Summer 2024

Ah summer.  It seemed to go by so quickly this year.  It was filled with swimming, boxing camp, Virginia Tech science camp, Summer Bible Camp, a trip to Georgia, violin camp, swim camp, drive in and summer movies, and the beach

Frog Pond pool with Aela

Tubing with church

I realize now that I don't have pictures for most of the camps that they did this summer.  In the middle of June they went to Boxing Camp.  It was every day in the morning for a week.  They got to learn some moves, use the gym equipment, and just have fun.  Corban wanted to know if they could go back again for another week but none of the dates worked out.

At the beginning of July Gabriel went to a Strings Camp sponsored by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.  Gabriel's teacher was one of the instructors.  This involved going to a college in Roanoke every day for a week from 9-5, with a performance on the last day.  Gabriel had a really good time learning to play as part of a group, but what he mostly enjoyed was being able to eat in an all you can eat buffet every day for lunch.

Ice Cream after violin camp

                                                  

The same week that Gabriel had violin camp Corban went to swim camp at the aquatic center.  A couple friends from church signed up as well.  They swam, went to the park, watched movies, played games, and wore themselves out.

At the aquatic center with Aela, Isaiah, and Jordan

Hanging out with Caleb and Orin

The boys both again participated in the "Youth Experiencing Science" camp at VT.  At the end of the week each group presented what they learned at Blacksburg Summer Solstice Fest in front of the main stage.  This was the last year that Gabriel can participate, and though he had fun this year I could tell that he as aging out of it a little bit.

Corban's presentation made me a little nervous. Shortly before it started I asked him if he knew what he was supposed to say.  He said "No, but I'll make it up when it's time to talk." He actually did a really great job explaining without practicing.

For Father's Day we had a nice Sunday relaxing at home in the afternoon. The boys got Taylor a random assortment of things that they found funny at the dollar store, as well as a Bluey book about being a dad and a little plastic goat figure that screams when you press it.  They didn't want Taylor to know where we were going to grab dinner (Five Guys) and they got a big kick out of blindfolding him.

This also marked the first year that Gabriel was too old for Summer Bible Camp. He did a great job as Taylor's assistant at the teaching station.  He also really enjoyed that he got to go to the "volunteer break room" and enjoy the free snacks. Corban had a fun time participating with his friends from church.

On a sad note for Gabriel, he had to say goodbye to one of his favorite people at church.  Gabriel has gotten to hang out with Jack the past couple of years in nursery.  Jack loves Gabriel's Rubik's cubes and whenever he puts on a button down shirt he tells his mom that he looks like Gabriel.  Last Christmas season there was a children's choir and Jack participated.  When it came time for them to sing at the Advent service Jack stuck right next to Gabriel and wanted to come and sit with him for the rest of the service.  Jack's family moved over the summer and Gabriel said he wasn't sure about doing nursery anymore without Jack there. Gabriel is great with the kids in nursery but it's just not the same without Jack.

At the "Goodbye" party for Jack's family

While Taylor was at YXL at the end of June the boys spent the first part of the week in Georgia with family.  I headed down after work on Thursday.  We spent the weekend getting in some quick visits and going to a Braves game (Aunt Stephanie came too -- and was the cool aunt who bought them Dippin Dots ice cream in plastic baseball hats).

That guy behind us was funny, and he was so proud of his photo bomb

Amazing, timed with music, fireworks

Hotel in Georgia.  They wanted a picture of
the awesome bed (that all 3 of us shared)

On the 4th of July we were all home and no one was working (not sure when that happened last). We all went to the picnic at church in the afternoon (where kids of all ages enjoyed throwing water balloons at Taylor). In the evening we went and parked at the mall and had a great view of the fireworks from there.

We took our annual summer day trip to the Green Valley Book Fair. There weren't as many exciting finds this year but we had a good time and got some Smiley's Ice Cream afterwards

We headed to the beach at the end of July.  We had to do some changes in where we were staying about a month before we went, but it ended up being a beautiful spot to enjoy a few days of beach, pool, books, and a night out getting seafood (Corban loved his shrimp and Gabriel loved his breaded fish. They both requested that we eat more seafood at home). As per tradition we stopped and played some mini golf on the way home.

One Saturday in August we went to see the community production of Mary Poppins at the Moss Arts Center.  It was so good!

