Regan's New Haircut...

Tuesday I took Regan with me to my hairdresser for a haircut. This is her first "real" haircut by someone who really knows what they are doing. My hairdresser only took about 1/2" off because Regan wanted to keep it long. But, because of Regan's awesome natural curl, it looks much shorter. My hairdresser also gave her layers which I love. Regan is not very happy with it because it seems so short and she cried the first day. :( But, I think she is starting to like it and just does not want to admit it. :)

Here are some photos:

This is all natural - no curling iron, no perm. She definitely did NOT get my hair gene!!!

Rain, Rain Go Away.....

Ok, so the rain is really dampening VBS. I guess I should not complain b/c sun and HOT temperatures are in the forecast for the next two days. BUT, today was CRAZY to say the least. I WAS having fun in Carpentry but today ---- well, not so much. When I arrived at church my wonderful youth helper was already setting up inside b/c it looked like it was about to rain outside. I was so relieved to see him already setting up! But, to my dismay I was told, "No, we are going to be outside today." I then replied, "you do know there is a 50% chance of rain today and when I left home this morning I checked the radar and a green blob was heading our way." Well, that did not matter - just some rain - not going to hurt us right?? Well, our craft is the only craft out from under the tent b/c we need lots of room to spread out wood and hammers, etc.

So, my youth helper and I started hussling to get everything outdoors (which is alot of stuff and VERY heavy). We hauled a TON of wood outside. We got all set up and our first group of kids starting arriving as well as RAIN!!!!! Imagine that?!?! Who would have thought?? So, we worked for 30 mins. with the first group out in the rain. We (the carpenters) were soaked and no kids wanted to come to our trade. I don't blame them. We were hussling around trying to get enough tarps to cover all our wood so it would not get wet. We already have a ton of wood that is mildewed. So, after that 30 mins. was finally up and only about 8 kids did our trade, I was told,"Kaylyn we are moving back inside now and you have 10 mins. until the next groups come!" So, off we go hussling again to get everything back inside (all the wood and a HEAVY table that the youth worker and I carried the whole way with all the wood supplies on top of it by ourselves!). Every muscle in my body aches right now - muscles I did not even know I had. So, we got everything in and somewhat organized right before the next wave of kids. Then, the rest of the morning we were bombarded by kids wanting to do carpentry. We ended up doing about 50 kids total today. That is a lot of hammering and sanding. We have gone through a ton of supplies so we only have to do Carpentry one more day - YAY!!!!! So, needless to say, I am ready for the SUN and the end of the week!!!!! ;) I really love VBS but I don't like it when it is this chaotic. I am really thanking my friend right now that encouraged me not to be Marketplace Coordinator this year. Thank you L!!! Today convinced me I don't ever want to be Marketplace Coordinator although then I could call the shots. ;) I do pray tomorrow will be much better and I still hope for some time to take photos so I can post all the fun things the kids are doing.

VBS and some funny moments this week...

We are doing VBS this week and our theme is "Paul." Our church follows a curriculum where the kids actually go back in time and live in that time period. Each group has a city name (ie. Corinth, Phillipi, Antioch, Athens, Ephesus, etc.) Regan is in the Phillipi group and Riley is in the Corinth group. Reece is in the preschool program. Anyway, they do all kinds of fun things such as Marketplace (crafts from the Roman times - I am helping in this location), Occupations (where they learn how to write with quill pens, see goats and horses, etc.), Visit an underground church, meet Paul while in house arrest, games, puppets, music, etc... It has been a great 2 days (very tiring) but great. The girls are learning a lot. The girls enjoy coming home each day and telling me what they did and learned. Reece made a cute funny yesterday...

Riley was telling me about meeting Paul and that he was in jail and was telling me how they decorated the room to look like a jail. Reece then chimed in and said "Paul was not in jail he was in the choir room." She was right in literal terms it is our choir room but for this week it is supposed to be a jail. We tried to convince her he was in jail but she would not budge on the fact that he was in choir!!! :)

Other comments this week....

