their arms, their legs, their mouth, or their eyes. They had to help each other through the course, after putting on a bag of clothes (including a wig and a boa - it was pretty funny.)

Stringbean

Noah had his 18-month check-up today. Here are his stats:

-weight: 23 lbs., 6 oz - 15% (that's a jump from 7% at his year check-up)
-length: 33 1/2 inches - 85% (he has grown 5 inches in the past 6 months!)
-his little peanut head is still spot-on average

He DID NOT enjoy this visit to the doctor, and he screamed through the entire exam. The anger and indignation faded quickly, however; he was completely calm two minutes after we walked out of the room. He is built like me, and from what I understand, he acts like I did at this age. Aahhhh, the circle of life.

A wing and a prayer

For the past few months, this pink flamingo has been making his way among my and two of my neighbors' houses. He'll show up for birthday parties, or just because he needs to get some fresh air. Saturday morning he planted himself in our yard. The paper taped to him is a boarding pass for Barney Rubble - obviously Barney had a few too many the night before. Although no one has actually 'fessed up, I believe we have our Canadian neighbors across the street to thank for this yard art. Ahhh, foreigners can be so funny!

Bath boys

There's nothing better than the smell of clean babes!

Our trip to Greenville

We had a really good time in South Carolina. I haven't seen my sister and her kids in a year, and I couldn't believe how big they had gotten. My niece Hannah is almost as tall as I am, and she's beautiful. Luke had a great time playing with his cousins Ben and Ethan and even spent the night at Cari's house twice. We also celebrated my mom's birthday.

The luau princess
Hanging out with Aunt Cari
Four generations gathered to celebrate Mimi's birthday
The Wii is so much fun!!
Ahhhh . . . the joys of boys!

Word up!

While we were in Greenville last week, Noah's vocabulary tripled! When we left he was saying "Daddy" (very fitting that he said this for the first time right before Father's Day!) Now he also says "cracker", "cookie", and "thank you". He said "Mommy" once, but he won't say it again. I think he can say a lot more than he does; he's just making us wait for new words. I'm just so glad to know he can say actual words, not just "uh-oh" and "hi-yah".

Today

Noah is 18 months old today, and it's also the 5-year anniversary of the day we closed on our house in Texas. I can't believe it's been 5 years since we moved out here. I never thought I'd love living out here as much as I do. It's such a wonderful place to raise a family. If only we could pick Texas up and move it closer to South Carolina!

Traveling

The boys and I are headed to South Carolina tomorrow to visit my family. As of an hour ago, Luke was running a 102.4 temp - just in time to get on a plane and infect everyone else! Hopefully it's just a 24-hour bug and he'll be better tomorrow. Think of us tomorrow at 1:20 when I'm on the plane by myself with both boys!