VBS 2014

The week of June 23-27, the three oldest girls participated in our parish's vacation bible school.  They look forward to it every year and talk about it all year long.  We missed VBS last year, so this was the first year Madeline was able to participate.  She felt so grown up.

The theme this year was Treasure Island.  Madeline's class was called the Praying Pelicans.  Ava's class was the Immaculate Islands and Rose's class was the Savior Seahorses.  I didn't volunteer much this year because I had an infant on (or rather in) my hands, but I did work in the nursery one day with the two littles.  I always like to see the action first-hand and I enjoy seeing the girls throughout the day.  I love to see their face light up as they spot me from across the room :)

This was Madeline's first school experience!  She loved it and had no trouble leaving me...not that I am surprised :)

Here is a video of Madeline singing (it is too big to upload directly, so I have to use a link).  I love how she concentrated so hard on the moves to the songs, making sure she did them just right.

Madeline's VBS song

I could tell Ava was much more grown up this year, because she didn't have any trouble with me leaving her either.  In the past she had been really clingy and teared up as I left her.  This year I don't think she even said good-bye to me some mornings!

Can you find Ava in the back center?

Rose seemed like one of the older kids this year.  How did she get so grown up?!  

This girl was born a performer....just watch her in the video...cracks me up!!!  A couple moms even came up to me after the songfest on the last day and commented on how Rose really "got into" those songs :)

Rose's VBS song

The cutest audience member of them all...proud little brother :)

It is such a blessing that Paul works from home, so he can come to things like this in the middle of the day!  I am so thankful for that!

My sweet and sassy oldest three...the 4th little sassy one wouldn't let me take her picture.

Some of the girls' crafts from the week

St. Al's really does a great job with VBS every year and again they didn't disappoint!

Friday Funnies

Rose:
Max had gas and I said, "That stinks, Max!"  Then Rose commented,
"I guess he's going to be like Dad!"

Ava:
"Her name is Ann but you can call her Annabelle for short."
I overheard Ava telling Rose when she asked what her baby doll's name was.

Ava uses Max's carseat for her baby and puts it in her stroller just like I do in the big stroller :)

Madeline:
"When you put a shell on a peanut then it's a pistachio."
Madeline told Ella, trying to explain to her where pistachios come from.

How Madeline fell asleep in the hallway one night

Ella:
"That's Dad's favorite Batman!"
Ella told me when I showed her a Spiderman shirt at the store.

Ella holding tight to her paci when I threatened to take it away

Max:
Just had to show some baby cuteness :)

HAPPY Friday!!!

The Girls' Hoedown

My oldest daughter, who is the queen of big ideas, got the idea to host a hoedown in our garage after reading this book that we had checked out from the library:

The girls planned out every detail: the food, their outfits (they wanted to look just like the girls in the book), the invitations, the guest list, the banner, the set-up, etc.  They hand delivered each invitation that morning.  I love that they invited the teenage neighbors on our street.  They weren't able to come but said they wished they could have.  They really are sweet kids who are so good to the girls.  

The kids who were able to come to the hoedown came over around 1:00 while I was frantically running around trying to find a way to play music.  I was definitely not on top of things for this party.  In the half hour before everyone showed up, Paul was gone, the baby was crying, Madeline was throwing a huge tantrum, and nothing was ready for the party.  I reminded myself to never agree to something like this again when Paul was going to be gone.  What was I thinking?! 

I wish I had a better picture of the banner.  It said "Barnyard Dance" in pink bubble letters, written by Rose

Needless to say, everything worked out.  After all, the kids were all under 8, so the expectations weren't very high, luckily!  There was lots of snacking...on popcorn, watermelon, and a lemonade and Sprite concoction...and lots of dancing and running around.

The hungry animals gathered around the watering hole

Madeline and Raquel snacking

Random running and wandering around in our beautiful garage ;)

Gettin' their boogy on

Ava and Peter challenging each other to a duel

Take ten steps away from each other...

....and SHOOT!  I don't think Ava had a chance...she didnn't even know how to work her gun :)

Cowboy Peter riding his bronco :)

Overall, the hoedown was a success.  The girls had a blast, a few parents came to help supervise, 

and it was all over in an hour and half!

The two year-old doing her own thing

Rose has new ideas every day of things we should do or make.  Although it often takes a lot of work on my part, I try to make some of her ideas a reality.  Life will never be boring with that girl around :) 

Friday Funnies

Rose:
"You are not even half the boss.  I am three quarters the boss, 
Ava is half the boss, and you are only one quarter the boss!"
Rose's rational for why she doesn't have to listen to what Madeline tells her to do. :)

Ava:
We saw a fire truck at the grocery store and Ava asked, “Where do they put their groceries?”  
I said I don’t know if they are here to get groceries.  She said, “Are they here to get cookies?”
...because that is why she likes to go to the grocery...free cookies!!!

Madeline:
"Did we all have a butt like that when we were a baby?"
Madeline asked as I gave Max a bath one day.
Oh, the new learning opportunities that a little boy brings :)

I think Madeline looks like a minon in this pic :)

Ella:
"I wanna make something I can lick."
She wanted to bake something so she could lick the "badders" (beaters).

"My Daddy is holding your baby."
She quite frequently refers to Max as MY baby when talking to me about him.

A pouting 2 year old

HAPPY Friday!

Our Little Ballerina

Rose's dance recital was June 6th and 7th in the auditorium of Anchorage Public School.  This year's performance was the 30th Anniversary of the studio's performances at this school.  They base their ballets on all sorts of books and movies, ranging from Mary Poppins to Cinderella to Babes in Toyland, which definitely makes them more interesting to watch.

This year the ballet was Beauty and the Beast.  Ms. Denee (the teacher and owner of the studio) really did a wonderful job on the performance...the dancing, the music, the lighting, the props and backdrops...all the details together made for a great show.

Rose and some of her buddies from her class at dress rehearsal

Waiting on stage for further instruction

Rose was a butterfly in the performance.  Her dance was in the first 10 minutes of the show, then we didn't see her again until the finale.  Part of their dance was with the advanced girls who were roses.  The roses were supposed to be the garden and the butterflies were flying around the garden.

The roses

The old beggar woman who the prince turned away

The butterflies

The roses and butterflies together

Our shining star

Rose with some of her friends: Catherine, Amelia, and Ceci

Since they performed 2 nights, we split up to avoid taking Ella.  Three hours is a bit too long for a two year old to sit!  Madeline, Max, and I went Friday night.  Madeline did pretty well, although it was a bit long for her too.  Max was perfect!  He slept the whole time in my arms.

Madeline and Rose after the show

Ken and Joy came Saturday to see the show.  Paul and Ava went with them and the rest of us met up with them afterwards.  We celebrated by going out to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Nopal.

                                                  We were so proud of our little ballerina!

Max & little Gianna (4th girl in a family from our homeschool group) just 2 weeks younger than him and a LOT smaller :)

Watching the performance made me miss my dancing days.  I wish I had liked ballet more and I wish I would have done pointe.  I think it is so beautiful to watch.  Maybe one of our girls will follow in their mama's footsteps and continue with dance.  Ava already wants to dance next year and she did inherit my grace (haha...wink, wink) so we'll see ;)