Summer Spectacular

Every year our church puts on a VBS like most of the churches in our country. However, this is not your normal fruit punch and animal crackers VBS. It is rightly called Summer Spectacular and completely transforms our building into a Bible story with classes and activities for the kids and a big musical finale each evening. It's definitely a "wow." This year's story was Elijah and the incredible power of being on fire for God. A bonus to the time we spent at Summer Spectacular was a little time with John V's best buddy, Jack. They've been missing each other and made the most of some Wii, ping pong, swimming, and Chick Fil A. We love our Richland Hills Church family and it was terrific to see so many of them! We sure appreciate the hundreds of hours it took from hundreds of people to make this special VBS happen!

Kailey's Ballet Show

This spring Kailey has had a blast at her first ballet class at a dance studio in Austin. They had a little recital during their lesson the last week of classes. She was quite excited to show off her blossoming dance skills. Kailey is all girl and loves the opportunity to wear pink and dance around with friends. It has been a great blessing to us that God moved us down here with other families with younger kids, including John's boss and his wife. We have known them for years and it has been great to grow closer while watching our little girls form a fast friendship. We have looked forward to our Wednesdays with class then lunch and frozen yogurt downtown! Fun memories to make our first spring in Austin.

I love watching Kailey develop into a tiny, little woman. She is nurturing and loving and desires close relationships. She loves babies and shoes and music and anything pink! She knows all her letters and their sounds and is now working on writing all the letters and doing a great job! Next we're on to reading, and it can't happen quickly enough for her. Anything to do with numbers, however, she would prefer to postpone indefinitely. ;) Kailey has probably missed her extended family the most with this move and it has been sweet to see God putting many things in her life to help her with this transition. She has also learned to treasure those moments with her grandmothers, her cousin, Kyndall, and all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandfathers, and friends she sees less often these days. She and John have developed a very close friendship over the months since we moved and play for hours a day together in endless imaginary worlds. They also do quite a bit of their school together which is a bond they are really enjoying. She loves to help with laundry but is somehow always too tired to pick up toys. Mommy has suggestions that usually help to remedy this problem quickly, though. :) She has a precious heart for the Lord and her prayers are some of the most precious sounds I have ever been privileged to hear. She constantly tells us that she wishes Jesus would come back and to that we give a resounding, "Amen!" We love our precious princess!

Kailey's first ballet class

Little ballerinas

Our growing family!

There to support Sis (and they were actually enjoying it, just not the pics)

Daddy's tiny dancer

It is so fun to share these girly things with my daughter!

Kailey and Eva on their first play date long before the move

Kailey and her best buddy, Eva, now that they're big girl dancers!

Real flowers sent from Marmee for the ballet girls. All ballet girls get bouquets!

We have had fun Wednesday lunches with our ballet buddies in downtown Austin. Yummy Yo is the favorite destination. While Levi's not usually a big fan, Eva's tasted much better than anyone else's. :)

Kailey already has the feeding with an open mouth thing down.

John's 6th Birthday

John V turned 6 a few weeks ago. 6! It's hard to believe that I became a mommy that long ago. We are so proud of the young man he is becoming. He is funny, kind, and quick to stand alone and stick up for others. He is learning to be wise and make wise choices. He is quick to praise and compliment his sister and brother, sensitive to even my unsaid needs, and adores his dad. He puts a lot of heart into what he does whether it's schoolwork, sports, or pretending. Watching his imagination blossom this past year has been delightful. He and Kailey can often be found "skating" through the house (in house shoes) in a major competition, looking for land from their ship while sailing with Columbus, or using light sabers to defend our family from the numerous agents of evil always on the attack. They have truly become the best of friends and their relationship grows daily. As John V wraps up his kindergarten year, I am so excited for what the 1st grade year holds for us. His math skills surprise me constantly, his reading has turned into less labor and more enjoyment, and when I look at the difference in his handwriting from the beginning of the year until now, I am amazed at the change. He also loves music and history and tolerates things that are art-related. :) Recently, though, he has become most interested in geography, constantly wanting to look at the globe, find countries, and learn about places. That is a subject I have always loved, and I look forward to sharing that with him. Lately I get a lot of, "Mommy, why does a (fill in the blank)? We should get a book about it and find out!" That thirst for learning is beautiful to see. Some of his favorite hours are the ones we spend reading together as a family. We've read several great, long books, and I have a long list of more waiting in the wings!

We had our first Austin birthday party and it reminded us of another of John V's great qualities. He makes friends very easily! His party was full of new buddies - neighbors, T-ball teammates, kids of John's co-workers, and his list was always growing. :) He makes friends at gymnastics, at the pool, in the backyard, and everywhere he goes. He always gives me the count as we leave a place, "Mom, I made two new friends while we were there." :) I love it! Many daily prayers go up that this trait will develop into a mighty tool for the Lord to use to share His gospel with others!

We love our boy! He is the delight of his mommy's heart! As I tell him before bed at night, "John, you are Mommy's precious treasure! I am so glad God gave you to me, and you are perfect for our family! I love everything about the way God made you! I love you SO much!"

John's Super Mario birthday party

A little crew of new buddies

The slip 'n' slide! Later Dad expanded it to make it even bigger.

Lining up for races

Pinata!

This year for his b-day, John's presents were outdoor and sports for some fun things this summer. Here he's getting his much-awaited scooter.

From grandparents and great-grandparents. aunts and uncles, John received new golf clubs and a golf camp, a tennis racquet and tennis lessons, and swimming lessons. It'll be a fun-filled summer!

Marmee sent a cookie bouquet to John and his birthday and he loved having something delivered just for him!

One buddy made the move with us to Austin so we got to have a familiar face from last year's party again this year. That was nice for all of us! Noah also brought John his first bigger Lego set and he and Dad had a great time putting it together.

The finished product! He was very excited! Thanks, Noah!

Kailey's Room Makeover

We did our best to accomplish some things over the long weekend. While there is always much left to do, Kailey does have a finished room and bathroom and an organized closet! She is proud and happy. It's a bit difficult to take pictures in her room because of the way it's shaped, but here it is!

Before bathroom

Before bedroom

After bathroom

After bedroom (personally, I think the girl is the prettiest part, though!)

T-Ball

It's time to play a bit of catch-up. I don't know how far I'll get, but here goes! We just wrapped up John V's second season of T-ball, his first season since we moved. He had a great coach, lots of great dads who helped with the team, and some fun families we were able to meet through these weeks. Baseball is definitely one of his big interests and he thrives in team sport. We were so proud of his attitude throughout the season and the way he encouraged his teammates, listened to his coaches, and learned new skills. He was especially proud of his team because they won the league championship and he got his first trophy!

Our little slugger

Levi would stand at the fence, practice his swing, and yell, "Go, Sea Dogs!"

Supporting the team

Up to bat

At the plate during the championship game

New buddies

Waiting for his trophy

Getting high fives from the big guys

Coach Will did a great job with the team!

The little champ

Go, Sea Dogs!

John is such a super sports dad! So encouraging and involved!

Proud sister!

It rained on and off throughout the game and then this rainbow came out after their win. John V called it their championship rainbow. :)