Music Camp Week

During the last week of June, the girls participated in music camp. They've done the camp the past few years, and it has become a favorite summer tradition. This was Elisabeth's last year. We're all a little sad about that.  

Samuel asked to volunteer. He was impacted positively by one of the teen volunteers when he was in music camp the previous year and was called to help. I loved that because it's not really his comfort zone, but he felt called. I did giggle a little each morning when I dropped him off. He always pulled out a book to read while he waited for the kids in his group to arrive. 

We had a conflict on one of the mornings of music camp, so the girls skipped to attend the end of the year Keepers of the Faith meeting, a day camping trip! Samuel joined us too to impart all his camping knowledge he's learned in Trail Life. 

The girls learned how to set up a tent and start a fire. They also got to kayak and swim in the lake. 

Samuel was determined to start a fire with flint and steel. It took a long time, but he succeeded, and we were all so proud. 

He didn't seem to mind too much being surrounded by girls all day. 

Friday night the girls had their music camp performance. Katherine sang a solo, and Elisabeth was cast as Shadrach in the performance. They both did an incredible job and learned so much truth about faith and trusting God even in the hard times. 

Elisabeth's sweet friend Kaydence asked to come and watch the performance. Elisabeth felt very loved having her best friend support her. 

She also wasn't too sad to turn it into a sleepover, ha! And extra special because it was Kaydence's first night at her new house. Love these girls!

I feel like it's been a theme of the summer, but goodness it's such a blessing spending time with my kids and cheering them on in their passions. Music Camp week was a pretty awesome week!

June Happenings

 We jumped right into summer happenings at the beginning of June with a week of Vacation Bible School. The week before, the kids and I decorated my missions room. Decorating and creativity are not my strengths, so having older kids who have those strengths has made things so much easier the past couple of years. Decorating has become a family affair that we all enjoy, and I think everything turned out really cute. 

Katherine made the giant flowers, all the kids colored the butterflies, and Samuel always comes in clutch with executing the details like the grass and cute little caterpillar. 

It's crazy that I'm down to only two campers this year. Thankfully, the boys are happy to serve, so we can all attend together through the week. Nathan served as a rotating teacher, and Samuel helped me with Pre-k missions. 

The girls love a theme, and Katherine hit the mark on Wacky Wednesday. 

The four and five year olds kept Nathan busy during the week on the playground. He serves so well with the preschoolers. I'm proud of him!

The week after VBS was actually the only "free" week in June, so we took advantage of no plans and drove over to Seminole for a day at the Jasmine Moran Museum. This has become a favorite summer tradition, and every year, I wonder if the kids will start to outgrow it, but for now, we're still going strong. 

It's hot in June, so the kids didn't spend too much time outside

They spent just long enough for Katherine to get muddy in the mud kitchen. That's what it's there for, right?

It was a little crowded in the morning, but after lunch all the day care groups left, and we had the place to ourselves. Of course we closed the museum down that evening. That's how the Baugher kids play!

There were some important court rulings

And we ended the day with a few rounds of Supermarket Sweep. Somehow Elisabeth always ends up winning! 

Driving home that day, I was overcome with gratefulness to have all four of my kids in the van with me spending this summer adventure days together. I'm well aware that these summer days are numbered having a high schooler who before I know it will be driving and working, and I will cherish each moment I get to spend with them. Staying home with them in the summer is truly the greatest privilege. 

Last year, at the insistence of Mindy, my boys attended Red River Valley Honor Camp and had the most incredible week. This year their sister was old enough to join, and she could not wait. She was fully packed days before she left. It was her first sleep away camp, but in true Elisabeth fashion she wasn't nervous at all. 

I prayed for these sweet kiddos all week long. 

While we missed the half of our family that was away, Katherine also soaked up the only child life. She doesn't look too sad to be away from her siblings for a week. :)

I did enroll her in a day camp, so she wouldn't be so lonely during the long days. She swam, roller skated, and visited the aquarium and also came away with an appreciation for being homeschooled, ha! While she was away during the days, I went on a cleaning and purging fest in the kids' rooms. It too all week long, but I was able to drop of a full car load of donations and cleaned out every drawer, cubby, shelf and closet in their rooms. 

In the evenings, we watched girly movies and ate Katherine's favorite foods. 

I was grateful to receive a few pictures of the big kids at camp. They had a wonderful week. 

I felt much more at peace sending Elisabeth away knowing that her brothers would take care of her. 

Elisabeth developed some really special friendships during the week. 

Not only did the kids have a fun week, but they also all three grew in their relationship with the Lord. Samuel and Elisabeth participated in evangelism training, and all three memorized scripture and shared about how God worked in their lives. I soaked up all their chatter on the drive home from camp. They each shared about their spiritual maturity and lessons learned during the week. They're also already planning for next year's camp.