A week on the dock

This past week has been a blast at vacation Bible school. It has been so much fun (and relief) to see Jake go with his class and always be reassured when he seeks and finds me. He's attached enough to want me but secure enough to have fun, even if it means without me. (I credit his Sunday school teacher for making him feel at home in the church.) But, we have had plenty of fun together! In fact, I think I'm more worn out at the end of the night than he is. Last night (Thursday) I really let him be independent with his class. I let him go to the bathroom with others and he did all of his activities without me. I had to help in the kitchen, and I told him I had to work making snacks and he should go with his class and have fun, and he did! And I actually feel more rested last night after slaving in the kitchen than I have the other nights playing with the 3-year-olds.
Tonight is the big finale, and Jake's daddy and grandparents will come. God continues to bless our family.
Violet

And now, without further ado, the photos:

On his way with his can for collection (they were gathering food bank items):



Standing in line and waiting for the action:



Looking confused, but really dancing to the Crocodile Dock theme song:



Whoops. Mommy's got the camera, gotta mug:





Jake loved recreation and the wagon rides (thanks to classmate Oaklee for sharing his wagon!) Here he is with Gavin:



Snack time was a favorite, especially the lemonade (Dorothy makes good lemonade):

A tribute to Frost

This past weekend my riding buddy Marla lost her longtime horse Frost. He was in a lot of pain, so it was a blessing, though Marla's heart is broken.
We used to load up the trailer with Frost and my horse, Piper, and go on camping/riding trips. It is the only time I like camping is when I'm with my horse.
I still remember when Marla left for Wyoming. We went riding one last time, and as Marla and Frost left, Piper and Frost were whinnying at one another.
I miss our rides, I miss Marla and I will miss Frost.
Here is a picture of (from left) Piper, me and Frost.

Violet

Wind beneath my wings

Jake was fascinated by a dragonfly, which actually is a common sight around here this time of year. This is as close as we got before he flew off in circles:



Uncle Steve and Aunt Doris got Jake a cool Elmo kite, and the weather and timing were just right to fly it Wednesday night. Highlights not pictured included Mama climbing in and out of a huge ditch to get the kite untangled, and an ant attack from which Jake narrowly escaped. Here are the pictured highlights.

Getting ready:


Wind's just right, Baba:


Run like this:


Up, up and away:



Look, up in the sky:


Elmo's flying:



Father and son:









Jake's solo run:


Wrapping it up:


Tail end of the day:

The grand finale

Jake went to his first Fourth of July celebration in Meadowlake Park Saturday night. He loved the sno cones, watching the train and playing by the creek, and hated the wait (takes after his parents there). Once the fireworks began he was impressed, but quickly lost interest and was having more fun tossing a wadded-up napkin in the air and chasing it. The fireworks seemed a little spaced out and not as impressive this year, but we had a lot of other things — Jake, camera, video — drawing on our attention, so maybe it was just us.
We had a great time, however, and he promptly fell asleep on the way home, as it already was past his bedtime. Luckily he had a good nap earlier in the day.
Here are some pictures of our evening. We took some video, too, we'll try to post later.

Ahh. Fourth of July treat:


Our national anthem:


Down by the riverside:


Catch me if you can:


Our family:


Watching the show:


Lighting up the sky:


Bored now but hanging on:


The last blast:

Happy Fourth of July!

After a Fourth of July morning of rain, the sun came out in the afternoon, and Jake was able to get his promised trip outside to put out the American flag.
Then he wanted to trek out to the pasture to ride Piper, his most recent favorite pastime.
Tonight it's grilled burgers then we head into town for fireworks.

The flag unfurled:


At the old flag pole ... our version anyway:


O Say Can You See:


Forward, Ho!:


Taking a few steps forward:


Thanks Piper!:

Picnic fun

This is an overdue post, but on June 14 we met with other families in the area who had adopted from China for a picnic at a local splashpad area.
We had a great time, and the kids loved the splashpad, even though it was a little cool, believe it or not.
Jake actually got his first taste of water world, besides the tub, and he didn't take to it too well, I'm afraid. The kid does not like water in his face. But he had a lot of fun, anyway, and here's our day in pictures.
(on a side note: Jake since had a blast on Father's Day during a family water gun fight. It was much hotter that day.)

Jake makes a run for it with Mama:


This little boy is not happy at all:



Oh, this is much better:


Watermelon courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa, of course:


Our Little Man loves to climb:


And climb:


Doesn't he look so grown up?


Daddy taught him to say "Ta Da" when he is done:


He also is a sliding maniac:


Not sure if our son has a future in log rolling:


Silly Daddy. I'm not a sack of potatoes:


On the playground ... running for the ladder, of course:

A day for fathers, sons and fun

Sunday was Kevin and Jake's first Father's Day, and while we had no specific plans, it turned out to be quite the day.
First, we decided to fumigate the house while we were at church (sounds fun, doesn't it?) but not before Baba got his Father's Day surprises from Jake.
He got a picture frame, complete with a picture of him and Jake on one side and Jake's handprints in clay on another, a bird feeder (Daddy's a nature guy) and a set of six water pistols labeled for Daddy and Jake.
It was fellowship dinner at church, and, as usual, the food did not disappoint. We had to let the house air out some, so Jake got a nap while Dad got a haircut and then we went to a little park in our small hometown. The park is quite neat, with static displays of a T-37, which used to be the planes flown at a nearby Air Force base (Jake's nod to grandpa who is an USAF veteran) and a howitzer and a torpedo.
It also is home to a small, walk-through Astrobleme Museum. Yes, that's right, we live in the middle (or at least near the edge) of one of the nation's largest meteor craters created 450 million years ago. Cool, except it's completely filled over and the only reason they know it exists is because they dug for oil and uncovered the geology.
Then, it was back home to get engaged in a huge water fight, which Jake took to like a fish to water (ha, ha), which is somewhat strange since he didn't do so good at the local splashpad last week (we've got to get that one posted, we're behind) at our ChinOkie picnic.
Maybe the fact it was about 20 degrees hotter helped our Waterboy.
We ended the night cooking out and going on an ice cream run.
It was day we never will forget.
Here's some images from our adventures: