Jump, jump!

There is only one more swim lesson left for this summer. I took the camera once more, because I wanted to get pictures of them jumping into the pool! Last time I brought it they didn't do any jumps.


And to think last year she refused to jump into the pool, into her teacher's arms. Today she jumped in and swam to the wall!


I got smart and strapped Lauren into the stroller this time! Last Wednesday, she was running all over the place, around the pool, up the hill to the gate, into Miss Jennie's yard where she played with the dog toys, all with me chasing after her. I hardly got to watch Julia and Austin at all. She wasn't happy about being stuck in her stroller, but oh well. She got used to it. ;)


Miss Jennie took their pictures to put on their completion card. Austin was trying to pull Julia's noodle out from under her! She figured out it was him moving her noodle and told him to stop it!

Be Strong! And Courageous!

First of all, this is what I saw when I went into the family room Thursday afternoon. I asked, "Who put cars in the microwave?!" Suspecting who would answer (and rightfully so), Austin called out, "Meeee!! I did that!" I asked him why, and he said because he wanted to. I suppose that is as good of a reason as any..... Notice the microwave door is gone. Lauren did that. She's also broken off the fridge door!


Friday night was the Vacation Bible School program and carnival. The kids sang three songs for their parents. I was kneeling on the floor, helping with the motions, so Brian took these pictures. I couldn't even see Julia, but Brian got a couple shots of her through the other kids. The theme for the week was becoming "special agents" for God. The kids learned about "special agents" from the Bible, Moses, Daniel and his friends, Joshua and the other spies "going into the land with the giant grapes" (as Julia put it), Jeremiah, and Queen Esther, how they did what God wanted them to do. Here they are singing the song of the week, "Strong and Courageous", doing the motion for courageous. A smaller group of kids sang that song for church this morning. The words went, "Be strong! And courageous!" for the first phrase. They had to flex their muscles for "strong", then cross their arms in front of them and go up for "courageous". I know that probably makes very little sense just in writing! ;) Austin liked that sequence, though, showing strong muscles and all! Everyone involved with VBS got one of these black shirts. Lauren even got one, since they had extras. She loved that--being included with Julia and Austin!

Here he is sitting next to his friend, Carter, to the right of Austin, looking at the picture.


After the program, there was a carnival in the courtyard. One of the booths had face painting. It was Austin's own idea to be painted like a cow! I didn't see any other cows there that night!

And Julia requested a cat (no surprise there!) The girl who painted her face said she didn't know how to make a cat, but Julia told me, "I think she did a really good job!" Here she is enjoying her cotton candy. She did share with Austin and Lauren.

Many people had donated cakes for a cake auction to help with the costs of VBS. Any extra money went to the missionaries for the week. Brian bid on a few cakes, and we ended up winning this one. The paper on the tray says, "Out of This World Cake". It has been a very delicious cake! The kids were so excited about getting to take a cake home!

Newest Project

Today was the last day of VBS. I am glad, as it has been a very tiring week. It has been lots of fun, too. Tonight is the program, where the kids will sing 3 songs for the parents and we will watch a photo slideshow of pictures taken during the week. They will also have some kids speak about salvation decisions they made, or other stories they want to tell that were significant to them. Afterwards there will be a carnival outside, with games, popcorn, and cotton candy. We will be able to buy dinner there: tri tip or hot dog plates. Everything else is free.

I was in the mood to make these hair pretties last week. I had had bow instructions saved for quite awhile and finally decided to make some. The curly ribbon pony tail holder took a lot of time--winding the ribbon around bamboo skewers, baking them in the oven, untwisting the ribbon... I'm not too eager to be making any more curly ribbon things! The felt flowers are my favorites. Lauren wore the red ones to VBS today and got some compliments. :) One grandma said she might have to copy that idea. Someone else said I could sell those. Well, maybe so. But I think I would lose interest before too long. I got the ideas for those here: Felt Flower Clips and here: Desert Rose Hair Clips.

