VBS and our 2nd big trip of the summer

Our VBS started Sunday and yesterday was the last night. It was so good to go to a VBS again. When we lived in Florida, the church we attended did not do one. I forgot how much work but a lot of fun they were. 

I did not get very many pictures because I was in charge of crafts for the 3s,4s,5s and 6 year olds. The only ones I got were a few of Ella when she came to my room. Here are a few of the crafts we did.

The last night the adults who worked were able to go see the stories from the story rooms. I wish I would have taken pictures of the rooms. They all did an amazing job! Our theme was The Great Escape so the 4 stories were Paul and Silas in the prison, Jonah, The fiery furnace and Daniel and the lions den. 

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it.

I'm about to loose control and I think I like it!

This is what popped into my head when I think about where I am going.

NEW YORK BABY!

I have been looking forward to this trip ever since we decided to go. I am planning to see and do anything I can fit into 5 days. I am also so excited to see my friend Christie. I have not seen her in a very long time. We were neighbors during our first tour in Warner Robins. I miss having her right next door. 

I can't wait to share with you highlights from our trip.

Look at what we picked.

Yesterday, we met up with some friends and went to Sander's Farm to pick....

blueberries and.....

blackberries and......

peaches.

We started with the blueberries because we had to wait for the tractor to take us to pick the other 2. I have never been a huge fan of plain blueberries( from the store). I do however love them in jams, jellies, muffins, pancakes, etc. Blueberries are definitely better when picked yourself and fresh. 

Here are all the kids waiting for the tractor. Griffin spent the night off with some friends so he did not go. 

Next, we went to pick blackberries. The first spot they took us they were mostly tart and didn't look good. So we asked if we could move to the next patch. I am so glad they let us because they were amazingly big and delicious. Just to show you how big they were here is a picture I took.

Lastly, we went to pick peaches.

Laney being her usual self and giving me a hard time. She is still in the phase of not wanting to take pictures. I may just quit putting her on this blog. Then she will not be able see or read about herself.

We picked a whole bucket full. Of course, we had to taste the merchandise too. 

By now it is hot and we are drenched with sweat, so we head to the pond to cool off. 

One of my friends in laws have several aches of land with a huge pond that is treated to make it a clear pretty blue.

They have huge catfish that swim below your feet.

Here was our loot that we brought home.

I can definitely see another trip to Sander's farm in our future.

Handmade perms

Okay, those of you who have straight hair with no body at all ever remember doing this.

French braiding your hair (while it was wet) and sleeping on it so that you could wake up in the morning to this.....

a handmade perm.

The girls have recently discovered this new hairdo and love it!

I remember when I was younger wanting my hair to be curly like my friends. I tried a perm a few times but this always seemed to be a quicker, easier and a cheaper method.

Carmel's Day

I hope all the fathers out there had a wonderful Father's Day.

Yesterday, we went to church and then we took Carmel to Cheddar's for lunch. I think everyone else decided to do the same thing. I did not get a picture because I forgot  my camera....oh well.

After lunch, we headed back home for presents. For the wrapping and card making we got a little creative. You could use this idea anytime.

We took those white present boxes and decorated them with our own designs and messages. I got these back at Christmas time when they were 75% off. No wrapping paper or cards needed.

We had a great time putting our own personal touches on them.

Present time!

Laney giggled the whole time while giving her present.

Carmel received running clothes ( since he is training for his second marathon), a shirt and Griffin gave him a book. He had 1 more box to open that was from all of us. Inside was a note that told him to go look in the back of the van.

This is what he found......

Carmel spent the rest of the day doing homework while waiting on his baseball game to come on.

We love our daddy!

What an eventful day!

I thought I would share with you my humorous day. I promise you I do not make these things up. I think I could make a living by having my own comedy show. 

So folks.....here it goes!

Carmel went to help someone move so I thought this would be a great day to go get Father's Day presents( yes, I know it's tomorrow....by the way if you are my father or my father in law and you are  reading this your card is on it's way.....come Monday. 

Things were going good until we went to Sam's Club.

After we finished shopping, we decided to grab lunch there. Laney goes to the bathroom to wash her hands and comes back to the table confused. She says, " Mom there was this man in the women's bathroom. He had short hair and was wearing boys clothes. I was going to tell him he was in the wrong bathroom." As soon as she finished telling me I knew exactly who she was referring to. The he was definitely a she only wanting to be a he. Thank goodness Laney( my outspoken child) did not speak what was on her mind.

We get out to the car, crank it, buckle up, get ready to back out and I see Ella doing the pee pee dance. So I pull back in and take her inside to go to the bathroom.

I go back home to drop the fruit and the girls off. I can get so much more accomplished if it is just me and Griffin....... or so I thought.

I am in Kohl's dressing room with clothes off when that mornings coffee hits me. So I begin doing the opposite of the pee pee dance. When I finally make it to the bathroom......oh wonderful the automatic flushers. Can I just say I do not like those things. They never flush for me when I want or need them to. Standing on one leg and flushing with my foot has worked for me the past several years. Why change a good thing????? Anyways......I am almost positive I heard the lady gasping for air next to me. Lesson learned.....lay low on the coffee for a while.

