Children's Museum

Okay, so here we are again......always on the lookout for cheap and free things for our huge family to do.  Not an easy task sometimes, let me tell ya....

But this one is a good one.  Every third Sunday of the month the Children's Museum is free.  YAY. 

We take advantage of it at least once a year and this was our month this year.

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.  We had a great time! 



Saints game

In August every year, Jay's company sponsors a family outing.  The past couple years its been at the Saints Baseball game.  It's pretty cool actually, because they not only have a picnic area reserved where they feed us dinner before the game starts and get us tickets to get into the game.....they also give every person $10 in Saints bucks.  That means we got a free dinner, free admission, AND $80 in dollars to spend on treats, drinks, food....whatever.  What a deal!  Oh, and they even had the beer free for our company section so you didn't even have to use the dollars on that.  Basically, what this meant was that the boys could have anything they wanted. 
You'd like some cotton candy??  No problem
Cookies?  Sure
Your own lemonade?  Of course
They thought this was great.   These are kids who usually have to share a free refill pop at McDonald's and who, at the State Fair, get told no 10 times more than yes.  I hate that, but it's just the way it is when you have 8 people in your family.  It all gets so expensive, so this was really a treat for all of us. 
Oh, and I actually had $20 in the bucks left as the game was ending so I went to one of the T-shirt stands and got myself a shirt.  Hey, I'm not walking outta that place with it in my pocket.  Might as well get something. 

VBS

True to form this summer, this post is long overdue. The boys had Vacation Bible School the first week in August. Actually, we all did. I volunteered all week as a 5th grade governer and Livi went to the childcare for toddlers.

It's always a great week full of fun and friends, but it's exhausting too. By the time Friday hit, I was ready to be done, but that doesn't mean I won't do it again and again. It's really a lot of fun!

The best part of the week is Thursday night when they have the program. All the kids have a chance to get up on the alter and sing one of the songs they learned during the week.

              Tony's hiding in there somewhere.....

Tanner's turn....

Trae is in the front row with the blue striped shirt

Olivia was really wanting to get up there herself. 

The best part of the evening every year is when the 7th graders get up and do the routine they've been working on.  They all have their faces painted white like mimes and they haven't talked or ate or drank since putting it on hours earlier. 
The performance is always so powerful even when it's not involving one of my children,

but when it does....it just makes an even bigger impact. 

They always do a dance to a Christian song first

Tim is in the middle of the second row with yellow shorts

Then a silent performance to another song that tells a story as they act it out.

This was a part that Tim had at the feet of Jesus. 

I had the kleenex out for this, it just was so moving to see him up there like that.

After their performance is done, they invite anyone who wants to come up and receive prayer.

It's just so amazing to see these 12 year olds praying over all the people.  We waited in the line that Tim was in.  While he prayed for us.....I prayed for him.