Double

 Claire saved her payday money all summer to have her ears double pierced.  It went really fast, and she claims painless.  I had to sign permission, but she took care of the rest.

OBX 2013

 

We traveled to the Outer Banks for vacation.  The grueling 14-hour drive was worth it once we arrived.  We could hear the waves crashing from our back deck.  We mainly beached it up every day.  It was a quick walk from our front door to the shore, so it beckoned most of the day.

 A few days, a storm out at sea caused ferocious waves.  One day the beach was covered with jellyfish.   Ava was fascinated by them.  I was grossed out by the fact that she kept picking up dead fish, but alas, it's Ava.

 We visited some lighthouses, the Wright Brothers flight spot, and the Lost Colony.  All very interesting, but paled in comparison to the beach for us.  Nothing beats salt water and sand!

We weren't all that excited to leave.  I think a few tears fell as we crossed the bridge.  I don't think we're done visiting this stretch of America.

Colossal Coaster World

VBS is over -- phew!  It was a long week. . . really long.  It was full of fun and successes though.  I was the director, so every failure felt personal.  Numbers were low, but the kids that were there had a ball.  We only had one discipline issue -- yeah!  Paige and Claire helped Brant lead music and did a fantastic job. 

The greatest success for me was our missionary this year.  Hannah lives in Costa Rica, but she emailed a series of videos, and then we were able to Skype her in live.  It was so fun for the kids to have Hanna "live" in the sanctuary to answer their questions.

All in all it was a success (and I'm glad it's over until next year).

Family pics (again)

We decided to try the family pics again.  I really need to fill some frames with our family.  Then at least visitors we think we at least like each other.  This session went a lot better than the ones in the winter.  I did have to preface the whole shoot with a 10 minute monologue about having patience with the photographer. Everyone was a real sport and at least 10 of the 50 pics I took turned out pretty good.

 Claire, age 12

 Paige, age 12

 Ike, age 9

Ava, age 9

Living History Museum -- Part Deux

Well, Ava choose a hero, and Isaak choose someone that I bet you've never heard of -- Bob Chandler.  Bob himself is not so famous, but his invention, the Bigfoot monster truck, is very famous.  I'm not sure where my son came up with this idea -- we're not really the monster truck rally kind of folk.  I guess he's full boy.  His teacher informed me that he was the only Bob Chandler she's ever had in all her years of teaching.  Should I be proud of this comment?

Ava Living History Museum

The third grade tradition at our elementary school is the "Living History Museum".  Each 3rd grader chooses someone who changed history and studies them.  They have to write a report, and then pretend to be that person in wax museum form. 

 

Ava choose to be Alex Scott, because she was a hero her age.  Not very famous, but definitely someone to admire.  Alex Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two days before her first birthday.  When she was four, she held a lemonade stand (with her big brothers help) to raise money for cancer research.  That stand raised over $2000.  The stands became an annual tradition.  Sadly, Alex died at 8, but to date the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation have raised over $60 million for pediatric cancer research.  Pretty amazing for someone who was only her for 8 years.

6th Grade Finale

Saying good-bye to 6th grade!  Paige and Claire had a choir concert.  There was an "Over the Rainbow" theme flowing through all the songs.  It was hard not to sing along.  Paige wore a super orangey scarf, and Claire choose fluorescent pink.  (What are the odds, right?)