Camp Joy-el Day Camp

Pappy Sweetheart decided to send Ava and Christian to Day camp this year as a surprise treat.  He ended up taking them to Jubilee on his own one day, so they would be prepared and know what to expect and so they would have anticipation for the big week.  It worked!  All anxiety was gone and they were super duper excited, as they counted down the weeks until they got to go to DAY CAMP!  Ryan and I told them tales of when we went to day camp and what sort of things we remembered and loved about it.  They couldn't wait and we scheduled Nana's trip to happen right before the camp so they would be distracted and hopefully make missing her that first few days a little easier.  They would get sad that their week with her was coming to an end but then they would get really excited that it meant their week of Camp was happening soon. :)

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 - We had to meet at the K-mart Parking lot in Chambersburg and so I swung over to pick up Reece and Nana, because Nana had spent the night with Reece that previous night.  We were driving to K-mart and the kids were getting so excited.  They were chattering and talking the entire time.  As we pulled up and had about 5 minutes until the bus arrived, Reece decided he had to poop and he had to poop right then.  Mom ran him up and had him poop and get back on the bus in plenty of time. :)  As they were pulling out, they were both waving and so excited to be heading on their adventure.  Ava had packed her bag the night before with her swimming gear, a bag for her wet stuff, money for canteen, her Bible and a journal to write notes in during chapel.  She as ready! Above is Ava ready to conquer the day! When they got home they both had LOTS of stuff to talk about and share on their big days.  They couldn't wait to go back.

 

Day 2 - This was saying goodbye to Nana day and though we knew it was coming, we also knew it would be hard.  Nana rode with Ava and I as we headed over to pick up Reece before heading to K-mart.  Reece was his joyful and excited self and Ava was very quiet on this particular car ride. I knew she was processing but didn't want to make it worse.  Finally the bus got there and they headed on and that is when she said she didn't want to go.  She said she didn't have any friends there and they separated the girls and boys so she didn't get to be with Reece.  (he is usually her confidence in these sorts of situations)  So, this time I basically forced her to go. She wanted to stay home with us and I told her all we were doing that day was driving to take Nana back to the airport, say goodbye and driving home.  I basically shoved her on the bus and as they were pulling away, she was crying pretty hard. I felt so bad and I asked Lois Ann to let me know how she was when she got there.  Needless to say, her sweet little eyes were puffy and red when she came home. . she had cried quite a bit during the day and it was pretty apparent. I think the real issue was that she was sad to say goodbye to Nana but she didn't want us to be sad that she was sad about that, so she just carried the anxiety into her not wanting to be at camp.  The sad part. .  . I was the same way.  She said she hates being away from me and I was the same way every time I went to camp too.  She decided to try it one more time the next day.

 

Day 3 - Seemed to go off without too much of a hitch.  She was ok, and seemed to be a little more ready to face the day.

Day 4 - this was a tough day.  It started out well and she was ready.  We picked up Reece and he was ready too.  She was fully anticipating getting on the bus and seemed to be fine with it all.  Then we got there and Reece had to poop again.  We were really going to miss the bus so we rushed to Wendy's but they were closed so we drove to k-mart and ran in real quick.  While we were there, someone was using the bathroom, which made us even later.  The ladies bathroom was closed for cleaning too. :(  So, as we were waiting, I had to call Brianna to tell her what was going on.  She left her house to beeline it to K-mart to ask the bus to hang on or wait a second.  All of this was in front of Ava and her anxiety started to rise.  I could see it happening but didn't know what to do.  The bus was running behind so we got back in time. . .but by then Ava had heard Brianna and I talking on the phone that if they missed the bus we would just drive them there.  Ava was much happier with that and so when we got back in time for the bus. . . she was disappointed.  So Reece went bouncing on and Ava stayed back.  Then Reece started crying because he didn't want to go if she didn't want to go but she didn't want to make him feel bad, however, she really didn't want to go.  Long story short, Brianna sort of forced him to go and he was looking out the window crying pretty hard. :(  Then Ava cried and cried and finally after an hour asked me to drive her down so Reece wouldn't feel all alone.  Awww, it was a frustrating day to say the least but mostly just disheartening to see their emotions all over the place like that. :( 

