Grand Rapids Children's Museum

Grandma Linda, Katherine, Sebastian, and myself spent several hours on Thursday, June 14th at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. We had a great time playing and learning together.

Playing in the sand

Grocery shopping


Grocery checkout with mom

Sebastian & Grandma

Katherine & Sebastian

Katherine

Katherine at Work

Sebastian at Work

Katherine gone fishin'

The Play Ground

One evening after dinner the kids and I went with their Papa Verne up at an elementary school play ground. Take a look at the fun...

Papa & Sebastian

Katherine

Sebastian, Katherine, Papa, and the dinosaur

Katherine

The Cottage

Linda Kenney's parents, John & Donna Klein, own a cottage and the kids and I spent Monday there. Katherine and Sebastian enjoyed being able to play with John and Donna's granddaughters, Bella and Sophia.

Bella, Sophia, Katherine, & Sebastian

Bella & Katherine squirting water at each other

Sophia, Bella, Sebastian & Katherine

Sebastian cleaning the dock

Sebastian with the water hose

Start of Adventure Week

People say "A picture is worth a thousand words" so here...

Katherine & Mom (Debra) riding the carrousel at Grapevine Mills

Katherine in her new swim suit

Cutest kids in the world sleeping!

Kids playing at DFW

Change of Plans

Hello from Grand Rapids, Michigan! Our week plan changed a little bit as Dean was unable to fly to DFW to pick up Katherine and Sebastian. So on Sunday morning I boarded the plane with Katherine and Sebastian to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where we are having a great time. The kids were thrilled to see Papa Verne and Grandma Linda at the airport. As we came down the corridor the kids spotted their grandparents and they took off running. Katherine ran straight towards Grandma and Sebastian right to Papa. I, of course, was left behind carrying our luggage! What a precious site to see them all together and happy.

The kids were just as thrilled when we arrived at the house to see their Uncle Scott and Aunt Julia. Uncle Scott really wanted to come to the airport, but since I was along there wasn't room. (Sorry Scott!)

We are having a great time, and I will post more on our activities later when I can add pictures as well.

By the way, Wes is having a great, but busy time in San Antonio. He will be driving home Thursday.

Adventure Week for The Kenney's

Over the next week my blogging will be slower than normal. In about twelve hours Wes, the kids, and myself will head to Dallas to begin what we all hope will be a wonderful and smooth transition for the week ahead. Katherine and Sebastian are to fly with their Uncle Dean to Grand Rapids, Michigan Sunday morning where Katherine & Sebastian will spend the next several days with Papa Verne and Grandma Linda. Once Wes and I see that they are on their way to Michigan we will begin our travel to San Antonio, Texas for the Southern Baptist Convention. Wes and I will spend Sunday evening through Wednesday night there in San Antonio before heading back to Dallas where I will get on a plane to Grand Rapids. I will spend a day or so there before the kids and I fly back to Texas where someone will pick us up! Whew, it will be a week of adventure for us all! See ya in a week or so!!!!

Surprise by Mail

Our family received a really cool surprise yesterday in the mail. We received a package from Jim Whitaker (better known as my Uncle James). We were a bit puzzled because we certainly weren't expecting anything and wondering what this could be. When we opened the package we found a large book full of family photos. My uncle took pictures I'd emailed him and many off this blog, and he had them printed and bound together in this wonderful book of memories. We were blown away. Wes, Katherine, Sebastian, and myself sat on the couch and looked through the book. My uncle even had it inscribed to us on the second page. What a great idea and a treasured gift!




*Thank you Uncle James. We love it!!!!

**Update: This terrific book of photo memories was created through My Publisher Photobooks.

Friday's Adventure

Wes and I took seven students to Six Flags over Texas on Friday. There was one student who had never rode a roller coast and another who had only rode small coasters, so the very first coaster ride for the day was the Titan. To brake David, the one who had never rode a coaster, in right he and Wes rode in the front seat. We followed the Titan with The Texas Giant and then Mr. Freeze. The seven students we took on this trip were great and we had a blast!!! The lines couldn't have been any better and the weather turned out perfect! All in all we had an absolute wonderful time. The only draw back is I have a few sore leg muscles today.

