Good Earth Village 2018

Summer is here and I am doing everything I can to make the best of it.  This year Mama asked me if I wanted to go to summer camp and of course I said Yes!! 

When Mama was a little girl she got to go to Good Earth Village, and she worked there for a summer when she was in college, so when she saw that they had an overnight program for 2nd graders she knew it was my turn!

Leading up to camp I was so excited, I wanted to pack a week in advance, but Mama said we needed to wait until it was a little closer.  When we arrived at camp I was immediately in love and knew I was going to have a great time.  Mama and Daddy left and I didn't look back!

Turns out, Mama and Daddy had plans of their own to have fun while I was at camp.  They still had Ellen and Maren, but none the less, they took a pit stop at Four Daughters Winery on their way home.

Camp was only one night, so Mama and Daddy were back the next day to pick me up.  It was fun getting to lead worship and sing some of the songs that we learned, my favorite was Sanctuary.

I made so many great friends, and had an amazing counselor named Anna.

I had so much fun that when it was time to leave I couldn't help but cry.  We had such a great time hiking, cooking over the campfire, creek splashing, and hanging out with new friends.   Mama said that next time I might be able to stay a couple nights.

I can't wait to go back!!
Linden

Our Baby

Hey Everybody!  Ellen Here!

I thought it would be fun to dedicate a post to pictures of baby Maren...Enjoy!!

My Acting Debut!

What a busy week!!  I have always wanted to be in a play so Mama signed me up for play camp and it was everything I dreamed it would be and more!!

Play camp was one week long, and each day we all met for a couple hours to work on the play and then we performed it on the stage at the High School on Friday.  This year the play was Robin Hood!!

I was cast as Alfred the Saxon.  I was a little bummed when I found out that I had to be a boy, but after Mama read the script she pointed out that it was kinda my fault...you see, when I was at auditions the director asked me what part I wanted to be, and I told him I wanted to be Scarlet.  Turns out, Scarlet it really Will Scarlet who is one of Robin Hood's buddies, and a boy.  Oops!

I decided to make the best of it and had a great time.  I was a little nervous because I had to memorize 35 lines!  I got a little mixed up when I was on stage but overall I think I did really great, and it was so much fun getting to do it together with my friends.

It was also fun getting to be on stage and knowing so many people in the audience.  I was so lucky to have my own fan club even, Auntie Wendy and Auntie Missy came down to watch!!

Afterwards we took them out for Ice Cream at the Blast, turns out that was a bad idea!!  We didn't get any pictures there because everybody was sticky and COVERED in ice cream because it was melting too fast, but it was so yummy and a fun way to celebrate.

Have a great night!
Linden

Happy Birthday Ellen!!

Guess what? Ellen is another year older, and we had another great birthday party for her!!

This year was the first year that her friends were old enough to really understand what a birthday party is, and all of the little kids were confused why we weren't having birthday cake right away Friday night when everybody showed up.

Lucky for the little kids, the weather wasn't great Saturday morning so we decided to do cake in the morning since we had to be inside anyways!  

Ellen requested a mermaid cake, and I think Mama did a pretty great job!  I loved the golden white-chocolate mermaid tails!!  It tasted just as delicious as it looked!

It wasn't too long after cake that the weather got better and we were all able to get outside and do some playing.

Of course, I wasted no time getting in the lake!! 

I really like playing on the paddle boards, and it was great getting to share that with my friends.

And no trip to the lake would be complete with out some tubing!!  Papa Tim got a new tube for us and the little kids loved it!  That is, until it tipped and they all fell in the water!  Luckily there were a bunch of dads on the boat and they all jumped in right away to help the little kids out.

I was on the blue tube because I am not worried at all about getting thrown in the water.

Not only was it Ellen's birthday, but it was also Maren's first time in the lake!  Unfortunately it was too cold and she didn't like it one bit.

 It was also her first boat ride!  Her life jacket looked so big on her, but she didn't seem to mind too much.

It was such a fun weekend hanging out with friends.  

And look back on how much everybody has grown each year!

Of course, Mama had to get Ellen's annual birthday picture at the lake...

And annual Selfie with Mama!

Of course, Mama made some pretty cute invitations too, so I have to show them off.

Aren't they cute?!?  It is hard to tell, but they are pop-up cards!

It was a fantastic weekend with friends,
Linden

Wrapping up 1st Grade!

 Another school year has ended and it was a great one!!!

The last few weeks of school were filled with all sorts of fun days.  We got to have a gum day where we graphed which gum blew the best bubbles, and which held its flavor longest.  We also had extra recess, and movie days, but my favorite was crazy hair day!!  Mama was thinking that we could put my hair in a fun braid or something, but I wanted to turn my hair into a cupcake!  Mama wasn't so sure about it at first, but after we talked about it she agreed to give it a try and it turned out great!!

In addition to the fun themes each day, we also had the Lincoln Color Run!!!

We all started out clean and looking our best...

But by the end we were all a mess!!  I was super happy that Mama came to run with me, and I was excited to get to spend some extra time with my good friends before the school year wrapped up.

Along with the end of school came the end of soccer.  This season lasted longer than normal because of all the rain that we got this spring.  Coach Linda decided to make the last week a fun one and after we did some crazy drills with our family she brought out a cooler of water balloons!!!!!!!  Everything is better with water balloons.

I can't believe I am already a 2nd grader!  It is a pretty amazing feeling (not sure why Mama doesn't look like she agrees).

I can't wait for summer!
Linden