 

Day 5 - They both got on the bus heading to Camp without a hitch. I promised I was picking them up from Camp that day since I was going to see their closing program.  They seemed to both be happy about that idea.  Below is a picture of Ava's best friend she made at camp.  She became friends with her counselor and her name was Rachel.  She was really good with Ava and it was cute how Ava really looked up to her. I remember doing the same thing.  Also below is a picture of Ava's group as they went up to share their Bible verse.  She was behind two taller girls but I got the peeping of her little face. :)  Then there was Reece and his counselor too, who really seemed to hit it off too.  I think his name was Austin and he was really great with Reece's group of boys.  Joel was in Reece's group too.  Overall it was a good 'stretching experience' for Ava and I promised her that next year, if she goes back (she says she is not going back ever) that we will make sure to sign up another one of her girl friends so she can have someone to pal around with. :)  I will say this. . .watching that girl grow up and face her hardships and fear makes me so proud of her. I tear up every time!

 

 

Five Forks Craft Camp

Craft Camp at Five Forks Church was a blast.  The time and energy that these lovely ladies volunteer into this week is unbelievable and so much appreciated.  Our kiddos had so much fun and making crafts while learning about Jesus.  They were excited every day to go.  They made bell/ wind chimes, bracelets, sand art butterflies, stepping stones, and much much more.  The kids had so much to talk about and show me when they brought home all of their fun crafts at the end of the week.  What a true blessing for us and for them!  Ava and Lindsey Eberly really hit it off that week too! :)

 

Random 1st Grade Paper From Ava

Ava had to use her sight words to write sentences.  This is the paper I found.  Makes me smile. I am using her spelling and all. :)

I was aroud peppl.
The people where staran at me.
I went right out.
I was right I said.
Does My brother go to schoo?
Does my brother go to the stor?
The pepple where aroud me.
I'm around the wold.
Does My friend love to be aroud me?
Was my brother aroud here?
I love to be around.
I love to be right.
Peppl love me.
Where is my mom?
I love to be around when I am right.

Okay, so for some reason this just makes me smile.  First of all, we need to work on her spelling, but sadly she may take after her mama after seeing how she spells things. :(  :)  Secondly, I love how her brain works.  Makes me laugh so hard.  She loves people and they love her and she is right and loves to be right.  :)  hahahhahaha

Christian's 1st School Chorus Concert

 

Christian had his first school music concert and Grandma and see  Pappy came to see go him too!  I love how he is standing so proudly ready to in and take on the world.  That's our boy!

 Christian beside his class mate and soccer team mate. . .Mason.  They had fun together.  Then below is a picture of Christian standing getting ready for the concert to begin.  They were supposed to come out and put there heads down and wait till the music started. Christian later told me, "I wanted the music to start and I wanted to sing."  He obeyed so very well and I was impressed when looking at the group around him.  most of the third graders were peaking up trying to find their families but he just kept his little head down. :)  Yayy Christian.  We also had to laugh at how he got put beside the tallest third grader and he was the shortest kindergartner. :)  Made him look even smaller.  Poor guy.  The next picture is a picture of them singing about the mountain.  They also sang a song about a flower, and then they got to use different color streamers as a rainbow!  This was his most favorite part! 

 We wanted to capture a few family pictures with him and some with him and his class but Ava thought she could run and do whatever she wanted.  We spend the rest of the evening looking for her and missed saying goodbye to most of his friends.  :(  Mommy and Daddy were not too happy with sissy to say the least.  However we did manage to get a picture of Christian with his music teacher Mrs. Bowers-Davis.  He loves music and did a great job throughout the concert.  He walked around the house singing the songs for weeks before his concert.  Christian will not surprise me if he is very involved musically someday like his cousin Isaac.  Christian has always loved music! 