Matchy Match

Our third day of VBS. There were 309 kids again today, 305 yesterday. 24 were in our Pre-K class. I told my friend that 20% of the kids had been crying, just after beginning the morning! And it was true--5 were crying, including Austin at one point. He wanted to play with sidewalk chalk with his friend Carter on the playground at playtime, but the funny thing was, I asked Austin if he wanted to, and he said no. Only to burst into tears when it was time to go in for the Bible story, because he did want to draw with chalk! One little girl wouldn't stop crying, and we sent her to the registration ladies to call her mom to pick her up. I think these little 4-year-olds are getting tiiiiiiiiiiiired! They are doing great learning their song and hand motions for the Friday night program for the parents, though.

These were from last Friday. I wanted to get some of the girls in their matching outfits. Right now, Julia likes dressing the same as Lauren. I suspect this will not last too many more years. If we are out, and someone comments on her outfit, Julia makes sure to tell them, "My baby sister has the same dress (or skirt, whatever)!" The last time we were at Costco, I picked up some fall jammies for Julia, and was looking at some for Lauren, thinking out loud, "Does she really need jammies?" And Julia answers, "Well, it is fun to have the same ones..." I ended up buying Lauren the same set of ballerina jammies, but I do need to go through Julia's old clothes and hand-me-downs we've been given...they might just be going back to Costco. Anyway, Julia likes matching Lauren, but she wasn't thrilled with the idea of having her picture taken. Lauren actually cooperated nicely for these!

Of course I had to include one of Austin. After their baths tonight, he told me, as he was standing over Lauren, just because he is taller than her and can see the top of her head, "Mommy, Lauren has a path in her hair." He went on to trace the line of her part with his finger! I could just see him imagining a little car driving on that "path" as he traced!

Buckin' Duck

Today we went to VBS. We took Julia's friend, Julia G, home. Julia G asked Julia to go to the park with them for a going-away party for Erica, who had been in my Julia's Kindergarten class. She was very excited to go and had fun. The other two cried the entire way home (about 5 minutes, maybe even less) because they couldn't go to the park. They were SO tired! Vacation Bible School is wearing them out!

Brian inflated our big pool for the kids to use this last weekend. They went in it Friday night while I dead-headed plants in the flower beds. It takes a looooong time to inflate; he uses the pump that plugs into the van's cigarette lighter. There are three rings to inflate. The top one has a hole in it somewhere, but we haven't been able to find the leak. Lauren got this duck for her birthday from Brian's mom. She wanted to be in it most of the time in the pool this time (Sunday late afternoon). Julia is kissing her shoulder in this picture!




The whole group in the pool--I was supposed to be making supper, and did, after I got these shots. This is the only good picture of Austin looking at the camera from this pool time; he was too busy splashing around, floating and falling (on purpose) off the beach ball and ring, and riding The Buckin' Duck.


When Lauren relinquished her duck, Austin claimed it, and named it, The Buckin' Duck. He was not sitting in it, but rather on it, like he was riding a horse. Of course he wasn't able to stay on long like that, which made it all the more fun for him, falling off backwards--SPLASH!--into the pool!

Red, White, and Blue and Lots of Julias

Today was our first day of Vacation Bible School. There were 309 kids! That is the most they've ever had on the first day. Julia said there were 64, she thought in her class. And of those 64, there were 4 Julias! Julia B, Julia F, Julia G, and Julia N! Julia F and our Julia were born the same night at the same hospital. My nurse came in the night she was born and told me there was another Julia born that night. When Julia was in Cubbies, Julia F's mom and I got to talking and realized that her Julia was the one that nurse told me about! They go to a different church, but come to some of our activities. Julia G was in my Julia's school class last year, and Julia N went to the same school in Kindergarten as my Julia. Here Brian and I thought we were coming up with somewhat of an original name...... Anyway, back to VBS: I am helping in Austin's Pre-K class, and we had 25 kids. We left church right at 12:30, and the kids ate their lunch (I'd packed), in the van on the way to swimming lessons, about 10 minutes away. Lauren was VERY antsy and crabby at the pool. She was worn out from the long morning! She was running on the brick walkway and fell twice, skinning her knees twice. She didn't cry, just got up to run again. I was concerned she would fall in the pool! We got home around 2:20 and the younger two had naps. I finally got to eat my lunch!

