week ending july 12, 2009:

Week ending July 12, 2009: This week was Cousin Natalie’s birthday. On her real birthday (Friday), we went to the Science Center, USS Constellation, and paddle boats at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor pictured here: http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/NatalieSmithS5thBday2009#
Two days later Natalie had her birthday party, pictured here: http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/NatalieSBdayParty2009#
That got the twins thinking about their birthdays, so we started counting down on the calendar from 80+ days left. They are picking out the themes, making drafts of the invite list, starting wish lists, and looking at plans for cake decorating.
Also this week the twins started Vacation Bible School (VBS). I was asked what I wanted to do to help out and I said that rather than teaching, I’d prefer to help with setup. The director asked if I’d like to be in charge of the decorations. I thought this mean hanging posters, or maybe even painting some murals, so I agreed. A week later I received an e-mail explaining that I was supposed to pick up a canoe from one church member’s house, and coordinate receiving a palm tree and alligator from another member. What??? Anyway, long story short we scaled back the design and created a “bayou” set complete with a cypress tree, vegetation, shack, dock, and back drop. Alex helped a little bit with the painting, and Chloe helped quite a bit. Pictures are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/VBS2009#
VBS is all 4 Tuesdays in July, in the evening. I told the kids I was going to drop them off and they both complained so much that I relented told them I’d stay with them for the first Tuesday. They both really enjoyed the program.