Toward the end of August was the annual "Touch a Truck" at the mall.  The boys no longer really want to wait in long hot lines to sit in trucks, but they do always enjoy talking with the SWAT team members that come and let them see their equipment.  This year a tree trimming company was strapping kids into their harness and making it into a giant swing.  That was really fun.  And then we got Panda Express afterwards because we do that every year too.

A couple days before school started Taylor took the boys on a hike. They had great weather, saw some bears (!!) and had great views.

And lastly, Gabriel arranged all of his stuffed animals the other day and wanted a picture to document:

 

Spring/End of School 2024

 Third and fifth grade came to a close so quickly it seems.  Before we knew it it was time for spirit week, end of year chapel, and awards ceremonies

America Day

Neon Day

We were so proud of Corban at the end of the Scout awards ceremony.  He worked so hard and had so much fun being in the bear den this year.  In doing the communicants class at church he also met the requirements to earn his "Duty to God" pin.  He was the only one in the pack that earned it and he felt proud to go up with his den leader and the cubmaster to receive the award.

End of the year field trips to Dixie Caverns (Mom went with Corban) and the D-Day Memorial (Dad went with Gabriel)

End of the year chapel.  They had been playing outside and Corban gave his sweaty hair some extra volume:

Gabriel's class rocked some "Eye of the Tiger" on their recorders

Last day of 3rd and 5th grades

Corban was so proud when Mrs. Martin was giving him his awards.  He received the "Heart for God's Word Award" and an academic honor of having a high grade in all subjects all year.  He was so excited about the grades award, as only he and a girl in his class received it.

Gabriel received awards for Creativity and for academic achievement in Reading and Social Studies.  Then they had a 5th grade graduation.  We have a middle schooler!

This pictures makes me laugh.  Gabriel and Bentley are probably the most energetic kids in their class, but apparently they weren't into celebrating graduation quite like their classmates.

Bentley, Georgia, Aiden, and Gabriel at Georgia's birthday party

People like to stack things around here

Corbans psoriasis.  He may one day not like that I posted this picture here, but this was a major part of his winter, spring, and early summer.  It started as a couple little bumps on his right side that looked like poison ivy, but within a few days it spread to his back, chest, abdomen, upper arms, ears, and scalp.  I took him to our very experienced pediatrician who said "it's not any of the contagious rashes, but I have no clue what that is."  Always a comforting thing to hear. Off we went to the dermatologist where he was diagnosed with guttate psoriasis.  We were given a steroid cream for his skin twice a day and a scalp treatment for at night (for a while he thought that showering in the morning to wash his hair was fun, but the novelty soon wore off).  After a couple months of that not clearing things up the dermatologist prescribed "Light Therapy."  This involved Corban going to the dermatologist three times a week to stand in the "light box."  The first day he was in the for less than 20 seconds and he was burned (the picture below is from after a treatment).  As his skin adjusted he stayed in for longer and longer periods of time.  He got into the routine and when we were called back at the office he'd walk right to the proper room, undress, put on his goggles, and knew how to start the box himself.  One time he pulled his boxers up a lot higher than other times and ended up with a very burned rear.  Thankfully after months we have stopped the light therapy and will keep an eye to see if it starts to get worse again.

Dad and Gabriel went camping with his new scout group and got to learn lots of neat things about fossils:

It was almost a year since the tree accident and Gabriel suddenly decided to climb the tree from which he had fallen.  I'm glad that he wasn't afraid.  I was.  I'm also glad that he decided that since he was wearing flip flops that he shouldn't climb up very high.

Saw a cool car

The week of Memorial Day Dad and Gabriel took a trip to Baltimore.  They went to an aquarium, a baseball game, and an air and space museum. Gabriel got his first pocket knife and got to start riding in the front seat of the car

A Special Day for Corban

 This spring also marked a very important time.  Over the course of the fall Corban, as well as several other kids from church, went through a Communicants Class that Taylor taught.  This spring several of those kids were baptized, while Corban (along with Aaron and Asa) were admitted to the Lord's Table. We waiting several months after the class ended to have them go before the congregation because Corban did not want to go up there alone and we had to coordinate schedules with the twins. Corban worked really hard to learn things in the class (and also got to count it toward a Cub Scout award!)

Pastor Chris did such a great job speaking to the boys with both honesty and humor.  He made each of them a silly certificate that he gave them first and then got on the more serious and reverent.  Below are a few pictures that various people in the church took and sent to me: