Summer Camps

June has been a busy month for us.  We went to the beach, took swim lessons, Claire went to two different camps and David started a class at My Gym.  Other than VBS, July is going to pretty uneventful and I am glad to have no schedule to adhere to.  (2 weeks of leaving at 8AM to go to swim lessons wore me out!)

Camp Wonderfully Made

Claire spent this last week at an all-girls camp.  She spent 4 fun days swimming, playing tennis, making crafts and learning how to use her God-given gifts to serve others.  The camp's mission statement is based on this scripture: " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I know that full well."  Psalms 139:13-14.  Claire had so much fun and she is already begging to go again next year.

Claire and B.  She rode home with us each day.         

Claire and a friend with one of the camp couselors.  (My favorite thing about camp was the babysitter list they sent home with the names/numbers of all the high school girls who served as counselors.)

Cooling off inside.

Time for tennis!

I love that they started each day with a devotional time.  Claire came home singing some of the songs I learned at GA camp many, many summers ago!

Each day, the girls brought home some kind of craft to "bless" another person with. Like yummy fruit dip, lotion, a message board and a painting (pictured below). Claire didn't quite get the "giving" part and gave most of her stuff to me. Next year, we need to do a better job of spreading the love to others!

This is Claire's group with their counselors.  There were 55-60 girls total, ages 5-10.

Art Camp

Claire also went to an art camp earlier in June.  She loved it too.  And she made some for-real art projects.  I was super-impressed with her skills.

Here she is hard at work at her table.

Art project #1.  Painted patriotic tee.

Still working ...

Art project #2.  Pastel bunny.  She sketched this by looking at a photo and then colored with pastels.  This one will be framed soon!

So cute!  Note red dot of paint on the tip of her nose.

Art project #3--water lilies oil painting.

Art camp friends.

Art project #4--cardboard/masking tape fish.  (I'm not exactly sure what this "technique" is called.)  I plan on hanging this is the kids' bathroom.

Mrs. Beth-art teacher.

Art project #5 (not pictured) was a sketch book/notebook that they decorated. 

Claire and M.

Braids

Sometimes when the stars align just perfectly and Claire wakes up in a semi-good mood, she will let me braid her hair.  But more often than not, she is pitches a fit and says "no way, Jose".  And, when she does let me braid her hair, there is a lot of screaming, crying and gnashing of teeth.

But doesn't she look so cute?  With her short hair, we have to go with the 2 french braids.

My braiding skills are a little out of practice since I haven't braided my hair since circa 1995.  But, fortunately, it's just like riding a bike.

Menu Plan Monday: June 25

This week is going to be crazy busy for Will and I.  We have several things at night so I don't know how much cooking I will actually do.  But, I need a plan for sure!

From last week, Will and I both liked the Oatmeal on the go bars okay.  They are a good, quick breakfast.  The kids, who I made them for, did not like them.  Even Luke (I think it was more of a texture thing for him ... they are pretty thick.)  The Broiled Asian BBQ shrimp was very good and aside from having to peel the shrimp first and dice a jalapeno, it was pretty easy to prepare.  The  Italian Sausage and Pasta Dinner was very tasty too.  I love the flavored Johnsonville chicken sausage.

Dessert: Butterfinger Cake (I am using a German chocolate cake mix instead of making the cake from scratch.  And I just cleaned my pantry and we have a lot of Butterfinger candy left from Halloween.

Breakfasts: Homemade pop-tarts; whole wheat buttermilk pancakes (I add 1/2c. chocolate chips)

Monday: Spaghetti casserole, salad, garlic bread (I am hosting my book club)

Tuesday: Southwest Chicken taco salads, chips & salsa


Wednesday: Wacky Pack Wednesday at Sonic (I may have a church dinner this night?)

Thursday: BBQ sandwiches, chips, coleslaw


Friday: Eat out with a Groupon or leftovers

Saturday: Mini Chicken Pot Pies, fruit salad


Sunday: homemade pizza (lunch); leftover buffet (dinner)

 

Check out Laura's blog for more Menu Plan Monday.

5th Annual Birdies & Brews

Will took his annual guys' golf trip in April again this year.  Remember all the awesome pictures he took last year?  Well, he didn't do much better this year!

Here are a few just to document the trip.

First day of play.  Chris, Will and Hunter of Team Rest of the World.  (The other group of three were all from Murfreesboro.)

Beautiful golf course.

Their rides.

More beautiful golf course.

And an alligator on the golf course.

I think this is Hunter sneaking something from the cart?

Buckley takes a shot (the only photo of someone actually playing golf).

The winners!  Will, Hunter and Jon.

And the lowest score for the weekend get his own toilet trophy! 

Tiny Dancer

One reason May is so busy for us is that this little gal has a dance recital, which means extra rehearsals, costume fittings and the BIG SHOW!

Her are the girls getting last minute instructions from Mrs. Beth.

Meggie, Lola and Claire. 

Ballet jump! 

Slayden (in blue) belongs to my friend Krystie. 

All the pretty ballerinas in Claire's group.  We love these girls so much!

Time to take the stage.  Thankful for my new zoom lens this year.

Group in tap costumes.  The girls loved these costumes!

Strike a pose!

Tap dancing on stage.  I will forever be singing "Music Moves Me" by the Fresh Beat Band in my head.  (Another dance favorite in the show was "Get Your Sparkle On" from the Barbie Fashion Fairytale Movie.  It's a little lame that I know all this!)

Shake it girl!

Meme & Poppy came to see the show.

Flowers for our star.  Claire picked out these yellow roses herself.  Yellow is her favorite color.

Claire with Will and I.

Aunt Ashley and Evie came too.  (And Evie got the phone number of the little boy sitting next her during the show.  She is quite the talker!)

Our babysitter, Miss Trisha.  So glad she got to come!