Road Trip & VBS

The past two weeks have been very busy. First, the girls and I had a girls trip to see friends. On Friday we went to meet Kristina, Sadie, Kinnick, Stephanie, & Hannah in Bloomington. We took the five little ones to the zoo. It was a small zoo and only took us about an hour to see everything. The girls enjoyed the petting zoo. After the zoo we ate a picnic lunch. Then Grace, Faith, & Sadie put on their swim suits and did the spray park. Grace said this was her favorite part. We had planned to go visit a dairy farm but ran out of time. We are hoping to schedule that for a different day. We then all caravanned back to the Gorsch's for the night. The kids enjoyed playing together and us big girls even got time to visit. The next day we hosted JoniKay's bridal shower. It was fun hearing about all her wedding plans. I am looking forward to her wedding this fall. We actually got all five kids to nap during the shower (even Grace!!). These days I don't entertain like I used to so it was fun helping fix the party foods & putting together the center piece.

This week didn't slow down. We had VBS at our church, Studio Go. I once again taught Bible for 4's-1st grade. I was SO drawing a blank on how to decorate my room this year-game show just wasn't an easy theme for me. Luckily with an idea from my dad and help from my sister we got things pulled together. I ended up making a Wheel of Fortune type game for the older kids to play each day. They really liked it. Grace & Faith both enjoyed VBS this year. My girls wouldn't normally get to attend VBS. But all helper's kids get to attend a preschool VBS. Gramy & Nana & "Aunt" Jean came to see the girls perform at their program on Friday night. Faith sang enthusiastically both then and Sunday morning. Grace was much more shy this year. She kept saying, "I am not singing!!!" But in the middle of the song she said, "Faith needs my help." And she voluntarily joined the preschool group in their song. She however could not be persuaded to sing on Sunday morning. Oh, well. She wore her VBS shirt each day except for one. Each day the kids were supposed to wear a special something. Grace participated in favorite day & crazy shoe day. She would not wear her clothes backwards or inside out on that day. She kept telling her dad his clothes were wrong, she just couldn't get why anyone would want to wear them wrong on purpose. (yeah, i know she is just like me...)

Fourth of July Fun

We had a great fourth of July. We started our day going to the big parade. We were lucky it didn't actually rain during the parade. The girls really got into it this year. It was the first year we made it through the whole thing.

Grace & her flag from Nana.

Faith enjoyed eating snacks Nana packed for her during the parade.

This year Aunt Jo Jo got to come to the parade too.

Nana helped the girls get candy in their baskets.

After the parade my sister and I headed to watch friends in the Mud Volleyball tournament. Then we went to get french fries & a funnel cake for Jeremy. That night we went to visit my parent's for dinner & then out to my grandma's house to watch a family sponsored fire works show. I was excited to see the progress on my grandma's house. She is hoping to move back in soon. We were worried the girls would be afraid of the fireworks. But they actually loved them. Faith kept saying, "Ohhh!" Grace enjoyed catching fire flies (even though Papa kept letting them go.) It was great to have some family time.

Gramy's House & Know Sweat

Gramy & Papa's House

While we were away the girls had lots of fun adventures with Papa & Gramy. Here are some pictures to highlight their fun. I know they enjoyed swimming and getting to see their uncles. (Aunt Josie was working in Hannibal most of the time.)

Swimming in the BIG pool (well, bigger than our tiny one anyway)
Golf lessons with Uncle Cody

Stickers with Papa
Tea Party (with Gramy's real china!)
My princess, Faith, can rarely be seen these days without a necklace on.
The girls LOVE to help cook.
Uncle Kit, His Girlfriend Wesley & the girls playing dress up.

Know Sweat:

The last full week of June Jeremy and I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska with the high school youth group. It was the first time we have both went and left both kids at home with Gramy & Papa. It was a great trip. While in Omaha we removed vines & painted a home for a lady named Ardella. It was supposed to take us all 3 workdays to complete this project. However we were finished by lunchtime the second day.  Ardella's neighborhood was amazed as they watched us paint her house in 102 degrees! They couldn't figure out who paints a house for free in that type of heat. Only Jesus can do that! Getting done early gave us the opportunity to work with Open Door Mission, an awesome ministry to homeless & hurting people in Omaha. I have volunteered in several different missions but never one this large. They had warehouses full of food & clothing to be distributed. It was a great trip.