Kampout

The kids had a wonderful time at Kanakuk Kampout (June 29-July 3).  Alexee went with a few new friends last year, and she told the boys how much fun it was so they all wanted to go this summer.

First day--ready to go!

This was the first afternoon when I picked them up--they'd had a great first day (but they were so tired!)

We went to get ice cream one afternoon after Kamp.

I wish I had more pictures of all the fun things they did while they were there, but I found a few on the Facebook page:

Rhett playing 4-Square, Alexee with her sweet counselor and "Coach" (Take state, y'all!)--they thought he was funny!

Parents are invited to the closing ceremony on Friday afternoon.  The kids split into their small groups and their counselors give each camper a character award and ribbon.  It's really sweet and encouraging.

• Crosby's characteristics:  meek & good-natured, and he received the Heart Award/Loving ribbon.  His verse was "God sees not as man sees.  The Lord looks upon the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7
• Alexee's characteristics:  listener & selfless, and she received the Barnabas/Encourager ribbon.  Her verse was "Therefore, encourage one another, build one another up."  1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Rhett's characteristics were friendly and agreeable, and he received the 110%/Excellent Attitude and Effort ribbon.  His verse was "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men."  Colossians 3:23

Three of my favorite verses!  It is my prayer that God will continue to develop these characteristics in them.  Such a great week.  They all think they might be ready to go to the overnight Kamp for a week next year!

Wrapping Up June

Lane was off last weekend so we all went to see a movie Saturday afternoon, and we went out to eat at the Fish House on Sunday evening.

We saw Inside Out (good, but also sad.  We could definitely identify with the movie after moving last summer.)

This is always a fun place to eat by the water.  It was such a pretty evening.  The kids like to save a little bit of cornbread to throw to the ducks and geese on the way out.  We thought this mama duck and all her ducklings were so sweet.  

                           

Tuesday, 6/30 was our actual (14th) anniversary.  The kids were at a day camp (will post about that soon), so Lane and I went to Springfield to eat lunch and refill Bogart's prescriptions at the vet!  We're so romantic!  :)  It's always fun just to spend the day together, even if we're just running errands.  

I've been excited to see our tomatoes ripening!  Rhett and I have both eaten a few yummy BLTs.  We only have two containers of tomato plants, so we don't exactly have a huge "crop", but it's still fun to pick them.  I have big plans in my head (and on a Pinterest board) for a more productive garden next year...so hopefully that will happen.  :)

We have some lettuce and a few watermelons growing in a wooden planter.  We planted more watermelon seeds than this, but I think the squirrels found them and dug them up.  UGH--they make me mad.

We also have a container of lavender for the first time, and I've loved it so much!  It smells really good.  I'm cutting off little pieces of it and hanging it up to dry.

Well, June flew by.  The summer is going too fast.  Hoping July will slow down a little, but I doubt it!

VBS, Days 4 & 5

My sister and I try to split the week up so that one of us is there to help Mom and Dad with the kids.  Micaela came up Wednesday afternoon so I drove back to our house that night after our trip to the river.  Lane was off work on Thursday, and we'd made plans to go out for an early anniversary dinner.  When I turned onto our street Wednesday night I saw a doe and three fawns eating beside the road.  This isn't a good picture, but they were so cute.

We snapped a quick picture before dinner Thursday evening--celebrating 14 happy years!  That sure went by fast!  (Micaela sent me the other two pictures.  She found this note on a clipboard when she was packing up Friday morning--We thought it was funny!  "To Do:  Turn Rhett and Jaiden into babies so they won't be the boss in everything we do.")

I went back to Flippin on Friday to get the kids.  I met them at church for the closing ceremony, which is always fun.

It was such a wonderful week, but now for the hard part.  The kids were all sad that it was over.  Rhett and Jaiden were sad because this was their last year as VBS students.  How could time possibly go so fast!?  They've always loved going.  Here they are their first year back in 2009--they were so tiny!  But to make the end of the week even more difficult, it was also Bro. Steve & Mrs. Judy's last year at VBS.  They will be retiring from First Baptist in August (after 30 wonderful years), and I can't imagine what it will be like without them there.  They moved to Flippin when I was Alexee's age (going into 3rd grade) so they have been like family to me for most of my life.  We are eternally grateful for the impact they've had on all of our lives, and we are very happy for them as they enter this new chapter...BUT THEY WILL BE SO VERY VERY MISSED.  We love you, Bro. Steve & Judy.  

Change is so hard.

And finally, we picked up pizza for lunch and went to the farm office to eat and do the "Camper Awards" (Tidy Camper, Most Agreeable, Most Helpful, etc.).  This is something that I think Rhett and Jaiden thought of a few years ago (see 2012), and for some reason it came up again this year.  :)  Mom and Micaela didn't want them to be disappointed, so they printed certificates Friday morning, and Dad found all sorts of random goodies to accompany the certificates from his desk drawer at work.

What a memorable week!  We're thankful for everyone who worked so hard to make VBS such a special time, and we are also thankful that Mo & Grandad were willing to host us all week long.  We eat a lot, make a lot of messes and dirty a LOT of laundry!  :)  But we loved being there!!

VBS, Day 3

Wednesday:  Another great morning at VBS and a busy, fun-filled afternoon!  We picked up Subway  sandwiches for lunch then met my cousin and her kids for swimming.  It was nice to have water to splash in on such a hot day--I think it reached 100 degrees that day.

When they got tired, we went back to play at the house.  Alexee caught a tiny toad.

When Dad got home from work we took our picnic supplies (hot dogs, watermelon and drinks) and the kids' new inner tubes (awesome idea, Mo!) to the river.  They had a BLAST!!  As they played, they made up names like "Snake Lagoon" and "Crystal Rapids".  

Way more fun than a water park!!

Dinner time

After dinner, Grandad decided he'd play too.  The kids would float down to where Dad was standing then he'd spin them around multiple times!

The tubes also worked as seats when they took a break for watermelon.

Making sweet summer memories!

Queen Anne's Lace

VBS, Days 1 & 2

The kids look forward to Vacation Bible School at my parents' church all year long!  They always have so much fun and learn a lot!  My sister's kids go too, but they weren't able to start until Tuesday this year so this is the first day photo of just the Garner kids.

(June 22-26) 

2015 Theme

Journey Off the Map

Motto:  This is the way.  Walk in it.

Verse:  And whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you:  'This is the way.  Walk in it.'"  --Isaiah 30:21

We are very thankful for all the wonderful people who work so hard to make VBS happen!

Monday afternoon we went to the hayfield where my Mom and Grandparents were working.  That always brings back many childhood summertime memories!

Crosby and I drove one of the hay trucks for a little while.  He liked watching the huge baler from the window.

Rhett helped Grandmother fix the gate hinge.

This is Mom on the tractor--she can do anything!

The kids with their Great-Grandparents. 

We left the hayfield Monday evening to go meet my sister and pick up my niece and nephew.  They were happy to all be together!

Day 2, cousins ready for VBS

(Crosby was mad at the moment.)

Tuesday afternoon we played on the slip & slide in the back yard.  

Mom made chocolate chip cookies for the kids to snack on, then that evening Dad boiled fresh shrimp that a friend brought him from the gulf.  Mom made corn, potatoes, slaw and garlic bread to go with the shrimp-YUM!  I wish I was eating all that again right now!

Such a fun start to the week!