Park Service

On Sunday our church held our morning worship service at the city park followed by a hot dog picnic lunch. Those in attendance sat under the pavilion, sang a couple hymns, and heard a good short sermon.

Everyone mingled around talking while the hot dogs were on the grill except for the kids who could now play. They took off for the playground equipment immediately. It didn't take long for my child (Sebastian) to find the mud at the bottom of the slide!


After enjoying hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips, cookies, and whatever else there to eat everyone packed up to spend the rest of the day with their family.

Ramblings...

It's been a week since I posted pictures and longer since actually writing anything. I would say it's been even longer since I've written anything of any substance, but I'm not sure I could say I've ever written anything of substance! :-)

I would like to say I've been extremely busy and that's why I haven't posted anything, but that wouldn't be true. This week has been a blah week for me. I've opened my computer to read some of my favorite blogs, check email, and not much else. I know, very exciting!!!

Keep with me over the next couple days, because I do have two posts in the making!

Pictures

These pictures were taken at the home of Nelson & Virginia Camp earlier this week.

Skippy & Sebastian resting

Sebastian and Katherine

Katherine

Grandpa & The 4-wheeler

Last Friday evening Katherine and Sebastian sat on the couch looking out the window waiting to see their Grandpa Homer drive up. They were thrilled when they saw head lights coming up the drive and even more excited when they realized he brought the four wheeler. The next day he and kids were busy outside by 9:15 AM playing and riding the four wheeler. He treated them to lunch at Braum's followed by some ice cream. They spent the afternoon playing outside and riding the four wheeler. As usual I don't know who enjoyed themselves more, the kids or my dad.

Ride 'em, Cowboy!

I took this picture of Sebastian this morning.

Grandparent Time

Last week Wes umpired a game near Muskogee, so we made a family trip to spend time with grandparents. Katherine and Sebastian were treated with rides on the four wheeler. They rode their tricycles in backyard and kept grandma and grandpa entertained. Grandma Faye bought corn dogs from Sonic and Grandpa Roy made coke & ice cream floats for dessert. Grandma played play dough with Katherine while grandpa and Sebastian played basketball. After we enjoyed playing and eating at grandma and grandpa's we loaded up and headed to the baseball game before coming home.

Riding the four wheeler


The kids were treated again when their grandpa Homer came to their house Thursday evening and stayed through Saturday afternoon. (Grandpa was already on his way when we had the bead incident, and he actually came to the er to see us.) On Friday grandpa treated the kids to lunch at McDonald's before we once again headed to a baseball game that Wes was umpiring; however, this game was in Valliant. Katherine and Sebastian had their grandpa working hard playing with them while he was here.

"Let's go racing!"

VBS Clinic 2007

As my faithful readers already know (all three of you), I was a part of the VBS clinic held at First Baptist Church in Antlers, Oklahoma last Saturday. This clinic is hosted by Frisco Baptist Association for the purpose of allowing churches to bring their vacation bible school workers for training. Those in attendance are exposed to the new vbs material; teaching techniques; ministry tools; decorating suggestions; craft, recreation, & game ideas; and various other topics. The goal is to prepare teachers and workers to present the gospel of Christ to the children attending vbs this summer.

The clinic began at 9 AM with an opening rally introducing the VBS Team before moving into the traditional vbs worship rally complete with flags & pledges. Then it was time to attend session one: Basic Training. The following classes were offered:
Pastors
VBS Directors
3's-Pre-K
Kindergarten
1st & 2nd Grade Bible Study
3rd & 4th Grade Bible Study
5th & 6th Grade VBX
Youth
Crafts
Missions
Music
Snacks
Recreation
Spanish VBS

Session Two offered Enrichment Courses:
The ABC's of Becoming a Christian (How to counsel a child)
Decoration Ideas
Overview of Pre-School & Kindergarten Rotations
Overview of 1st-6th Grade Rotations
Scoring BIG with VBS Prospects
Spring Training for Rookie Teachers

Rounding out the clinic was time to visit the bookstore and tour the different class rooms. The leaders remained in their classroom to answer any questions.

