Pool Days

 

That's Madden, far left.

Photo Booth Fun

Happy 11th Birthday, Callie!

En Pointe

Call Me, Maybe? REMIX

Call Me, Maybe?

First day of 5th and 7th!

Happy Birthday!

Today, we celebrate many birthdays! Anna's birthday is today, Madden's friend Jane turns 12 today, and it is Finnegan's first birthday. Much love to all of the birthday babies! And Finn has something to say to all of you....

Babylon

 

 

 

Vacation Bible School is this week, and it is a family affair! I am assistant co-chair, meaning I am "shadowing" the chairs and will be co-chairing the event next year. Callie is attending VBS as an Upper Elementary youth which affords her many "big kid" priveleges such as field trips to our sister school and learning about Caritas of Austin's Refugee Resettlement Program. Today, her snack was rice, plain white rice, in an effort to learn about hunger here in our city. The kids then portioned out donated rice in one pound bags for Caritas to use in their program. Madden is experiencing VBS for the first time as a volunteer, and it has been such a joy to watch her joy! She is a preschool tribe leader, i.e. shepherd for a group of 4 & 5 year olds. Precious. And then there's Porter. He has found his niche playing the role of Daniel, a.k.a. Daniel in the Lion's Den. He is acting out the story of Daniel for our 100 preschoolers! And boy, is he making an impression, as today a little boy burst into tears when Porter, I mean Daniel, informed them that the King might kill Daniel and his friends! I'm told it was a serious case of uncontrollable tears at the thought of it. (For the following performances - he repeats the show 4X/day - Daniel said the King was only going to punish the men, not KILL them!)

 

 

Epcot

  

    

  

  

  

   

Day two found us at Epcot. The dance team went in a different direction, so we got the whole day alone with Callie. I think she could get used to being an only child! Epcot was Porter's favorite Disney Park - he made certain that Callie and I got our full take of social studies lessons in the various countries. My favorite parts were nachos in Mexico and fish and chips in England! Soarin' is a way cool ride, as was Mission Space. It was right after we exited Mission Space that I decided the side to side, twisting rides are no longer for this old lady. I experience a vertigo/motion sickness feeling that takes too long to get over. Porter is now the official roller coaster parent in the family! -I'm pretty much done!

Animal Kingdom

 

 

 

 

  

   

  

 

We spent our first day at Disney at Animal Kingdom. We weren't really too sure what to expect, but had a great family day together - a nice mix of animals, rides and characters. It was very well done - I'm glad we didn't skip it. We somehow got Callie on the Expedition Everest ride, and it was the start of her new love of roller coasters! Fun!