Saturday, August 2, 2008

More Self-Inflicted Torture

***Yay, I got a connection! For now anyway...***


My internet connection was knocked out Thursday night so I couldn’t post on my blogs. I couldn’t let you guys know that we’re going camping this weekend. And now I can’t seem to get an internet connection here in the wilderness, so I’ll just write little updates and post them when I get home, I guess.

Vacation Bible School is over. Hooray! It’s always such a fun week. During the week, I feel so energized and upbeat. By Friday I have to drag myself to church and I walk around from activity to activity, a constant eye on the clock – is it time to go home yet? I was asked to help out with the preschoolers on Thursday and Friday. I left the peace and tranquility of the kitchen and joined the throngs of crazy kids hopped up on sugar and adrenaline.

The curriculum for this year’s VBS was Power Lab. The kids learned that Jesus gives them the power to be thankful; to help others; to be brave; to live forever; to tell others about God’s love.

I learned that Clayton is not, in fact, the most hyperactive kid on the planet. I learned that I’m a “Squidhead”. At least that’s what Clayton called me (very loudly, I might add) in front of the entire church. I guess it could’ve been worse. I also learned that I have the power to be patient (at least sometimes); to be energetic (ok, that may be pushing it a little); to function on 4 hours of sleep (at least for a week); and to be happy I only have six kids to watch every day.

The preschoolers were really cute and certainly seemed to have a lot of fun this week. I think it’s interesting how every class of preschoolers has the same individuals in it. We had a couple of hyper kids who couldn’t seem to sit still for a minute when there were so many things to touch and see and explore. There was the class monitor who kept us up to date on the goings on of the group. “Teacher, he’s being mean to me. Teacher, that girl won’t sit down. Teacher, after church today, my mom and dad and brother and me are going to go out to dinner and I’m going to get chicken nuggets because I don’t really like macaroni and cheese but my brother likes macaroni but I like it sometimes but chicken nuggets are my favorite and we’re going to the best restaurant to eat because I picked the restaurant because I really like it.” They’re all so cute!

So after VBS, we ran home, finished packing up, and hit the road for Wisconsin. About 20 minutes into our trip, the truck started overheating so we got to go the remaining 2 hours and 10 minutes with the heat blowing full blast into the truck. It's all good though. I mean, it was only 92 degrees here so we were feeling a little chilly.
It’s been 4 hours since we arrived and I still haven’t cooled off yet. Oh well, at least the truck didn't burst into flames. Don't laugh - it's happened.

Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say. I DON’T KNOW WHY I GO CAMPING! IT’S A SICKNESS.

***I don't know if I'll be able to update until we get home because my connection is kinda iffy.***

31 comments:

Brenda said...

Preschoolers are the funniest people on the planet. I love them. I'm glad you made it there and hope you can figure out how to fix the truck before time to head back. Enjoy(????) camping. I'm strictly a Holiday Inn girl myself.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'm offically having blog withdrawl.... I can't go more than 2 days without my fix! LOL... It's always a mini-vacation to read about you and your adventures. So, I came up with a solution to your internet connection problems: Write your blog, then call a really great friend(with an internet connection) and get her to post for you!! Then we can ALL be happy. BTW, LOVE your blog Dawn, I've read it since the pokemon auction came up.

MaBunny said...

Wow, VBS sounded fun. Nicole didn't get to go to VBS this year because she was in Colorado for three weeks, which was way better than VBS.
Where in Wisconsin did you go? I know when I was little and way befor I was born my parents used to go camping and fishing up in Rhinelander (sp?) Wisconsin.
Hope you have a great time!

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha! I wondered where you were. I was afraid for a minute that the little VBS munchkins had taken you hostage. ;) We have our VBS a week after school's out. I think the church leaders feel like if we do it quick, the teachers won't have time to come up with an excuse for why they can't help. I had 50 (yes, that's five zero) in my kindergarten class. And I know EXACTLY what you mean about the types of kids in the class. It's all a distant memory now...thank goodness. I think I'll be on vacation next year when VBS rolls around...yeah...pretty sure about that.

Have fun camping!

Bookworm said...

Hi, I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now and I have to laugh about this camping thing.

Are you kidding me?!? LOL

I'd have given up long ago. The camping gods are trying to tell you something. Seems like every time you go, something happens to the truck. I mean, hel-LOOO???

LOL You're braver than me, girl!

Anonymous said...

Have a great time up here in fabulous Wiscon...hahahhahaha...

ok I almost made it through that sentence without laughing. ;)

Seriously, though, the weather is AMAZING today, you picked a good weekend to "escape to Wisconsin" as the 80's advertising boasted.

Jules said...

Sending you icey thoughts.........
and hopes for not rain!

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn! I hope your camping trip has very minimal problems! Although, they are fun to read about! :-) I just wanted to say that we also did the Power Lab VBS. Ours was back in June (the first week after school was out), but we are still singing the songs in the car, and my girls are still doing all the moves. We loved it! Here's a new Bible point...well sort of... Jesus gives us the power to survive summer/kids/camping/anything! AHA!!

Cherisse from Aurora (our church is St. Timothy Lutheran in Naperville)

Veggiemomof2 said...

I really liked the Power Lab this year. Kids of all ages are interested in science experiments.

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

Have fun!!!

Be glad you're not in Florida with the heat running. Ick.

mommeeof10 said...

