Vacation Bible School is Awesome

In mid June Parker and Emma Jane experienced one of the greatest joys of a small child's life- Vacation Bible School. As we were struggling to have children, this is one of the things I always dreamed about having a child go to- and here it is!
This was the first time I have ever dropped Parker and Emma Jane off and then left. I am 100% sure I was much more nervous than they were. However I did get some good time with Hannah Kate. It was also the first time I experienced having only one child- very weird.

Parker and Emma Jane loved every second of it. They loved their teachers, being with their friends, having snacks, coloring, getting to hold onto a jump rope, having a name tag, and singing, singing, and more singing. It has been a month now and we still listen to the VBS CD everyday. Hannah Kate even knows the motions to the songs at this point!

This year's theme was Trusting God and it was amazing that even little three year olds were able to understand on some level.  WE LOVE VBS! Here are some pictures from the week. (Many of them are blurry because I messed up the camera... oh well.)

Ready for our first day! 

Anxiously waiting to go in and pick up the sisters

Family Night

Singing in front of church

Parker and Emma Jane's VBS group and teachers. Coincidentally all of these little girls are in our small group as well. 

Dancing!

Michigan

Two weeks ago we went on our first friend vacation (this would also be the first vacation without grandparents!). We went to Lake Michigan with our friends Hannah and Marcos and their three boys Samuel, Aaron, and Eli. We rented a house in the middle of no where Michigan on a "lake" with a huge sandpile, firepit, and a hammock. It was also only 10 minutes from Lake Michigan. It was awesome. We love anytime we get to spend with the Machados and fortunately all the kids get along really well.

Watermelon break!

The three year olds coated themselves in sand and water.

Samuel chose not to participate in the sand/water bath but instead was king of the giant sandpile. 

One of the days we went to the children's museum in Grand Rapids.

The big boys having fun too. 

Smores! 

Hannah Kate just wanted an Oreo. She didn't know what she is missing. 

Hannah gave the girls a mani/pedi. 

Frigid Lake Michigan was good for making sand castles... not so much for swimming. 

Why is she in head to toe clothes? Because she threw herself into Lake Michigan as soon as we got there and was then FREEZING. 

Sweet Elijah. 

Classic Hannah Kate pose. This means its time for bed. 

Bedtime stories. 

The girls had so many firsts- first time on a boat, first time in the lake, first campfire, and first smores. It was great and we will definitely be doing it again next year.

Summer!

I can't believe it is already June. We have been loving the warmer weather and have been outside as much as possible. Last weekend we went to Chattanooga and had such a wonderful time. We didn't want to leave! Here are some glimpses into our summer thus far and our Chattanooga trip.

Hannah Kate looking at the fish at the zoo

Samuel and Aaron came through town for a day

Going for a ride...

Loves Loves Loves her some popsicles 

Loves loves loves her some bananas

Parker and Emma Jane attempting to hula hoop at the March of Dimes walk 

Ready for Bed

Cousin Lily! 

Asking for eyes open and smiles at the same time is too much :) 

Granny and Emma Jane discussing the news of the day

Parker asked me to take a picture of her with the box of on her head

Hannah Kate and her purse- one of her favorite accessories

Nanny and Paps

Parker "helping" Lily down the stairs

We walked across the Walnut Street Bridge. This picture is notable for Hannah Kate wayyyy in the background running the wrong direction and having to be retrieved by my Dad. I shouldn't have let her out of the stroller. 

Ice Cream at Clumpies- our reward for making it across the bridge.