I was the leader for the 3's-Pre-K during session one & two. I did my best to provide those attending this class all the information I could concerning information about teaching preschoolers. I talked about the basic concepts of how preschoolers learn and respond along with some of their characteristics. I went over the vbs materials for this year, and I talked about the activities suggested within the material. I discussed how I decorated the room and pointed out decorations should not over power a preschool room. I reminded them decorations are nice, but decorations are not why we do vbs. It is easy to get excited with the theme and forget the importance of the bible stories presented each day. I shared ways to repeat the bible truths during music, recreation, snacks, crafts, and not just during the bible story and mission times. I pray I conveyed the importance of showing God's love and teaching Jesus' story to preschool children through out every word and activity done.

The lessons I try to teach are good reminder lessons to myself. I may have been the "leader", but those in my sessions also shared some good lessons and ideas with me. I praise God He allows me the opportunity to participate in this great ministry.

Katherine's the Winner!

Recently the kids were playing together rather roughly, and Wes raised the following question "Which one will visit the emergency room first?" At that time Wes and I decided it would be Sebastian; however, we figured if Katherine was the first one to visit the ER it would most definitely be because of Sebastian.

Let's start the story here...Yesterday afternoon Sebastian was peacefully taking a nap while Katherine was in the kitchen coloring. I was busy paying some bills and doing other household chores. Around ten till 3pm I hear footsteps coming down the hall and Sebastian enters the living room. Katherine and I greet him as he crawls up into my lap asking for a drink. Just then Katherine comes back into the living room and tells me she has a bead up her nose. After my not so calm reaction of "WHAT?", I told her to sit down so I could take a look. Sure enough there was a small brown bead in the left nostril. Now, earlier in the day she had found two small beads that she and I had missed picking up after a bracelet broke. I figured she threw these in the trash like we did with the other beads we had picked up. I was incorrect!

I did my best to remain calm and try to get Katherine to blow the bead out, but my comment not to breathe in through her nose started her crying. I made the decision that I was not getting this bead out without some assistance, so it was time to head to the ER. (For those of you wondering where my husband was during all this...he was umpiring a baseball game.)

At this point, I become stressed trying to keep Katherine calm while getting us ready to go. Sebastian needed a new diaper, shorts, and shoes while Katherine changed out of her play dance outfit. I really would have taken her in the dance outfit, but changing provided her with something to do other than cry! During all the madness I did manage to find someone who could take care of Sebastian while Katherine and I made our little trip. It really didn't take long to actually get out the door, but it seemed like forever.

I took Katherine to McCurtain County Memorial in Idabel, Oklahoma. We spent over three hours there for a procedure that actually took less than a minute. Katherine did great in the ER, and I am so thankful our first visit wasn't a more serious one.

(By the way, a hospital can be a great place to play I SPY.)

Got it done!

Whew! It has been a busy last couple weeks; however, I have accomplished two very important projects. I finished painting the new church highway signs to be posted off highway 70 at either end of Valliant. This project look a long time to complete, but the finished product is a wonderful tool for Trinity Baptist Church. (By the way, my husband came up with this good idea for new highway signs at the edge of town and promptly volunteered me to paint the lettering. Isn't he such a sweetheart?)

My other major project has been working on the associational vacation bible school team. This group of men and women from churches across our association assemble to put on a clinic to help prepare vbs teachers and workers for the precious opportunity to touch children's lives with the truth that Jesus loves them. Our church association does a terrific job putting on this clinic every year. I am humbled to be a part of it!

For those you who would like to hear more about the vbs clinic hang in there. I will post more about my preparations and the clinic a little later.