Catholic Kids Camp 2015

This week, leading up to a special family wedding, we "set sail with the Holy Trinity" for Catholic Kids Camp.

We look forward to Catholic Kids Camp, our parish's version of VBS, all year long.

Because Buddy Bear and J-Bear are not quite old enough to attend on their own, I volunteered to host mini-kids camp with a friend for all the 4 and under campers of the parent volunteers.  We attracted a large crowd this year, humbled by the vote of confidence from so many great volunteer parents.  Buddy Bear and J-Bear loved every minute of the week, from the great crafts, circle time, stories, games, outdoor play and snacks.

We certainly couldn't have made it through the week without several wonderful teen volunteers who were eager to shower attention on our young crew.  With 8-10 kids ages 9 months to 5 years old, there are many hands (or bodies) to hold, bathroom times and diaper changes to juggle, and varying ability levels to manage.  Thankfully, my friend, Mrs. N, had secured a wonderful large room for us, brought boxes of miniature toys and Magnetiles to play with, and planned perfect snacks.

Our crafts were simple but engaging and didn't require too much help from the adults.  We made "One God" hand cut-outs for our day celebrating God the Father, decorated Jesus Loves You crosses for our day celebrating God the Son, and taped together Holy Spirit dove kites for our day celebrating God the Holy Spirit.  We also had a coloring page to go with each day.  G-Bear was so impressed with the crafts her little brother and sister were bringing home each day that she said, "do you have any extras for me and E-Bear to do?  We only get to do ONE craft each day."  Boy, was I thrilled to garner G-Bear and E-Bear's admiration!  Buddy Bear and J-Bear were also so proud to show their big sibs their hard work at the end of each day.

Each afternoon, during J-Bear's nap, the big kids would hole up in their room with their CKC music CD and practice their songs and hand motions for the week (while I collapsed in an exhausted heap). The music and dancing are some of my favorite parts of the CKC week, because they stay with us for so long afterwards.  Even J-Bear knows the songs and motions by the end of the week and loves to sing them with her siblings.

The week is always exhausting, but it is one hundred percent worth it once Friday comes around and I get to watch my kids and their friends sing and dance together in the love and joy of the Lord.  We were some of the last to leave the fellowship hall at the end of the performance morning, having stayed to talk and connect with so many friends.  I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for the community we have found here and the friends we have all made.

Happily Ever,
Queen B

June 2014 in Review

I can always tell when we've had a busy month because the number of blog posts dwindles.  This has been such a wonderful month, filled with wonderful adventures.

Week One: Chicago Land

Lincoln Park.  Yes, that is the John Hancock in the background.

We skipped G-Bear's last day of school to accompany T on the long drive to Chicago for a course he was teaching.  While he was busy in the labs, the kids and I ventured to the Lego Discovery Center (worthy of a post of its own) and built with Legos, 

First Lego car, and yes, Mom helped.

Legos,

Love that Millennium Falcon, E-Bear!

and more Legos in our hotel room.  

Surfs Up, with Legos, that is.

We also drank bottomless root beer with "Uncle" Tony at the Eleven City Diner and played with our friends at the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a wonderful time. 

Weeks Two and Three: Swimming Lessons

Gertie the Guppie once again made an appearance in our lives for two weeks of swimming lessons.  Buddy Bear joined the Jellyfish group, E-Bear joined the Sunfish and G-Bear joined the Catfish.  The kids braved the 60 degree mornings like champions.  Everyone improved, both in following instructions and in their swimming skills.  I watched Buddy Bear come into his own singing to Gertie and even put his face into the water unprompted.  I watched E-Bear do under water bobs like a champ.  And I watched G-Bear backstroke across the pools and try a dive or two.   J-Bear spent her time toddling around the deck with me, holding my hand and trying her hardest to learn walk (thank goodness for those kneelers!).  She even learned the Gertie song too, and joined in by blowing bubbles with her lips just like the swimmers!

We celebrated at the end of the week by heading up to MoMo and Papa's cabin.  