Reece out of the blue asked Tony when she could be a mommy. Tony told her when she is much older and married. Then, Riley piped up and said, "Well, I am not going to marry someone like Daddy b/c Daddy eats all the Peanut Butter!!!" ;)

I was talking to one of Reece's Sunday School teachers today and a good friend of mine and she told me that when she takes Reece to the potty during class Reece will get up and flush the toilet with her foot. Yay, at least something I am teaching her is sinking in. ;) I thought it was so funny b/c when we are in public restrooms I do flush the toilet with my foot b/c I don't want to touch the nasty toilet. ;) My friend said she thought, "Oh boy that is so Kaylyn!" :) What I thought was funny was she was in a dress and just turned around and hiked up her foot and did it like it was second nature. :) --- BTW, for those of you wondering...I do wash my hands after I just still think it is gross to touch the flusher. :)

I am working in Marketplace this week at VBS and have been assigned to Carpentry. Not sure how that happened??? Anyway, I am supposed to take on the role of a carpenter and act like I am from Roman times. I was helping a little boy hammer and sand and we got talking about the nails. The nails we are using look like handmade nails from that time period and are much thicker and harder to drive into the wood. The boy was asking where I got the nails and I told him we made them. He looked at me strange and then asked "where we got all the wood." I told him we make our own wood out of trees. He said, "Well, my dad just goes to Home Depot." I replied, "Home what???" What is Home Depot???" I was doing my best to stay in my role. :) Our conversation was very lengthy - he was trying to explain to me what a Home Depot was and I tried to act as confused as possible. Then, he said, "he has TV and telephone." I said "What you live in Paphos" you do not have....what did you call that again? T V? What does T V stand for??? Boy did I have fun with that boy!!!! ;) Probably confused him to no end but it was very fun! :) Although Carpentry is hardwork and I am extremely exhausted already and it is only day 2 of VBS, I have to admit I am having fun! Hopefully, I can post some photos later in the week.

Regan's Piano Recital...

Regan had her 3rd piano recital today. It is neat to see how she has grown in confidence and skill over the last 2 yrs. She did great today. Tony could not be there because he was at a church leadership conference so we videotaped her performance. I videotaped with our camcorder and Riley got some footage on our regular camera. I will post one of Riley's videos so you can hear Regan's duet with her teacher. Just listen and don't pay attention to the view or you will be dying laughing. Riley (bless her heart) was doing her best but a girl sat right in front of her and blocked her view. So, she did her best to work around her. Also, the chair got in the way a few times. :) As you can see, Riley had a good time playing with the video feature on our camera.
Regan playing her duet, "Sleeping Beauty Waltz" with her teacher.Regan receives a "good job" hug from her teacher, Mrs. Elena

Here is Riley's footage of Regan playing her duet, "Sleeping Beauty Waltz."

Regan Playing the Piano - Sleeping Beauty Waltz...

Here is Regan practicing her recital piece, "Sleeping Beauty Waltz." This will actually be a duet with her piano teacher at her recital.

Regan Playing the Piano - Chinese Song...

Here is Regan practicing for her piano recital. She is playing, "Chinese Song" by: M. Rauchverger.

Regan Playing the Piano - Etude...

Regan has a piano recital today and here is one of the songs she will be playing. This song she is playing is called, "Etude" by: E. Gnesina

Now This Is Summer...

Finally our first "real" day of summer! The last 5 days have been hectic to say the least and non-stop busyness. My idea of summer is sleeping in, not living in my van, no schedule, and warmth. Other than warmth, I have not gotten to enjoy the other 3 things, until this morning. The girls let me sleep in until 9:00, they made their own breakfast and Riley "unloaded" the dishwasher all by herself. When she told me this I thought daddy had helped her. But, then she showed me and I realized she truly did it all by herself because all the dishes were stacked on the counter since she can't reach the cabinets. :) I thought it was so sweet of her to think of it on her own and to do it all by herself. Good job Riley!!!! Today we don't have much planned other than a fun gathering with Aunt Abby and Lizzie eating ice cream and then Gymnastics class for Riley this afternoon. Yay! Now, if we could just keep our schedule like this that would be great - but not sure that will happen.
check out all the clean dishes stacked up behind Riley. :)

School's Out For Summer!!!

