Kansas Camp

A couple of weeks ago, we packed up the car to take a family road trip to Edgerton, Kansas where Zack was the speaker at a student Youthfront camp all week.  Every inch of the car was packed full and we were prepared for 9-10 hours of car time with tons of activities, movies, snacks, and pillows. We were excited for a week together with no cooking and cleaning and free snacks and drinks and pools!

Here's what the kids looked like starting off.

When we got there, they had two connecting apartments for us to stay...Emmy and Zane in one room and Smith and Zack and I in the other.  It was a great, air conditioned space that we were so thankful to be in.  The kids staying next door had a bunch of fun toys and a playset out front that were fun.

 I love these pics of Zane and Emmy pushing Smith. Their cheeks were red and hot all week - probably because it was in the 100's everyday, and humid!

Like the hats...

Smith LOVED this toy and rocked the whole time, like to make it go faster.

One of our highlights was when the kids and I tried to little pool at the bottom of the slide (that's why it's so murky) and found a frog.  It was on the slide, so they scared it into the pool and chased it for almost an hour before it was finally worn out enough that it gave up.  They tried so many ways of catching him, sneaking up, jumping, grabbing, etc. and finally scooped him up in a bucket.

Zane was so proud of himself and was pretty fearless with holding him.  Emmy, surprisingly, was a little creeped out. The frog sat on Zane's hand, rested for about 30 sec, and then just hopped off.

 

I wish I would have been able to get more pictures of us at the pool.  We got to swim anytime we wanted, even when it was closed to the students.  So awesome.  They jumped off the diving board, and Zane started swimming on his own underwater with no help.  They could have stayed in all day. They also got to go down a huge slide.  Emmy wanted to go over and over and it made Zane pretty nervous.  Here's a picture of Emmy drinking a cherry limeade - she begged for them all week, and Zane wearing his goggles, which he wore all week.

 

We also had to try the paddle boats.  It was really fun, for about 5 min, and then everyone was ready to get off.  Smith laughed for the first few and then just wanted out of his vest.

Zack did such an awesome job teaching at the camp. Somehow, he was able to write 10 talks and add graphics and videos, etc and still spend time with us.  We were so proud of him!!!   AND, the day before we were going to drive home, my sister called and said she was being induced into labor.  I knew right then I couldn't miss it, so Zack booked me and Smith on a flight later that afternoon to get back in time to meet my niece and he drove the two kids back by himself the next day.  WHAT. A. GUY. 

Birthday Videos

I forgot to post these videos when I posted pictures of Zane's birthday. Here he is talking about his party day and then blowing out his candles.

Zane is 5!

Yes, Zane is 5. This feels like such a huge milestone.  I can't believe how old he really seems lately and I love it even though I don't know where the time went.  He really is just the sweetest guy - which is exactly who he's been since he was born.  I have loved thinking back to his birth and first few years. But now I'm excited for this year and looking forward to having a 5 year old, a Kindergartner, a big helper, and a great big brother.

Look at this cute little face! 5 years ago...wow.


 
 


We had Zane's birthday party this year a few days early.  It was an interesting party because almost none of Zane's friends could make it (after inviting 30 kids).  It worked out well though, because it ended up just being family and a couple of Zane's good friends. We had it at the park near our house and the kids had fun for sure.  The adults had fun just eating and hanging out in the shade.

Here's our guy eating his snacks before going out to play.

Smith and Nell

Emmy with their friend Skylar

Spiderman / 4th of July theme

Grandma Shirley and little guy

Love this guy

Smith was lucky to have his cousin in town.  Zack's sister Becca and her son Perry were in town, as well as his mom Nancy.  So the kids got to have family stay with us all weekend.

Sand

Hanging with Grandpa Jack

 

Zane wanted to be sure there were white and chocolate cupcakes so that people could choose. :)  I love these next three pics (thanks Dad).  I just love his expressions!!!

v

He let Emmy help him open almost every gift - he was so patient.  His friends loved watching.  Here he was opening his gift from his friend.

The little boys got to eat lunch in the stroller.  Thanks Gigi!

HOT faces!

Zane and Skylar

THEN, a few days later we got to celebrate Zane's real birthday on the 4th as a family.  Zack had the whole day off, which was awesome and we got to have a really  packed day.

We had blueberry muffins for breakfast and spent the morning relaxing, playing games, and playing legos at home.

Then, went to McDonalds for lunch.

After that, we headed to the mall and had to get ice cream of course.

Later that evening, we left Smith with Grandma Fran and took the two older kids to the fireworks event in Broomfield.  Their favorite part of the whole night was riding the school bus shuttle from where we parked to the park. 

They had bounce houses, a playground, petting zoo, pony rides, etc.  It was awesome just playing and hanging out, waiting for fireworks.

They held on pretty well.  Right before fireworks, we put them in pjs and snuggled in.  They both LOVED it, for the first while.  Then Emmy fell asleep and slept through the last half of the fireworks, loud finale and all. 

 

Here they are so excited with their glowsticks.

 
Here's Zack carrying Emmy afterwards.  

 

Afterwards, we went to catch our shuttle back to our car and realized that there were a million people waiting in front of us.  They only had two buses so it was taking forever.  Zack finally had to run 3 miles to the car to pick it up and bring it back and we still beat the second load of people out.  What a hero. :) Luckily, while we waited for him, Emmy slept and Zane fell asleep on the bench next to us. We didn't make it home till about 11:30. Long day, but fun!