MoMo was a champ and got the pontoon in the water.   

We all enjoyed our time on the water 

and in the forest. 

What a way to relax and revive.

Week Four: Catholic Kids Camp (Vacation Bible School)

When we got back, it was time for Catholic Kids Camp!  We all got to participate this year, G-Bear and E-Bear as campers, and Buddy Bear and J-Bear as un-official campers in a childcare class with me.  We did crafts, sang songs, enjoyed circle time and Bible stories and playground time each day.  All the kids were so proud of their hard work and had so much fun praising God with their friends.  Proud smiles abounded at the sing along at the end of the week.

I really must recommend Lacy Rabideau's Catholic Preschool Curriculum from Catholic Icing.  I used many of her ideas for Circle Time and for our crafts, all of which worked really well for our group of 1-4 year olds.  

In Between:  

In between our big events, we have had plenty of other little adventures.

We visit the visiting Handmaids nearly every evening. 

We even got to treat them to ice cream one evening.

We've played plenty of catch and ball.

We can't stay off our bikes. 

E-Bear asks to ride his two-wheeler every afternoon.

Day by day, we're growing a green, green garden,

From the front yard.

Our bouquet of front yard flowers.

The bouquet E-Bear picked for me.

and a new boulevard of green, green grass.

The kids have been a huge help to T, who reseeded our boulevard.  

It is hard to believe that only a few weeks ago it looked like a scraggly weed garden.

Everyday we make time for learning time, playtime and piano practice.

And each weekend you can still find us with MoMo, Papa and GG on the patio for brunch. 

These are sweet and wonderful summer days.  

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful June!

Vacation Bible School Celebration!

Consider yourself warned....this is one of those proud parent posts coming at you.......

How can I help it?  This was such a special week for us.

Today we celebrated G-Bear's first week of school....
Vacation Bible School!

Yes, it is Vacation Bible School season right now. This year we got to participate for the first time.  I would like to give a proper shout out to Grandmo, who foresaw a great opportunity back in February and signed G-Bear up.  G-Bear wasn't yet potty-trained at the time, which was a requirement to attend this week. GULP!  Momo had more faith than I did at the time, thank goodness!

Our big girl has certainly grown up a lot this spring, and this week was a great example of that in so many ways.  G-Bear LOVED school.  I'll confess, I almost cried on Monday dropping her off with her little nut-free lunch in a brown paper bag.  Goodness, Queen B, VBS is only 3 hours!
G-Bear, however, didn't bat an eye--she was ready to play!  What is more, she practically leapt out of bed the next morning when I told her she got to go back again.  What a blessing!

Today was the sing-along performance finale and picnic.  Momo, E-Bear and I were there to cheer and sing along.  E-Bear couldn't help but dance along himself--he has been green with envy all week, wanting to stay and play in G-Bear's classroom every morning when we drop her off, and bouncing along to the music when we pick her up together.

"Ok, everyone," the leader said in front of the crowd to the 144 kids, "ready to sing and dance?  

G-Bear, are YOU ready to dance?  You always do such a good job of dancing around!"  

Holy cow.  Need any more proof that she loved this week?

Our conversation on the way home after the sing-along was really special for me:

Me: "G-Bear, I am really proud of how much fun you had at School this week.  I am proud of how you sang songs and made lots of friends and danced and listened to your teachers."

G-Bear: "yeah, but, mommy, I didn't really get to learn the songs very good."

Me: "Oh, G-Bear, don't worry!  Remember, your teacher gave us your school songs so that we could listen to them in the car.  Would you like to listen to your school songs again?"

G-Bear: "Yeah!  Mommy, do you think we could sing the songs TOGETHER?"

Me: "Sure, sweetie!  I would love to sing them with you."

G-Bear:  "And put our hands up like this?!  Just like at school?"  (Hands up above her head, doing the "Awesome God" choreography from the performance)

Can you believe how my heart was bursting with joy as we drove home, music blasting, singing along, E-Bear clapping and bouncing and G-Bear mouthing the words she could remember....