VBX 2012

Cole and I have had a good, but tiring week of VBX (Vacation Bible Extreme) at our church Evangel.  It was from 8-12 which made for early mornings for both of us.   I was a leader for the red team and we had about 25 kids on our team ranging from ages 6-12.  Cole wasn't old enough for VBX, but since I was a leader they let him be on my team.

Here are some pictures from our week:  

Snack time was outside and they had chalk, balls and frisbees for the kids to play with.  

One of the kids, Gabe, drew Cole a car. :-)

Game time!  They had to jump the tape and after each jump the tape got moved farther and farther apart.   

Cole and I before heading out on Wednesday.   

Having fun!

Getting ready to play the noodle game!

Craft time!

Cole and Emma Kate eating popsicles.  Cole became friends with her and stayed with her the whole week.  She just turned 10 and has a 2 month old baby brother...talk about an age difference!  Unfortunately, she goes to First Baptist and not our church so we probably won't see her again. :-(

Eating a candy bar with the money he spent at the store.  Throughout the weeks the kids earned VBX bucks for things like bringing their Bible, team spirit, bringing friends, etc. and then each day we went to the store and they could spend their money.  Some things were more expensive the kids saved all week and bought stuff today.  

This VBX was different than what I was used to at my last church in Missouri, but it was still fun.  We had 350 kids come throughout the week so it was pretty big!

FOUR!

Cole turned 4 on Monday and we celebrated with a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese with some of his friends.  I think Cole was a little confused because we already had his birthday party, but he was more than happy to have some more fun! :-)

Cole and Ava eating pizza. 

Cole found the mouse! :-)

Cole with his friend Asher (who came in partial costume)!

Yesterday we had his four year checkup.  He is healthy as can be and weighs 46 pounds and is 42.5 inches tall.   He is still nice and thick and getting way too heavy for me to carry. :-)

I didn't think he had to get shots, but he did.  Luckily he is good now until he is 11 (except for the annual flu shot).  He is even all set for kindergarten next year too! :-)

He was being so silly while we waited so we passed time by taking pictures.  

Unfortunately he was not all smiles come shot time, but we survived. :-) 

Cole loves to color and do art projects, especially with his friend Chloe.  Yesterday he made himself a hat.  He was so proud!  

Cole, you are growing up so fast!  Your daddy and I love you more than anything and we couldn't imagine our life without you.  It would indeed be a much quieter, slower paced life, but we wouldn't change it for the world!  Your silly spirit, full of life personality and loudness keep us laughing everyday.  You make life worth living and help us see everything in a new light.  We love you Cole Man!  

Cole'sBatman birthday party

We had a great time celebrating Cole's 4th birthday yesterday!  Per his request, he wanted a Batman party (and then later decided he wanted Spiderman, but it was too late to change it)!

The birthday boy!

All smiles as he waited for his friends to come over.

I had a basket out full of costumes, masks, etc. for the kids to dress up in.

A little coloring station to give them a rest break.

And tattoos which were worn by adults and kids. :-)

We rented a big bounce house from the base which was a hit with the kids.

We played a little game called Vaporize the Villains. 

We used silly string as the vapor.

They had fun for a bit shooting the villains.

And then turned the fun on each other.  Bayler was after Cole!

Being silly!

The cake table! This was my first cake to make in a long time...luckily I still remembered how! :-)

Food.  We had PBJ's for the kids and mini ham and cheese sandwiches and chicken salad croissants for the adults.  And a big fruit salad and veggie tray too.  

Some of Cole's friends.

Here is with Owen.  Owen is our neighbor and was also in Cole's Mother's Day Out class last year.

Cole and Chloe.  She just turned 7 and is our neighbor.  They play together a ton and are like brother and sister.  

Me and my guy.  I couldn't have thrown the party without his help!

Mawmaw and Pawpaw

Aunt Misty and Uncle Chris came from Montgomery.  Thanks for coming ya'll!

Eating lunch!

Cake time!

And presents!

We did the pinata at the end.  

Kids going after the loot!

Bayler found a new use for the pinata after the party!

Cousins!  My older sister and her family drove over too.  It was so nice to have everyone there for a change!

Lots of toys, but especially Spiderman stuff!

It was a great party and we are so blessed with such great friends and family who came to share the day with us!

Birthday party fun!

It has been a busy week for birthday parties for Cole!  He had one Monday afternoon (but I failed to get any pictures) for his friend and neighbor, Aidan.  It was a fun lego themed party and they played in a giant blow up water slide.  The best part?  Parents didn't have to stay. :-)  Since they live right behind us I walked him over, dropped him off and then came home for 2 hours of quiet!  I was apprehensive at first, but then I reminded myself that he is getting older and becoming more able to do these sorts of things alone. 

Then last night was another friend (and neighbor!) Asher's 5th birthday party at a local bounce house place called Jumpers.  It was Captain America themed, but Asher's mom asked me to bring Cole's dress up too so they could play in them.  Cole has TONS of costumes and is dressing up as different superheroes on a daily basis.

He started out at the party as Batman.  

Asher had an awesome cake!  It was so good too!

Me and my man!

Cole and the birthday boy, Asher.   Asher was part Captain America, part Wolverine. :-)

Jonathan joining in on the fun.  Surprise, surprise! 

Cole and Asher before singing Happy Birthday.

All hot and sweaty towards the end of the party.  I would say it was a success!

I love summer birthdays and we have enjoyed all the parties so far!