First few days at the shore

It certainly is overwhelming packing the whole family for a vacation. With a family our size, it wouldn't be feasible for us financially to buy 3 meals a day, so wherever we go, we try to book a place that has a kitchen, so we can bring food from home and cook or defrost whatever it is we need. So, it is like moving (except for the beds and the kitchen sink, lol!) since we have to take everything down to the toilet tissue! :-) This photo doesn't even include the 4 coolers full of food!  :-) I just tried to keep repeating to myself, "the kids will have fun!"
:-)

We arrived down late in the evening, as we had to wait until Mike was done work. But, it wasn't late enough to where the kids couldn't get a first walk on the boardwalk and enjoy some amusement rides. Our daughter actually saw a friend and they got to enjoy a balloon ride together. :-)

Sunday was a rainy day, but the rain held out long enough for Church and a swim in the pool. And, what an end to the day to witness an incredible rainbow right over the ocean. It was so bright and vivid, unlike any I have ever seen. Our daughter grabbed her markers and made a picture of a rainbow with the words "thank you God" on it. Sometimes, it is the parents who learn the greatest lessons, isn't it?

We were blessed this afternoon with some unexpected sunshine, so we went out for a walk and some amusement rides, followed by more fun in the pool.  Our daughter hung up another sign thanking God with a big bright sun on it. How wonderful that she has such gratitude. We are looking forward to the beach in the next couple of days if the weather cooperates. I can't wait to see what picture she will draw then!  :-)

Goodbye and Godspeed, butterflies!

We were blessed with sunshine today after a dreary and rainy yesterday, so we thought it time to release our butterflies.  8 had emerged as of this morning, with 2 to go.  :-)  The butterflies have been such a source of joy for the kiddos, watching their every move, from emerging, to learning to fly, to drinking the sugar water and oranges we provided them.

It was touching to see the kiddos wish each one goodbye as they flew away.  Kiddo #4 had tears in her eyes, but understood that she wanted them to have a bit of freedom before they died in only a couple of weeks, but she made sure to tell them how much she would miss them and how happy they made her.  Ok, now I'm tearing up!  :-)

One butterfly, as if on cue, to say goodbye and thank you, paused long enough on the fence to open its wings to us before flying away.

We also were so blessed to have #9 emerge right before our eyes as we were outside.  What a gift to witness it!

This has been a wonderful experience in so many ways!

We have butterflies and other musings....

Wow!  What a lesson in the virtue of patience for both children and their parents, lol!  :-)  Seriously, though, every day for the past week or two, the kiddos have peeked in on their "babies" and have asked when they were going to emerge.  This morning when I awoke, going to check on them was the first order of business and lo, and behold, there were 5 of them looking absolutely beautiful.  5 more to go.  What a lesson, not only on the mystery of metamorphosis, but on the miracle of it.  What a gift from God, an unexplainable, but wonderful transformation that no scientist has been able to explain or duplicate.  Is it any wonder?  To witness it first hand is a privilege and to witness it first hand through the eyes of my children is a gift.  What amazing things around us that we take for granted everyday!

This past week, Kiddos #3 and 4 put on a couple of "shows" for us.  They love to practice and set up their "stage" and "audience" areas.  They even made homemade snacks for us each night and labeled our chairs.  Kiddo #4 even put her sweet Jesus doll on a chair and labeled a chair just for Him.  I know He was watching and enjoyed every minute, as well.  :-)

Kiddo #3's show was reenacting some favorite children's songs.  Kiddo #4's show, the following night, was the story of Noah and the Ark, complete with a rainbow at the end.

I am really proud of their creativity and am cherishing each of these moments!

It truly is the "Little Things!"

Wanted to share a "proud Mom" moment: the kids were just running outside to jump in their grandparents' pool when they saw a butterfly on the flowers. All 4 of them stopped dead in their tracks & watched, one even going back to get a camera. Kiddo #4 said "this is better than playing with my best toy." I have always wanted them to be able to appreciate the little things & the beauty all around them!