Regan had a fun last week of school this past week. They got to go to the 3rd graders Country Day (the 3rd graders report on a Country of their choice) and hear their reports. Regan enjoyed this because she knew she will be doing this next year. She has already told me she wants to do "Australia" since her Aunt Kate lives there and we have a lot of stuff from Australia. Then, they had their 2nd Grade End of Year Pool Party at Garrett Farms Pool. The kids enjoyed swimming (eventhough the water was freezing) and they enjoyed a Chick-fil-A catered lunch from Daddy. The party was called short due to thunder and rain but we were able to get everything in before the rain started. Then, Friday there was an end of the year assembly. It is always a very special assembly reminiscing over the year's events, saying goodbye to special faculty or students leaving, and of course Trinity's tradition of putting the school mascot, the lion, to sleep for the summer to the song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." This is always a very fun ending. This year was especially neat because next year will be the first year Trinity has a senior class. So, they did a special tribute to the upcoming senior class by surprising them with their class rings early. The "senior class" seemed so excited. It was neat to see. Also, we had to say goodbye to our wonderful lower school director, Mr. Larson. Regan adored Mr. Larson and he could always put a big smile on her face in carpool line. I always wondered what he was saying to her to make her laugh so much. He was so great with the kids and we will miss him. After the assembly we had to say goodbye to Regan's wonderful teachers, Mrs. Bohn and Mrs. Norfleet. They were so good with Regan and she really enjoyed being in their class this year. I think Regan was a little sad to say goodbye but she is also very excited about summer starting. Regan was so thrilled to receive her porfolio. She has been looking forward to getting it for weeks. The portfolio is a book the teachers put together throughout the year for each student that contains their special artwork, stories, paperwork, etc. That is always one of Regan's favorite things to read. She could not wait to get home and read it with me. At the front of the book, there was a paper that contained all of Regan's special Second Grade memories and this is what she wrote...

The best book I read this year is called, "Detective Camp." My favorite read-aloud book during lunch was "Hind's Feet on High Places." I liked learning about life cycles. This was my favorite unit study because I liked the chicks and butterflies. My favorite field trip was "Old Salem." My favorite thing about being in 2nd grade was seeing the chicks hatch and holding them.

The first thing we did to celebrate the end of the year was go to Regan's favorite restaurant, "Panera Bread" for lunch and then to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. Regan got mint icecream with gummy bears. YUCK!!! She loved it and I guess she knew if she got something her sisters and I did not like she would not have to share. :) Smart child!!!! Then, we headed to Kohl's to get some summer clothes since Regan's drawers were pretty bare. All her clothes have been passed down to her sisters. It was a busy day but we had fun. We are very thankful it is summertime, especially me! Regan and Ian Hall playing together.Regan slowly inching into the cold water.Regan finally made it all the way in but was freezingRegan enjoying her lunch with friends, Hannah Stepp and Katie Piehl.
Regan's teacher, Mrs. Bohn, (in the pink) receiving a gift from the class.Regan's assistant teacher, Mrs. Norfleet, receiving a gift from the class.

Riley is brace free....

Riley went back to the Orthopedic doctor on Tuesday, May 26th. They took x-rays and they revealed that the brake is fully healed and new bone has been formed around the brake. The doctor said she is healed and can go back to normal activity. She does not have full range of motion yet and it will take some time to get full strength back but she is still doing great. She has not complained about her arm being sore and last Wednesday, one day after having the brace off, Riley was able to do everything at Gymnastics including the bars, vault by herself, and cartwheels. We are very thankful her arm is healed and in time to enjoy the summer!