Dance Camp

One of Emily's highlights of the summer comes at the end of each June when she gets to spend the week at Celebration Ministry of Art's Dance camp. They always have a missions focus during camp, which she loves ~ along with getting to see several of her favorite friends. The week culminates with a nursing home outreach and a Friday night performance.

Track & Field and Swim Team

We are well into the season for swim team and track. Emily was very excited to improve her freestyle time dramatically between the first and second meets. She was disqualified her first time in the breaststroke, but now she knows that both hands have to touch the wall! Levi was encouraged (by his coach) to compete in the backstroke and did a great job. He joined the team a little late and didn't compete in the first meet. Emily, as the "veteran swim-teamer in the family" enjoyed supporting him at his first meet. We can see big improvements in all three of the older kids' swimming as a result of swim team ~ and Daniel isn't even on the team! (but as I type he and Levi are off at the pool swimming together). Emily was delighted to master the "flip turn" and thinks it's the coolest thing in world (chocolate aside!)

Levi and Daniel have come back for another very "blue ribbon" season at track. Last year it seemed like they won every event that they entered (except for one very close second place), the first meet of this year was a definite de ja vu experience. Those boys are fast! Samuel and Anna are enjoying their first year of track. They certainly aren't competitive, but they're sure having a good time! Anna is the youngest child on the team but is apparently one of the better long jumpers in her group.

Pool fun and just plain cute

The kids (and I) enjoyed a pool day with my sister and her children recently ~ complete with a mini celebration for my birthday. My niece masterfully turned a huge rice crispy treat into a cake of sorts ~ and the kids loaded up on lots of frosting and sprinkles and sugar . . . and of course, loved every bite! There's also been some random cuteness lately, hence the non-pool pictures that follow.

Innocence!

Levi is our "fix it" kid, lately he's been cleaning the dust out of the inside of our school computers. Yesterday he screwed the panel back in place on his computer ~ when he finished he looked at Kevin with satisfaction and said "there, it's all screwed up now"! (if he's ever heard that phrase used any other way, he apparently hasn't paid attention!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We were driving a few days ago when Daniel announced excitedly "Look dad, I can put an Altoid up my nose with my tongue"! ~ oh my!

More portraits ~ finally!