These pictures were taken yesterday. Austin with Pongo, before church. He told me, "Mommy, you should take my picture."


The girls in their sundresses after church. We walked to an empty lot around the corner. Lauren especially didn't want to sit still for long and went running around the tree. I started singing, "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" and Julia thought that was just great and went running around the tree with her! That lasted a few minutes. Then they ran off through the tall grass, finding big sticks and branches. All that is much more fun than taking pictures! ;) I did want to get a few though, as Julia wore Lauren's dress when she was that age. It's fun seeing those cute little clothes again.

The Big 3-0

Yesterday was my birthday--thirty years old now! We drove up the coast to Cambria, where we stopped at Moonstone Beach. It was nice weather, warm and not windy, and the beach was not very busy, which was nice.

This picture was from Friday, but was too cute not to share. Lauren is still in her jammies, wearing Austin's shoes. Almost every day, she finds someone else's shoes and goes walking around the house in them. No matter which shoe belongs on which foot, or if they are waaaay too big, she likes doing this! She also likes carrying around bags and purses. Inside we find any number of things. Usually there are a few pieces of play food inside. Sometimes there are magnets from the fridge. Or Julia's plastic jewelry. Or Austin's train cars or Hotwheels.


At Moonstone Beach, we like looking for pretty pebbles! It is a really neat beach, with fine little stones and smooth colored pebbles. The water was cold (we walked in it) but the pebbles were very warm, and almost too hot to walk on in some spots higher up from the water. Lauren here, with a rock she liked.


Searching for the prettiest pebbles.





After playing at the beach for a couple hours, we went out for lunch at a cafe in Cambria. We stopped at TCBY for a Chocolate Decadence yogurt pie, which was my birthday dessert. At home Brian and the kids gave me these presents, a few before naps and a few after naps. They gave me earrings, beaded flip flops, socks, coconut lotion and shower gel, and Julia gave me a rock she'd painted to look like a pink cat, for me to put in the garden.

We went out to dinner at a restaurant right on the beach, at the end of the road where the road runs into sand, in Grover Beach. I chose sauteed scallops; Brian had salmon, Austin fish and chips, and Julia wanted a cheese burger. Lauren shared. The waiters brought me out a mini volcano cake with a sparkler candle in it after we ate our meal. We all shared that, and it was delicious! We had hoped to walk and play in the sand on Grover Beach, but we went to dinner so late that it was dark by the time we finished. We just walked out to a wooden viewing area for a few minutes before going home.


The TCBY Chocolate Decadence pie. Julia and Austin decided to put 3 candles in it for me, because there is a 3 in "30", Julia said. And no more because of the "0".


And all three of them helped blow out my three candles!

Jam

Here is the jam I made Sunday night. Our neighbors' house is for sale, and they have moved out. The man comes every so often to mow the lawn, but leaves the plums on the tree. Or off. Many, many plums were on the ground, so we decided to go pick them up! I went a week later and got more, and had more than enough to make some jam. So I did, starting at 10:00 Sunday night. What better time to start this project, really? It was all finished, the kitchen cleaned up, and two jars sealed by the time I went to bed at 12:30. ;) The rest of the jars sealed during the night. Or maybe I should say morning!


These pictures are from swim lessons yesterday.


Waiting for his turn...


Miss Jennie has the kids do glides through this hoop, with it being partly under water. For Julia, most of the hoop is under water.


I told Lauren I was going to take some pictures that day, while we were at swimming lessons. Usually we read stories together. She was supposed to be sitting on a chair reading stories to herself, but that didn't last long. Soon she was going back and forth to this bench. Sit there for awhile, then come back to me.


Backfloating. He can almost do this by himself. He actually might be able to for maybe 2 seconds....


I'd written on the other swimming post that they don't use these foam "pop-ups" anymore. Well, this day they did! Ha ha. Julia practicing floating on her back; she is able to do it for 10 seconds (the teacher counts), and right away when Miss Jennie gets to "10" Julia puts her head up! I don't think backfloating is her favorite thing to do. Miss Jennie had her go for 13 seconds shortly after that, which of course, Julia was able to do. She did stop again, though, promptly at "13"!


