Vacation Bible School Adventures 2012

I was the VBS Co-director for our church again this summer. We used a curriculum by SPARK Summer called Splash Into God's Word. Our VBS meets Sunday thru Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:15pm and it is a multi-generation event, so whole families are welcome to join us. We had small group time with their teacher/shepherds, large group story & music time, then art, science, and game rotations, followed by snack time. Tyler participated this year for the first time since he is now 3 and poor tired Hannah was drug along each evening since Adam was busy with band.

Sunday we learned about the story of Noah and the Ark. 

Tyler is in the green tank-top listening to the Bible story.

 Art class - "Rocking the Ark" painting his Ark picture with painted marbles that he rolled in the box.

 Monday we learned about Jonah and the Whale. Tyler announced to the whole group, "Hey, that's my boat!" when the storyteller fished it out of our fishing booth.

 Our very talented and energetic storyteller, Colleen Wrage sharing Fish Facts

Science class - learning about digestion and what it would have been like for Jonah to get swallowed by the whale.

 Our awesome snack coordinator helping me keep a sleepy Hannah occupied and our wonderful Pastor Dahle who helped us a lot with all of our planning, plus playing the guitar for our music time.

 Games outside

 Hannah making a break for it

 The prayer before snack time

 Looking for Jonah buried in his cone/whale

 Tuesday we heard the story of Jesus Walking on Water an we said a water prayer. Tyler is in the green shirt.

 Hannah wanted to join in with the games rotation

 

 Josh helped occupy her with coloring - she is much more interested in coloring at this age than Tyler ever was!

 Wednesday night we learned about the Woman at the Well. Tyler actually colored during small group time.

 They balanced bean bags on their heads like women in Jesus' day had to balance jars on their head filled with water from the well.

 Small group time reading the Bible story.

 Colleen asked if kids could carry a heavy bucket of water a long distance - guess who was the first to jump up & try!!

 More coloring

 Games - would his item sink or float in the water?

 Water relay

 

 Making a "clay pot" in Art. They covered baby food jars with bits of masking tape, then put brown show polish on the tape. They turned out really cool!

 

 

 Last night - thankfully Adam got to join us to help with the kids and help me clean up when VBS was over.

 Tyler Tales: At the games rotation on Thursday they played a game where on kid was blindfolded and they other kids spoke directions to get them to walk in the direction of a plastic cup in the yard. Tyler excitedly announced, ""We are like TomTom!" much to the adults amusement. Then Adam further showed off Tyler's skills by saying, "Hey Tyler - you have now reached your______" and Tyler said "destination!"

The story on Thursday was about Lydia who dyed purple fabrics and how she welcomed Jesus and had her whole family baptized. In Art the kids made a cross on some fabric with shells and then used a squirt bottle to dye the fabric purple. They each got to take one home and the rest will be gifted to the newly baptized in our church.

 

 The whole gang on the last day!

 And our silly shot

Swimming Lesson Progress

Tyler just finished his last beginner session of swimming lessons at the YMCA in Boone. He has been working on the front, back & side stroke with his teacher, Miss Jessie. He has also been working on not splashing, staying in his spot, and quietly waiting his turn. Tyler has done sooo much better since we switched him from afternoon to morning lessons! He started wearing a belt with 2 floats during lessons, then worked down to 1, and by the end he wasn't wearing any floats and the instructors rewarded his good behavior and hard work by letting him dive off the diving board with the older kids. He was so excited! Next week we start one more month of lessons - this time in the next skill level group.

 

 

 He even swam back to the side on his own!!

 

 

Melcher-Dallas Weekend

I was blessed with the weekend to myself June 23-24th while Adam took the kids to Knoxville for the weekend to hang out with Great Grandpa Clifford Haselhuhn, Uncle Kyle, and cousins Sarah & Jacob for the Coal Miner's Day festivities in Melcher-Dallas (their hometown) and the Haselhuhn Reunion on Sunday. Don't get to thinking I was too spoiled either - I spent the whole weekend getting ready to direct a week of VBS for our church....and watching a couple of movies, too! :)

Watching the parade. Adam said Hannah liked seeing the horses.

Adam said this is when they cleaned up after a "tootsie roll explosion!"

Hanging out in Melcher-Dallas with Grandpa Clifford

Adam got a great photo of Tyler running around the tables in the firehouse, burning some of his limitless energy, and splashing in the only puddle he could find.

VERY excited to ride the tot-train

Jacob & Sarah

Quality time with Dad - Hannah has become very attached to us lately. No one but her parents will do.

Tyler & Sarah riding the Ferris Wheel

Hmmm, do you think they had a busy day??

Hannah loves playing with necklaces, purses, and wallets lately - all kinds of girly fun!

Tyler went to church in Melcher-Dallas on Sunday with Adam and Hannah and Great-Grandpa Clifford. He even let the Sunday School teacher talk him into joining their only Sunday School class- and he was well-behaved the whole time too - there's a first for everything I guess!