After Kohl's, we head to JCPenney. I am waiting for a car to move when I feel a bump. An 80 year old man was backing out of his parking place and hits me. I hop out hoping there is no damage and I can press on. I should have known better. It is scratched. I barely have a chance to check it out before a younger guys come over to tell me to get my car out of the way so he can get out. People these days....always in a hurry. So I move the van. The elderly man was with his brother( who was probably in his 70s). We decide not to call the cops and just contact his insurance company while we are there. I would have thought the worst was behind me but then I forgot about a  word called disaster. The brother needed permission from the 80 year old to handle the claim with the insurance lady on the phone (did I mention the 80 year old could not hear and could barely walk). The brother hands the phone to the 80 year old to which he tells the lady, "I CAN'T HEAR SO MY BROTHER HAS MY PERMISSION TO HANDLE THE CLAIM......OKAY, BYE." and he hangs up! The brother starts fussing at the 80 year old for hanging up, meanwhile, the brother's wife is in the car sweating but can't get out because she needs her wheelchair and during the whole time their mentally retarded son/grandson has gone into the restaurant by himself.  I look back over to the 80 year old who says, "I am going to pass out if I don't sit down.".  I smile, give them my number and tell them just  to call me.By this time I am thinking....my car is really not that bad.

I finally get into JCPenney where the air is not working........fantastic!

I go to Books A Million where at  the check out an overly happy lady can't believe I am not a member. For the 5th time.......No, thank you! and I do not want a free trial of magazines. Been there....done that. She then starts in her singing voice telling me how I can go online to tell about my experiences here in the wonderful land of Books A Million. I am thinking.........you really do not want me to do that.....NOT TODAY! But I simple smile and walk out.

I then go to Lowe's where they do not have what I want for Carmel. Maybe, the kids can just get him underwear and a Mt. Dew.

I finally get home after 7:00. Ella meets me at the car wrapped in a blanket, daddy is nowhere( I found out later he was helping a neighbor) and there is no supper. 

I don't know about you but I have a headache after all that. I think I am going to pop a pill that will take me to the land of dreams and call it a night.

A simple dessert

Thursday night, I was invited for a Ladies Movie Night at a friends house. I was asked to bring a snack. My day consisted of going to the  library to see a puppet show that morning. As soon as it was over we went to Columbus. We met my mom for lunch and to pick up Griffin. By the time we got back it was too late to fix something gourmet, fancy. Okay lets just face it it had to be quick and easy. So I decided on this......

Homemade Raisinets

( what's a movie without them!)

These are very quick and easy to make. Take chocolate bark and place it in a bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds, stir and heat for another 30 seconds or until melted. Add raisins, stir and spread on wax paper to cool. 

I also made chocolate covered pretzels. These are made the same way.

You can get very creative with these. I drizzled mine with white or dark chocolate. You could dip these in sprinkles or nuts. They are a great project for the kids to do. As long as they do not eat them all before they dry.

Even though we mostly talked about our wonderful husbands and adorable kids( before, some during and after the movie), it was nice to take a break from being a mommy for a little while.

Thanks Dawn for hosting!

We planned for the next ladies movie night to be at my house in 23 days 5 hours 36 minutes and 5 seconds when my hubby and kids are gone for a week.

Part 3 of Gatlinburg

Friday, June 11

My mom, Laney, Ella and myself decided to ride the trolley around Gatlinburg. Griffin and Ashton opted out of this one and decided to go with my cousin to the Ripley's Aquarium. 

Mom and the girls mapping out our travels.

We bought a pass for $2 which allowed us to ride the trolley all day. We could get off and on as many times as we liked as long as you got on the right color. We were kicked off the first trolley we hopped on. 

Ella is into posing these days. 

We were having a great time riding the trolley until we got on one where the air did not work and I could not get the window to go up...... not a joyable ride. So we decided to get off and walk the strip of Gatlinburg. We were doing pretty good with just browsing and avoiding the pricey activities until we came to the sky lift. The begging began. Laney even offered up her savings.

And so this momma gave in. 

Going up!

Once we reached the top, we got a slushy and snapped a few pictures.

Going down!

That night the rest of the Parker Clan came. We ate and played a mean game of spoons. If you have ever played spoons before, you know it can get quite brutal. Just to let you know how brutal the game got. A certain lady who I will keep her identity a secret( and no it wasn't me) actually pushed a sweet innocent player on the ground for a spoon. 

Saturday, June 12

We headed to Nascar Speedway for some friendly family go cart racing.

And their off...........

Ella said she wanted to stick to the ones more her speed.

Which was 2mph.

Just a few other things we did while we were there. 

While I was waiting on Laney, Carmel went and found his favorite chair.

Just as we were about to leave it started to rain. For those who bought a wristband could go and get a raincheck for another wristband to use later. The great thing is that they never expire and you can use them anywhere there is a Nascar Speedway. 

We headed back to the cabin for dinner together and some entertainment.......Parker style (karaoke, of course).

This is my cousins stepdaughter. She is the real entertainment. She is going to make it big one of these days......she is that good! She has already sang at Six Flags, Country Tonight in Pigeon Forge, Nashville and several other places.

Here are a few of the others that followed her:

I had a rocking good performance!

My sister on the other hand.....well lets just say she should have gotten a few pointers from me.

Now here is another girl who likes to perform. What can I say she takes it from me. We even have jam sessions occasionally.

So how many families do this at their family reunions?

Well, this is the end of our Gatlinburg posts. I know this one may have been quite long but I was trying not to go for a part 4. We had a wonderful time as always. It went by way to fast but  I look forward to Thanksgiving when we will all be together again.

Thank you Vicky Parker for planning this trip.