"You didn't do anything?"

Isn't it a shame when spending time at home with your family and enjoying the "little" things becomes "nothing?"  I read on a friend's blog that someone actually said that to her son and he had the wits about him (way to go!!) to answer that they indeed did do an awful lot this summer.

I guess using that person's criteria, we did a lot of "nothing" this week, as well.  :-)

There was reading of books, playing of computer games, checking on our caterpillars (who have formed their chrysalides!!!) and even a swim or two (or three!) in their grandparent's pool.  We enjoyed seeing the cucumber that grew larger than Mom's foot and cheering on our Phillies as they continue being the best in baseball.  All together; Making memories.  Isn't that what it's all about?

Another wonderful week....

The children and I started an online Vacation Bible School program through Holy Heroes called "Summer Faith Adventure."  Each day, there were videos, crafts, snacks and games that revolved around the teaching for the day.  We learned so much!  We learned about King David and the parallels between that shepherd and our Good Shepherd.  We learned about the wisdom of his son Solomon.  In the pictures below, are cookies we baked shaped like crowns and keys.  (crowns for the early king David and for the Heavenly King, Jesus.  Keys to represent the keys David gave to his master of the palace on earth and the keys to the Heavenly Kingdom given to Peter).  Another day, we made stained glass windows as crafts and as snacks, learning that that is how many learned important stories of the Bible if they could not read or afford one.

The kiddos also enjoyed swimming in their grandparents' pool.  Amazing how kids can just jump right into freezing water!  The hose wasn't even out yet and they were on their way in.  :-)  Just the thought of it would put my husband and I into coronary arrest, but I guess, that in our younger years, extremes in temperatures of all kinds were not so bothersome, either.  :-)  They had an awesome time, as you can see.

The first fruits of our little garden were also harvested this past week.  We enjoyed the cucumbers and tomatoes immensely and are looking forward to the peppers and eggplant, as well.

My husband and I took the children on a weekend excursion to Hershey.  He only has off on a Friday and Saturday once every two months.  When that coincides with his military duty, it could be as long as four months.  So, since the rain last week stopped our visit into Hersheypark, we promised the kids that we would try again on dad's days off.  What fun we had!

We went to an Adventure sports facility for batting cages and miniature golf.  We drove into Lancaster for an all you can eat smorgasbord and ended that night with a swim in the hotel pool.

The next morning, we headed to Hersheypark and went right into the waterpark where we literally spent most of the day.  The kids laughed that the giant "beach and wave pool" was so much better than the ocean since there were no jelly fish and mom didn't have to say "don't go out too far."  :-)  It was awesome jumping the waves with them over and over again.  And to see the boys taking turns lifting their sister over the waves was awesome.  There were lots of other water rides, too, that kept us plenty occupied (and soaked) for the day.

We shut down the park (along with everyone else trying to squeeze every last minute out of their admissions fees!) at 11pm, having gone on lots more rides and just having fun together.  We didn't want to come home!  :-)  And, yes, we indulged in chocolate and enjoyed every bite.

On Monday, we continued our Summer Faith Adventure with the kids making their own prayer books.  I really was impressed with how seriously they took the project and how they chose each picture so carefully.  I printed what they chose on photo paper, so they came out quite nicely.

Monday night we were treated to a "show" by our youngest two.  They reenacted "Jungle Book" complete with each of the characters.  It was very authentic and very sweet.  Each of us was given a personalized ticket and had a seat waiting with our names on it.  They did a great job.  Our 9 year old kept asking me to take pictures and to make sure that they were "put on the blog."  :-)  So, here they are:

And to put the icing on the cake of our great week, our tadpoles and caterpillars arrived.  Time to see and learn about the miracle of life and development first hand.  We will definitely post updates on these new arrivals!

Another week gone by.  They seem to do that faster and faster, don't they?  But, I do realize how richly blessed I am to have made even more wonderful memories with my family, whom I adore.