We love them! But we are going to send them to Papa and Grandma's for tonight!

I like spur of the moment decisions!  We haven't made one...since...uh...two weeks ago.  It is time for another!  After so many years of not being able to do things such as this, we are enjoying that new found freedom.  It is good to be flexible and spontaneous!  We are thankful for grandparents who can make it happen for us!  Have a good afternoon and evening...I know we will!

Water balloons take longer to fill and tie than to throw and break!

The perfect one?!

My knees were soaked from holding the hose and balloons out of control.

Hey...Mom...are you ready?

Target practice!

After four rounds, Mom's fingers hurt and couldn't tie any more!

It was ok...they still had the hose and bowl!

Monday with the Munchkins...and a good case of the Munchies!

Today called for some baking...cooler and not so humid!  What kid doesn't like fresh baked treats?

Snuggling...and snoozing!

Cars...are the answer to entertaining a little boy!  And three ready playmates!

Lunch dessert...a blast from Mom's past...embellished with festive sprinkles!

Cookies...to welcome Dad home from his second Monday at work!  We spent the whole day at home.  I have about as much ambition as Chevy! 

But I feel like I did accomplish something...the house smells divine and there are treats for this week!  Now...I am needed to tie up water balloons...this isn't going to end well...I have a feeling!

Today I have...

God's grace to keep me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's strength to sustain me,

God's eye to watch over me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's hand to hold me,

God's Word to instruct me,

God's angels to minister to me.

When I stand at the sink to wash dishes, I see the flowers in our neighbor's yard.  What a beautiful reminder of God's handiwork!  He created and cares for the lilies of the field.  How much more does He care for His children!  Matthew 6:24-34

The little sister is sure glad that her big sister is home!

After playing for over an hour in the shower and bath, Alisa made lunch for her sis.  (Trust me...I didn't fuss about how long Ashlynn wanted to soak!).  They sat side by side on the bench and watched a movie.  "Mom, since it is a girl's day again, can we do our nails?"  How can you say no to that?!

Alisa finally had her birthday dessert...cream puffs.  She enjoyed a variety of sugary goodness the last couple days, so I found it necessary to have her wait...and it was worth the wait! 

A celebration...of her birthday, of her sister coming home, of another girl's day...

It doesn't matter what your are celebrating...when there is cream and chocolate!

I love watching the girls together.  And I only eavesdrop a little.  Alisa and Ash sat at the table and made silly putty for Ash.  Then Alisa painted Ash's nails (all 20!).   They have been inseparable.  I think they are caught up for now.  I am sure they will talk tonight...if Ashlynn can stay awake long enough.  She is one tired girl, but she would never admit to it!

When Teddy and Daddy got home today...he was just as chummy and she was willing to oblige.  All is back to normal now.  Everyone is home...enjoying the hum of the washer and dryer, eating breakfast for supper, and heading to bed early!

It's a beautiful place!

There is something about being at a camp on the lake!  It has a beauty all its own...and the pictures don't even do it justice!

"It was a good week!"

We got up to Camp Joy this morning...and all was quiet and calm!  The only evidence of campers...the pile of luggage and loot stacked by cabins along the sidewalk.

They were eating breakfast...and the atmosphere was very subdued and sleepy...till one table stood up and started a cheer.  It was time to get excited...one last time.  They were heading to the chapel to find out which team won.

 

We were able to watch the "Week In Review" with the campers.  It was torture for them to wait...to hear...that the...Sodbusters won!  A final team meeting and cheer at the flagpole for the winning team.

Time to say goodbye and load up to go home.  No matter how many times you ask and check with the kids...we evidently missed one bag...however...we had no idea what or whose we were looking at!  And our little campers were on the bus and not putting out anymore effort!

They were tired!  You can see it in their eyes...and you can tell by all the yawning!  The ride home was very calm with quiet chatting about...everything that they did this week.

Some kids sat quietly and answered questions when prompted, some kids stared blankly out the windows, and some...jabbered about things as they came to mind!  Ashlynn had fun and took pictures on her camera to prove it.  She used some of her spending money to get little gifts for her family.  She got to ride the horses...twice!  She really liked the bungaline..."you had to wear like a diaper thing..."  And the snack shop was open twice a day.  And...there is much more to come...just as soon as she gets out of the shower/tub!  Not to embarass her...but those cute little trial size bottles of shampoo and shower gel...are still full.  "I couldn't get the shower to go on.  But I washed my face, changed my clothes, and used the deoderant!"  We love her...camp grime and all...and we're glad she had a good week!

"Mom, we're hungry. Can we have a snack?"

OI, Oi, oi, oi!  Here is a sort of healthy snack...it has fruit in it!  Frozen (or fresh) raspberries, 8 oz. cream cheese, powdered sugar to taste.  Mix and serve with a bag of gingersnaps from the Dollar Store.  It is one of our old summer standbys!

"Thank...you...Mrs...T..." exclaimed Teddy.

"This is a cool project!"

This was a little kit Alisa got when she was in the hospital.  There was so much going on and so many things to do provided by the Child Life Team, that we didn't do many of the activities that were given at that time.  I put a few of those things away when nobody was looking!  Today...I pulled the "Make Your Own Silly Putty" Kit.  Alisa and Teddy each read the directions and measured their own ingredients.  We are crossing the half hour mark of fun!

There was talk of adding food coloring to make it look like many different ooey-gooey things...followed by loud bursts of laughter.

"Brothers!"