William visit Day 13

Friday

Last day of VBS. Of course everybody was looking forward to the "Cereal Box Domino Run". I went a little early to pick him up to see whether I could take a photo. You never know how the event is going to go. As you can see, they left some boxes out to make a gap every so many boxes in case something falls prematurely. 

 

Some of the children's art work to admire. 

Ha, I didn't know it was from William's group. And his painting on slate is in the above photo on the left in the first row. I like it. Not many with a religious theme.

At the end of each day everybody met in the sanctuary. Today too. At the end instructions where to go. It was really a great idea and a lot of fun. And oh yes ...

VIDEO    (0:34 minutes)   

We said good-buy to his cousins for today and made arrangements for Caleb's sleepover tomorrow. In the car William declared that he did enjoy VBS today. 

When we arrived home James informed us right away that butterfly # 2 has also arrived. We decided to let it go soon so it had still some time at daylight to find food etc.

VIDEO   (0:17 minutes)

In the afternoon William and I decided to make the Key Lime Tartlets which he had helped make at Sarah's house. I had bought the ingredients even before that and we didn't want them to get bad. William did the graham cracker crumbs to perfection.

He decided he also needed to take more pictures because I should put them into a blog.

My turn to take a photo. He is very intense when he works. No smile on his face doesn't mean that he is not enjoying himself. He is 'into the job'.

After baking and 2 hours of cooling ... tasting! These are leftovers.

A very good day.

William visit Day 11

Wednesday ... already? Another 'full' day. 

I am always very sorry when I have to wake William especially when I know he had trouble falling asleep. But I must say that he is very good about it. We have to leave before 9 am to be at the VBS in time. James came with us to retrieve his car which Sarah and Wade had needed to borrow one more time because of their car trouble. I had an errand to do too and then spent the time at their house until I could pick William up at 12:30 pm. 

At 4 pm we were back to meet Sarah and the children.  We went to Kroger to spend the $58 collected at the Lemonade Stand Fundraiser (see previous blogs). Kroger had a sale and that money bought 24 boxes of cereal. I  happened to have a little cash in my jeans pocket and that made it a total of 30 boxes to bring to the church.

In the car Sarah had worked out with the boys that each of them could spend about $11 for the cereal for homeless people. They were excited and eager.

At the cash register they had even more fun piling up all the boxes.

And here is a VIDEO   (0:32 minutes)

I have to give credit to a lot of these photos and videos to Sarah.

Unloading at the church. 

Sarah tried to take a group photo. OMG, good luck. We had 4 of the boys straight when the 5th one lost his boxes. 

But finally everything was taken care off.

When William and I were driving back home James informed us that he just saw that one of the butterflies had hatched. It had trouble climbing up the slick container walls. I helped him and put him (or her?) on the food. No interest. 

The butterfly didn't seem to be interested in the food I had provided. We decided to let it free. After all that it had been the whole effort to save the caterpillars/butterflies. Such a gorgeous creature. It made be happy!

VIDEO    (0:34 minutes)

Oh, yes. After dinner William asked to play the game. The white tray is his card holder. Especially in the last round with 13 cards it is difficult to hold them all orderly and efficiently. 

Some more interesting historic/science TV and William declared it a good day. Night night.

William visit Day 10

Monday ...VBS (Vacation Bible School) starts for all 4 boys ... 5 days from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm! 

The theme "Rocky Railways" is showing everywhere. 

We signed in and the boys find which group they are in.

It was Sarah's day off from work and she picked all 4 up. One of her friend's son is in the same group as William and they were invited to Sarah's friends' back yard so the boys could get to know each a little better. Oh, what a back yard that must be.

Look at this VIDEO   (1:20 minutes)

Sarah had planned for the two older boys to cook dinner using the "raddish kids" kit. But ... the day turned out a bit differently. The boys wanted to have a lemonade stand to make money. The boy Reese helped too.

William and Caleb made the raddish kid dessert which were Key Lime Tartletts and ...

... Reese and the twins made the sign for the lemonade stand.

Ready for customers. 

Neighbors stopped by and a lot of fun was had. The group had decided that the lemonade was free but a donation was taken for the VBS (Vacation Bible)  because the major teaching was about service projects. 

There even seemed to be some tiny toads for sale. (???)

Most of the photos are from Sarah and this was one from her of her kitchen. Sarah had volunteered to pick William up from the VBS, keep him and in exchange had given us a shopping list for the grocery store to be back before 5 pm for dinner preparations. No problem. I was happy to help out to change the look of that kitchen too.

The boys were really too tired to do the main raddish kids recipe too. Sarah did it. It was very nice. The boys then served their dessert. The key lime tarts were really very good.

But the day was not over yet. Since Caleb had had a sleepover in our house a few days ago Colin was promised one too. Right after dinner we left and took him with us. It really was his first without any of his siblings. 

I think it was a great success. Colin was very good, sweet and well behaved. William was very caring. He read him a bed time story ...

... and even cuddled with him a little.

Colin fell asleep quickly and William asked whether we could play a bit "Five crowns". So that he could practice we agreed to play up to the 8-card round. He was very pleased that he had less bad points than Papa. 

It had been an eventful and very nice day for all. And tiring, especially for Sarah.

Tuesday

Colin's sleepover went very well. Of course he was awake at 6 am as always and that was the reason why I discouraged William having him in his room. We let William sleep as long as possible. He doesn't fall asleep easily in the evenings.

After they had breakfast we had a little more time and William played 'a little kids game' with him very willingly and patiently.

 

I had received a text from Sarah early. She sent me a screenshot she had taken of an email. She had informed the organizer of the VBS about the boy's lemonade stand and that they had made $58. I think it is all very good.

When I picked William up at 12:30 pm I took a photo of the collection box.

William and I went straight home. It was already 1 pm and lunch time. He needed a little personal time. Reading books, playing on his iPad, calling his Dad and his Mommy. 

I took a little time to look at the mail I received the day before. It had just layed there on the table, sigh.

And this is only half of it. It will be fun. Even James chimed in and told me to do something a bit more interesting with it (???). Well, I have an idea. Will go to the fabric store tomorrow, ha-ha.

Yes, pizza for dinner. And then William asked whether we could play a game of 'Five Crowns'. 

He is already very good, just not lucky with the cards. 

Except last night. Omi had 111 'bad' points. The one with the most points looses.