Vacation Bible Scool, the pool and Mahoney State Park

Jack painted Pikachu (Pokemon)
Will painted a tank

Hannah painted a rainbow

Will and his pretend frog by the pool

Jack and Hannah by the pool

Hannah always willing to smile for the camera

Jack with his pretend frog

Will and Jack at Adventureland.

The kids went to vacation bible school last week and had a great time. I wasn't sure how Hannah would do entering a gym full of a couple of hundred kids and then me leaving her there but she was excited to be in Will's group and told me that "Will will take care of me". She loved every minute of it. Jack had a good time too and actually talked about being a crew leader when he gets older. I think he would do a great job.

Jack also had basketball camp last week with a few of his friends. He enjoyed seeing everyone and the contests that they had.

My mom took the kids to Mahoney State Park yesterday. I took the kids out after lunch and we painted pottery and hammered images on leather bracelets. We then all went to the pool which had water slides, a wave pool and a zero entry kiddie area. Jack loved the water slides and Will loved the regular old pool. Hannah loved anywhere that I was. We then went and found the cabin and the kids ate pizza. I left to go home and my mom had the rascals for the night. They were so excited to spend the night in the cabin because it had bunk beds. I was hoping they would get to bed early but I guess it was about 11pm. They all wanted to stay another night!

After I picked the kids up from Mahoney this morning, they took showers and I repacked them for Lake McConaoughy. Last year we all went but this year Darren is taking Jack and WIll and Hannah and I are staying home. It was really fun last year being with friends and hanging out on the beach all day but it is a long drive and I wasn't up to it this year.

I have been so nervous about them going without me even though I know that Darren is very cautious with them around water. They left a couple of hours ago and I have already cried. Will is such a tenderheart and needs extra loving sometimes and I just don't want him to miss me. I should be more worried about Jack because he is the one who doesn't like to be away for long. I know that it is good for them to be away from me and be with just Darren but it feels so empty here now! I guess I could go clean or fold clothes or clean out my car or empty the dishwasher or trim the bushes or something!

Niobrara

Jack enjoying his smore
Jack took this picture....me trying to give Will a kiss!

Jackies and Hannah

Hannah in her favorite dress she got from Chloe!

Great Grandma and Hannah

Jack with some fish and he and Will caught!

Hannah and Dad

Grandpa Bill practicing casting with the boys

Darren and I made the kids take this picture together!

Last weekend we headed to Niobrara for a family reunion. The kids were excited days before and the morning before we left Will told me that if we didn't leave soon that he would explode! It rained most of Friday, but Saturday was warm and sunny. The boys went fishing a couple of times while Hannah and I went swimming. Every night we had a bonfire and Will and Jack we on top of the smores. Jack ate a few marshmallows but Will just wanted to burn the marshmallows. Hannah wanted no part of any of it. She just wanted to eat the chocolate. They all of course loved sleeping in the motor home and were up at the crack of dawn each morning to ride their scooters.

We went on a tour of Jim & Karen's farm which was really nice. Everybody ate lunch and dinner together at the lodge and hung out at the bonfire on Friday night. Hannah really latched on to cousin Jackie which is shocking since she rarely leaves my side but it was great to see her opening up and expanding her comfort zone.

It was a great weekend to spend with people we rarely get to see and catch up with. We wish we could get there more often!

It was also nice to see the kids so excited and having so much fun! I...am mean "we" love them so much and getting away and spending time together was much needed!

I didn't know that Darren even read this blog but he told me a couple of weeks ago that he did not like the fact that I always write "I" instead of "we". Now that I know he cares about it, I will include him more often in my thoughts!

Jack's 8th Birthday!

The new basketball hoop

Jack and his friends at his party

Jack in his new Colts jersey and new football

Summer is in full swing and Jack just had his 8th birthday over the weekend. He invited 7 friends to a place that has an indoor pool, gym and game room. They played basketball, swam and had a great time. We had a small family party for him on Sunday and he enjoyed having his cousins and Noah over to celebrate. Grandma Lana and Grandpa Bill gave him his long-awaited basketball hoop. He has been wanting a "real one" for a long time and we know it will get a lot of use. It is cemented in the ground so hopefully it will withstand the winds at our house. He also received a couple of football jerseys that he had been wanting and a football even though he already has a couple.

Jack has become very opinionated over the last year and is not nearly as reserved as he use to be which is good in most respects. He loves being with his friends, tells me he is bored by 9am every morning and many days I am "the meanest ever" because I do not let him have a friend over upon request. He has turned into a great eater, prefers fruit over cookies most days and loves to sleep in now that school is out. Darren and I are very proud of how much he has grown and how often he is trying new things. Now if we could only convince him to cut his hair!

Hannah began her long-awaited dance class tonight. She was really excited(ok, maybe I was more excited!). We talked about it all day and she told me she was not going to cry because I would be waiting for her when she was done. She loved wearing her leotard and ballet shoes and was all smiles walking in. The instructor told all 15 of the little 3 year old girls to follow her back and they would be divided into 2 groups. She popped up and followed along. I was so proud of her. For those who don't know, she never strays more than a few feet from me even in our own house so this was an accomplishment. After an hour she emerged from the room beaming from ear to ear. She loved it and told me that she need to get tap shoes, a tutu to wear with her leotard, and a dance bag "because she was the only one who did not have one".

Although I have dreamed about my little Hannah taking dance class it was so good to see that she enjoyed herself. I would never force her to dance if she didn't want to but I sure hope she sticks with it for a while.