Austin was supposed to be trying to backfloat here. He decided to kick his legs instead, and knew he was being silly, and didn't float this time! Good thing the lesson was almost over!


Julia is able to swim the length of the pool. She swims from one wall to Miss Jenny, then continues to the other wall. She is working on doing gentle kicks with straight legs along with her "big arms" (not wild big kicks).


Austin swimming from the bench to Miss Jennie. The little boy on the bench is Sammy, who is the only other kid in their class.

$92.55

That is the amount of our garage sale profit. We are glad to make the money AND get rid of stuff at the same time. But seriously, I told Brian, I wonder if it was worth my time doing all the sorting and pricing and organizing and setting up and the taking down! I think you get paid more on minimum wage! ;) He helped of course today setting up, selling, and dismantling. We didn't have any big things to sell, like furniture, and we were glad our neighbors across the street did, to draw people in. I ended up spending $5.25 of our profit at their house, on a Little Tykes Coupe and a board book for Lauren. They gave Julia a stuffed purple cat (I think it is a fox, but she says it is a cat...).

It was fun (and interesting) talking with the different people that came by. One lady was shopping for her 13-year-old niece who had just had a baby. Another asked if we were Christians, seeing a picture with a Bible verse on it that we were selling. She proceeded to tell us they had built a retirement home in the mountains, but sold it because God told them to move to Santa Maria. And she knew they were going to move again because He told them, and it had been prophesied to them. One man wanted guitar strings (we had none). Three ladies wanted fabric, two of them to make quilts. One of those ladies bought a bunch of clothes she said she was going to cut up for fabric to use for quilts. One of the items she bought was a pair of swimming trunks of Brian's that my mom had said she would like a piece of (years ago) for a quilt! Another lady and I tried to discuss some things, and she told me she only speaks a little English. I went on to tell her, "Y yo hablo poquito Espanol..." We did get things figured out, though!

I was exhausted after the garage sale, and ended up taking a nap after everything was put away. Brian was very kind and made supper tonight. I went out and picked apples off our Gravenstein tree while he did that. After supper I peeled and cored them and made a big pot of applesauce. They filled my 6-quart pot before they cooked down.

Thursday night we went to the Santa Barbara County Fair, in Santa Maria. Brian was given free tickets, since his company is a fair sponsor. The kids loved the rides!! The ride wristbands were so worth it! We figured they probably went on 20-25 rides! The fair was not busy at all that night, being a Thursday, and they got on rides right away. Sometimes our kids were the only ones on a ride! They loved the farm animals too. Austin started to cry when we saw the doors to the sheep barn were closed! It turned out we were able to get in a different door, and the kids were happy about that! We saw some 5-day old piglets in a pen with their mother that they were interested in too. Here are some pictures from the fair.

This is the only picture of me from the fair. At least you can see I was there (kind of!).

Brian taking Lauren on the carousel.


Such a big girl on the train ride all by herself! Meaning, without Julia or Austin. They were on a ride for bigger kids at this time.

On rides where they went together, Julia almost always had one arm around Lauren, holding her tightly. So sweet...


Julia and Austin on the speed boats. He said this was his favorite ride, all night. Then the next day, he changed his favorite to the YoYo swing ride (also Julia's and my favorite!).


The swing ride for younger kids (not the YoYo). Julia was SO excited to go on the swing ride, then when they got to the entrance for this one, the operator said she was too tall! She was so disappointed, then happy again when we saw the YoYo in the other part of the Carnival! Lauren is in the swing in front of Austin. We went to the petting zoo after eating our dinner of corn dogs for the kids, and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for Brian and me. Austin and Julia loved holding this baby goat. The people who had these animals were so nice, letting the kids hold the animals. I think partly it was because the fair wasn't very busy this night, either.


Julia with a baby rabbit. Lauren petting a goat. She was very interested in a huge turtle that was in the same pen.