 

 

 

Ava Spring Soccer - 2013

So this year Ava decided to play soccer again, for her third season.  The first season daddy was Ava's teams coach.  The second season Ava had Coach Brechbill and Christian also played on her team. This marks her third season and it is amazing the improvement she has made.  Her coach's name is Mike Thompson and he was a great coach too.  She loved her team and there were some really awesome friends and players on the team.  Their were two guys on the team that had older brothers that played soccer and they had obviously been blessed themselves with the ability to play soccer.  They were awesome.  Zimoney and Felix were the two soccer STARS on the team.  Every time they got the ball they scored!  It was so much fun to watch and cheer for them.  Ava really improved this year too.  She actually was able to control the ball when she had it, and to stay with it, turn it and even pass it to her team mates. We happened to have all morning games and the mornings were still often pretty cold and windy. :)  So below is a picture of the kiddos wrapped up before the game and then of some of them playing on the sidelines while the BOYS were out making the scores. ;)

She played so hard this year and she was very interested in the competitive side this year more than any other seasons. :)  She even took a few tumbles and jumped right back up without even a flinch.  Proud of our GIRL.  :)  We really loved our team too. . . .the coaches, the parents and the other kids were all great.  Made this soccer season fun, just like our others. :)  Fun to meet new people  Mason, Hosea and McKenzie were in Christian's class at school so that made things really fun too. :)  hahhah.  Christian would hang out with whomever was not currently out in the game.

One day after a soccer game, while talking to her Nana on the phone, this is what I heard. . . ."well, I have something exciting. . . You know how I never get a goal?  I ALMOST got a goal! I kicked the ball and I was only a inch away. . .A INCH!  But the stupid ball went out of balance."  She was excited it was close.  Little did she know that later on in the season she would in fact get her FIRST SOCCER GOAL EVER!!!!  Mason also go his first soccer goal ever in the same game. :)  It was awesome to watch them get the goals and how they reacted when they finally got them.  Ava was so excited, she threw her hands up in the air and lowered her head like, "finally, I did it!  I accomplished my goal!"  Her grandparents, myself and her daddy were all hoping and praying she would get one and then she did. :)  The video I have of it was priceless.  When she got the goal, she lowered her head and raised her arms in the air like a humble relief.  hahaha.  So funny.  A huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Would You Mind?

Micah was trying to ask Christian a question and we already knew the answer.  He asked him is he would mind if daddy slept in his bed with him tonight.  Christian shook his head yes, that he would mind because he gets scared in the room by himself at night. . . .so we explained to him that he was answering the question the opposite way of what he was trying to say. We told him he should say, "no daddy, I wouldn't mind at all." then we realized it was a confusing wording of the question so Micah said, "hey Christian, would it be OK if daddy slept in your bed with you tonight?"  Christian sat there in silence and then said in a whispered voice, " what am I supposed to say again?"  hahahah

Eraser Extraction Day

Surgery Day had arrived.  We had milkshakes the night before because we were not allowed to eat Breakfast.  Grandma came up to see us off and to get the girls on the bus.  Baby was with a friend and we were ready. 

The Surgery center was super nice and accommodating.  They brought him his gown and a WARM blanket and he was sold.  They also asked which one of us was dressing to go back as he went under.  Of course, it was me again.  Micah had a hay day with getting my picture in what Christian called my space suit.  The people were all super helpful and informative and did a great job explaining things not only to us but also to Christian in a manner he understood.  He was not the least bit anxious or nervous and was I think enjoying the attention.

 

 

They took us back and he was sleeping within a few seconds.  Ten minutes after he fell into his deep sleep, the doctor met us in the waiting room and showed us what she had retrieved.  Oh, and by the way, the other funny thing, if it hadn't been for the nurse that stopped me and called my attention to this, I would have walked out into the waiting room still in my space suit. hahaha. I was so needing to get out to Micah and let him know that everything went good and I totally forgot what I was wearing.  Half an hour after the whole thing started, we were told to come back and that he was waking up.  When we first got back to him, he was a bit overwhelmed at all the attention, and he felt very groggy.  So the first impression was a bit weepy, but soon turned to Super Cheesy and then to "just kickin' back and chillin'"  He did get the opportunity to eat a Popsicle and when given the option to be "wheeled" to the car, he was ecstatic.  He wasn't sick or soar and got lots of attention.  Hopefully he knows to never do this again. :)

 

 

Eraser Extraction was a Success!!