We go camping because we believe that it wasn't really as bad last time as we remember. Our memory must be faulty and this trip will be better, It's the same reason people gamble. Someone has to win, I might be that someone.

Rick said...

I don't mean to be rude (Well, maybe a little rude) but it sounds to me that the connection in somebody's brain is a little "iffy."

VBS all week?
Four hours of sleep each night?
Going camping after all that?
Driving a truck that is overheating, with the heater on full blast while it's 97% outside?

Sounds like somebody's mental modem has gone "kaputt!"

Anonymous said...

We did Power Lab at our church as well this year and LOVED it, although I felt the same you described. I led snacks for all the little munchkins....oh what fun :)

Anonymous said...

If you get up towards Madison, WI there's a fantastic restaurant called Ellas Deli. It has an original carousel and Tons of cool stuff to see inside; it's uber kid friendly. When I was a little girl we went for every birthday and when we get the chance to travel back to Madison now, our kids adore it. Have Fun!

Lucille said...

Where in my wonderful state ARE YOU? I have never been camping nor do I intend to go to any hotel without a pool! Ha, ha. I hear it is fun to go camping so I hope you have a great time!

Post when you can. We'll all be here.

Nadia said...

I live in Canada and most of the churches around here have power lab for VBS as well...must be the only vbs curriculum out there? LOL. did you make goggles and first aid kits too?? nothing like bandaids all over the toys..

Anonymous said...

Heh. My minister asked if I was going to help out with VBS this year. I said, "Um, probably not a good idea. I'll fix your computer, or bake communion bread, but seriously don't put me in charge of other people's kids". She laughed and said, "It's good you know where your strengths lie". I said, "That's a really nice way of saying it's good you know what you suck at!" She said, "They teach us diplomacy at seminary". :)

So, I sent my daughter (13) to help out with it, and I've got communion bread in the oven. :D

Anonymous said...

camping- my kids always say, "Why do we have to go camping? Why can't we just stay home, turn our electricity off, turn our water off, and pee in the yard?"

Kresta Glaser said...

While I love to camp - and I mean the all out sleeping on the ground, fishing, and the works kind of camping - there is NO way I would travel any distance in your truck. ROFL You put a whole new meaning to "roughing it" when you set out in that thing. I think that'd be the first thing on my list once the big money starts rolling in from your book - trade off that gem for something else!! ;)

Feisty Irish Wench said...

camping? again? You really do like self imposed torture.

Anonymous said...

We also did Power Lab at VBS at our church. I had a perfect excuse not to help out this year; I was due the same week. It seems that all the Lutheran churches do the same VBS (that is me assuming your Lutheran). I heard that VBS was a lot of fun and all the kids enjoyed it.

OneWritingMomma said...

Sounds like the camping ought to be pretty interesting! Just watched your interview on 5 Minutes for Mom! Great job!!

Anonymous said...

Today was Day 24 of 3-digit temps in Dallas. I am remembering our 2007 summer vacation to the Wisconsin Dells, which were cool and lovely and green! Ooooh, the Wisconsin dairy products are amazing! I hope you get to enjoy some while you're up there!

By the way, some of my family had a mobile home up in Minocqua. When my aunt was on her deathbed, she told her daughter that she was able to see into heaven. My cousin (her daughter) was a travel agent: "What does it look like, Mom? Hawaii?"

"No," Aunt Rose said. "It looks like a Wisconsin summer afternoon."

Sure sounds good to me down here in blistering Texas!

Anonymous said...

We lived in an rv for 8 years straight, and managed a campground for 10 years and it is a fun way to get out there and meet people. Though I must admit that some people are nicer than others. Of course, we don't plan on ever going camping again. Hope the rest of your trip turned out good and that you get your connection back. I have no idea if you will get this or not because I really have no idea how to put a comment on a blog. Anyway keep up the good job.
Sudee in Florida

Mozi Esme said...

Those kids sound adorable!

Glad you got some kind of a connection. I HATE internet withdrawals . . . Someone needs to write the symptoms and make it into a bonafide medical condition.

Have fun in the heat!

Anonymous said...

My wife does church Holiday clubs, but I don't think they're for me - I prefer working with the teenagers!

And camping? Yuck, no thanks!

The Broken man

http://theblogofabrokenman.blogspot.com/

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Well, on behalf of the entire state, "Welcome to Wisconsin!"

Best of luck camping this week - we're finally getting the rain we've been promised forever!

Bekah said...

My daughter just went to VBS last week with POWER LAB as the theme! She had so much fun! She's 5 and *almost* in kindergarten. It's so cute when they get home and start telling you about VBS. I loved when she told me that "Jesus gives us the power TO HELP OTHERS!!!!" She yelled the last part, and woke up her baby brother.

Anonymous said...

We went camping on the Oregon coast last week. I have two things to say. 1 - I feel your pain. 2 - I finally had to give up trying to like camping. I'm done. I've tried for six years and I just can't do it anymore. If you're interested, here's the blog I wrote about it. http://cheri-beri.blogspot.com/2008/08/our-trip-to-oregon-coast.html

The trip ended up with my husband getting six stitches in his thumb. Need I say more?

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

Ah-HAAA!!

We did that VBS too. ;-) Fun, but soooo much work!

Anonymous said...

We did that VBS too and it was a BLAST
Camping is NOT for me My idea of roughing it is NOT room service

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