Vacation

Our vacation to the beach ended with Joshua announcing, "I wish I could stay here until I was old and needed a wheelchair to go to the pool."  All Dave and I could say in response was, "we know, us too."

Anna Ruth's chariot to and from the beach each day

Most days she was fine on the beach as long as she was in her own personal pool and nowhere near the ocean.

We indulged in much seafood eating!

This picture sums up most days at the beach.  Joshua wanting to get in the water and swim to the end of the horizon and Anna Ruth screaming bloody murder whenever she got close to the water.

The pool became tolerable to the princess but she was happiest when being held.

Rarely to our kids get to sleep with us or really anywhere besides in their own beds.  But I think both of these 2 enjoyed a snuggle nap that day.

Anna Ruth's favorite part of the beach was chewing on the sand toys

Joshua's "cannon ball"

dolphin in the water... not shark

Joshua in the water...not shark

She finally got in the water the last day there and actually seemed to enjoy it.

This is the first family vacation we have taken with just the 4 of us.
We had a great time and can't wait to go back...soon!

4 for 4

Joshua spent last week in Birmingham with Aunt B and Abigail.  And if that weren't enough excitement in and of itself, he was able to attend KidLife (VBS) at Dawson.

We talked to Joshua twice during the week and were given typical Joshua reports of things were "good" and "fun" but no other details.  

Amelia pick him up Friday in Birmingham and for the first 30 minutes in the car on the way home he sang the songs he had learned complete with choreography.  He talked about the Bear Family who helped lead worship time each day and recalled several Bible stories he learned.  

How exciting that such memories, songs and scripture can be written on his heart in just one week.

(below is a picture of the preschool worship time)

And let's not forget that Aunt B loves to have fun with her nieces and nephews!  So naturally there was park time, splash pad time, movie time, and who knows what we aren't being told about.

Typically when you hear someone is 4 for 4 you think, "wow, that's great."  Like if a kicker is 4 for 4 in field goal attempts or a batter got on base 4 of 4 times in a game = thumbs up!  

Well not so when 4 for 4 pertains to the stomach virus.

While Joshua was in Birmingham, Anna Ruth brought home a stomach bug from school.  We were thankful that Joshua was not home as we had a day and a half of gross with her.

However, shortly after getting him home Amelia got sick and then a few brief hours later Dave got sick.  So now there are 2 sick parents (laying motionless on the bathroom floors) and 2 well kids practically fending for themselves for Friday night and Saturday.  

Just as we were heading to bed Saturday night Joshua yells from his room, "Mama, I'm sick!"  

And so we waved the white flag of surrender to the stomach bug as we were now 4 for 4 in 5 days.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning while hovering over the toilet, Joshua leaned into Amelia's face and screamed, "I feel like I'm dying!" which on the surface is pitiful but sent Amelia into a fit of laughter and turned out to be the adopted theme of the weekend.

Thankfully, we have all recovered and returned to the land of the living by Monday afternoon.

The new week has brought with it swimming lessons for Joshua. 

retrieving a ring from the bottom of the pool

practicing his technique

swimming back to the platform after jumping in (and having to stop and fix his goggles)

He has loved the lessons and has decided, "By the end of the week I am going to be swimming under the water like a speed boat fish."

graduation

Joshua has officially graduated from pre-kindergarten.

He hosted special guests for his graduation celebration lunch

His class made hand print t-shirts for the celebration and got to stand on a stage in front of all the parents.

Joshua's teacher introduced him as the "professor" because "he always knows the answer." 

We are grateful the Lord provided a place like the CLC for Joshua to learn and grow and make some great friends.  And as one of his classmates said, "Joshua, now we can finally go to kindergarten!"