Our Camper

In all the excitement of Jack and the E.R. I never posted pictures of what happened earlier that day. T.J. is at his first ever week of summer camp, with two of his best friends - Zachary and Scott. It's amazing to me how excited they were to be in a run down old cabin with the only evidence of electricity being a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.

Not all the kids had arrived before we said goodbye, but they had all included each other and were full of cabin pride! I know he's having a great time!

Warning: Not for the faint of heart

The Lord has a way of reminding me of priorities. We were stressing over problems with the construction of our new house while our little monkey was jumping on the bed. Jack fell off and broke his head.....no more monkeys jumping on the bed. There was almost no blood, but it was a deep gash....full thickness laceration for those interested in the technical terminology.
They had to strap him down, but he remained SO calm.
My little boy was a brave kid, he actually almost fell asleep while the Dr. was stitching him up.
Here he is at home, all smiles. I think it's harder on the parents than the kid.

Attempting the impossible, and almost succeeding!

Today we took all van Wingerden Grandchildren to get their pictures taken.

First try was a little rough, several of the little ones weren't happy. I can't help but laugh at Kayte in this one!

Second try, put the Mom's in. Kids are a little happier, but Mom's aren't thrilled.

Third try, doing a little better.

Fourth try, when they finally listen to the Mom's and put the bench in, success - or nearly. Will wasn't going to be happy no matter what!

I do have to add that Jack wasn't "Happy Jack" today, and the only way we got him to do this picture is that I am back there holding him up so he would be tall enough, yet hiding so I won't be in the picture.

And somehow I managed to get all my kids to smile for one!

Jack and Kayte

I know, I know, why only pictures of Jack and Kayte? But I guess I don't feel like pulling out the camera when the bigger boys play a video game, jump on a trampoline, clean the house or read a book - and it's hard to get a good action shot of their nerf gun wars, which are really fun!
Anyway, Jack and Kayte found where I hid all the stuffed animals and the brought them all out. Jack became rather attached to the monkeys. Here he said "look Mom, he's hanging over a cliff"

This video isn't filled with too much action, but it's cute. I walked into the room this morning and this is what they were doing. Kayte's book is upside down.

Jack

To look at this picture you would think some tragedy had come to our son. Sadly this picture captures a glimpse of what Jack has been like lately. He doesn't do well with change...wonder where he gets that from? Here he simply didn't handle the idea of going down the steps to the basement to look around before going on our walk. He sat down and cried loudly saying things like "I'm crying" and "I'm sitting down".

We think he is going through a growth spurt, because another favorite phrase of his is "I'm tired", and he puts himself down for a nap a few times a week (of course then he doesn't go to bed until too late at night).

Confused Kayte

The fact that Kayte has four older brothers has caused to her be quite confused this week. The other day she walked up to the toilet, lifted the lid AND the seat, stood in front of it and pulled up her shirt. She wants to be like her brothers SO bad we call her copy Kayte. I have worked to show her she gets to sit, she has complied and sat on the toilet...for 10 minutes at a time...just sitting, refusing to get off. The first day she just sat there, now she is looking, it's like she knows something is missing....how do you explain this to a child who uses less than a dozen words?

So we are on to our next adventure in parenting!