Last of the Beans

Kevin picked the last of the beans.  They were not very pretty - light green, some worm holes, etc.  We had to do lots of sorting when we snapped them.  Glad to have company who could help out!  But they were still tasty when we had them for dinner.

Cowboy Camp

Camden attended Cowboy Camp again this year.  It's always the week before school starts and is a great way to get kids back into the grove of waking up, getting ready, and being someplace for most of the day (9am-4pm).  It's all free and they feed them lunch.  They also get to ride and groom horses, do crafts, sing fun songs, learn Bible verses, etc. The best VBS ever.

This year, Camden's cousin Trey (Grandpa French's great, great nephew) also went.  His family comes and stays with GaGa and Grandpa every summer for an extended time so this worked out well for everyone.

On Wednesday, Camden went home with Trey to GaGa's for dinner and sleepover.  I got a call from her, "Guess what, mama?...I got saved."  Camden made the decision she wanted to follow Jesus and asked for forgiveness of her sins.  We rejoice.

 

Monon Community Center Water Park

On the last weekend before school started, we did one last "water" day by checking out the Monon Community Center's Waterpark in Carmel.  It was huge, crowded, and so much fun!  Camden played on and around this structure for a long time.  She said it was completely dark in the slide...which was "amazing."

She headed over to some big water slides that had a long wait.  She did one of them then headed to the lazy river for a few laps.  It was a hot day so waiting in line to get a tube was much cooler laying down in the water.

They also have a surfing area.  While I was signing the waiver they said it would be 45 minutes - 1 hour before she would get her turn.  Well, I guess she went in the wrong entrance/exit, because she was third up after she went in.  I probably should have said something, but...

She said that was so much fun.  I know I loved watching her.  I watched the few before her turn and she did as well as them.

We ended the day at the drop slide.  The line was short and she went several times.

This place was definitely worth our drive.

3rd Annual Ice Cream for Dinner

We met at Waveland Park for a late "dinner."  It was fun to see the crew for this tradition before school starts.

The kiddos have sure grown up!

Last year...

Our first gathering in 2016

Braxton was with us that afternoon, so we brought him along.

Love my crew!

First Day of School

Camden is in the high-ability program and this year they are doing a 4th/5th grade split class.  This was suppose to help a little with class sizes.  It does help the 5th grade, but makes the 4th a little bigger, but still manageable.  The split class is the largest (28), but the range of abilities is a little closer (although still big).  Her teacher is Mr. Saylor. 

We started our first morning with a picture on the front porch, per tradition.  Her first picture was the best straight on, but she has a fake smile and was bugging her eyes...makes me laugh when I look closely at it.  The other two are cute...but still not a natural smile.

The school posted a picture on Facebook. Most of her favorite friends are in other classes, but Rhianah (4th grade) is in her class.

Can't believe we are in our last year of elementary school.

Reunion & Weekend Get-away

The annual Haile family reunion is always on the last weekend of July.  We made a quick bathroom & Sonic stop in Champaign.  Our exit was at the Kraft factory and Camden wanted to get a picture of the huge mac & cheese sculpture.

We decided to make this a "end of summer" getaway.  We brought Sophia with us and enjoyed a night at a hotel in Mt. Vernon. 

Art Camp

Camden has gone to a week of art camp at the Tannenbaum Center/Rotary Jail a few times.  Last year's dates didn't work, but this one was perfect.  It has always been pretty good, but I saw such a vast improvement in quality and how it was run.

On Friday, they had an art show with all their projects displayed.

Loved the splatter paint birdhouse.

Her painted dinosaur with top hat is adorable.

One day they watched the movie "CoCo" and then did Day of the Dead pillows.

We have a lot of art that we need to find a place for.