Changes

The kids have enjoyed many fun activities as their current classroom stays come to a close.  Ben had a pizza party at school complete with ice cream sundaes.  Elizabeth had an indoor "picnic" and fun cookie cakes.  Ben also enjoyed a pool party with some of the boys in class.  

Elizabeth started visiting her new classroom with Ms. Anita, Ms. Sabrina and Ms. Shelley.  It is the same class that Ben was in two years ago!  We are thrilled to be back in this class and look forward to all that Elizabeth will learn this year.  We have also signed Elizabeth up for dance class with Ms. Jane.  She wasn't quite ready last year, but she is more than excited this year.  Every morning - Mom, is today the day I dance with Ms. Jane?  When will she measure me?  Are my shoes and costumes here yet?  We are excited for her to experience lessons as she is constantly dancing around the house.  Hopefully she lets Ms. Jane teach class.  

Ben didn't visit his new classroom at school because he is moving to a new school!  We have so many upcoming activities to learn about elementary school.  It is so exciting.  There has been some anxiety, but as we learn more details it is getting more and more exciting.  Ben got a postcard in the mail with his new teacher's name.  It didn't mean a whole lot to us, but we were able to find out that a friend from preschool got the same teacher!  Thank you, God, for familiar faces during this transition!  What a blessing!  Ben will also be in before and after care with the same friend and maybe at least one more familiar face.  Soon they will all be familiar faces though.  We'll attend Meet the Teacher a couple of days before school starts to see his class, buy spirit wear, and sign up for all sorts of fun activities.  Soon after school starts there are fun things like popsicle night, a family picnic and a book fair.

Lots of changes happening!  We are ready to be past the actual transition time, but so excited about the new things in store!

Music Camp and VBS

Ben enjoyed Music Camp for the first time at Cedar Ridge this year.  It is like Vacation Bible School with a focus on music and a musical performance at the end of the week.  Ben learned five memory verses, made crafts, played games and learned several great songs all with the theme Faith in the Furnace.  He did really well and was able to memorize all five verses by the end of the week.  It was a tiring week, but lots of fun.  He watched some of the elementary performance that is more like a musical with speaking parts as well as songs and thought that was pretty cool.  Something to look forward to!

Both kids enjoyed VBS at school this year.  The theme was "Sky" and they learned lots of ways that they can trust God in all situations.  What a timely lesson with lots of changes coming in schools/classrooms, etc.  The songs were songs that they had heard in church some and they rocked out!  Elizabeth calls one of them "Dad's song" that he has led at church before and likes a lot.  The favorite song was "I'm Counting on God" and we have been singing it a lot lately!  They both did awesome in the performance for parents at the end of the week.  Ben knew every word and sang so well.  Elizabeth sang well also, but Mom was especially proud of how she stood with her class, smiled and gave Mom a thumbs up.  What a difference a year makes!  There would have been tears, trying to leave, etc not too long ago.  Two blossoming and maturing kiddos!  The week was also filled with fun crafts, activities and treats.  The big report of the day was what special treat they ate and what was their favorite part.

We are so blessed that the kids were able to participate in these activities this summer!

Olympic Fun

We have watched just about as much Olympics that you can fit into each day and still go to school, work and get "enough" sleep.  We all have our favorites, but it amazed us that the kids really wanted to watch each sport.  The first weekend they were so excited with the shooting, table tennis and other less televised sports.  Like many others, our favorites were swimming, track, gymnastics and some of the team sports like basketball, soccer and volleyball.  Ben quickly learned all of the athletes names and could rattle off their stats, records, opponents, etc.  He can even pick out family members of the athletes in the stands.  I didn't think he could be more well versed at so many sports before this started, but now he is an Olympic encyclopedia.  

Ben learned the theme songs for the various sports and could tell you from the other room what was coming on next.  Elizabeth also watched plenty but was less interested in the details.  She liked the horses the best and the diving and gymnastics.  She has done many pretend dives and gymnastic "jumping" and landing.  She is ready to participate in 2024!

Not only has Ben enjoyed soaking up all of the current athletes info, it has been fun for Mom and Dad to share past Olympic stories with some of the replays they have shown and past wins and losses.  Wow, the video quality has changed considerably since the Dream Team of 1992!  It is hard to imagine that we will have a 9 year old and 7 year old next time around, but we're looking forward to it already!!