Last night, I managed to drop into bed at 12:30 a.m. I was up at 6:20 a.m. to open the door for my 9-year old babysittee (I’m the babysitter; she’s the babysittee.) Then, back to bed for thirty more futile minutes. I was at church at 8 a.m. for final photocopying and troubleshooting and welcoming. (See those flowers? All created by Church Ladies. We strung them on thin wire into garlands. My friend, Jenn, and I painted the little village on giant sheets of foam insulation.)
I had 78 children preregistered by last night. This morning, another twenty arrived and when it was all said and done, we ended up with 90 children in attendance. As far as I know, we encountered no major problems, aside from a three-year old who was distraught for an hour. We called her parents who picked her up.
My daughter shocked and awed me by agreeing to attend the preschool class with her best friend. His stepdad was her crew leader and she followed along and participated as if she’d been going to preschool her whole life. (She’s never even stayed with a babysitter, other than her grandmother. She refuses to stay in the church nursery without me.) During the closing program, the speaker asked for volunteers to come onstage and sing and dance.
She went up and sang and danced!
Furthermore, she is completely ready to do it all again tomorrow. I could not be more surprised. Well, I could be more surprised, say if a caterpillar crawled out of my ear right now and turned into a butterfly large enough to spirit me away to a tropical island. That might surprise me more.
Only four days to go. Though, actually, my work is pretty much done. When you are the behind-the-scenes organizer, the weeks prior to the event are the real work. The actual event is a pleasure to behold from a chair while sipping a Diet Coke. With lime.
Actual Unretouched Photo 
Told you so.
I’ll try to remember my camera tomorrow and take a picture of ours. It would be interesting to see the different decorating approaches to the same program.
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Looks great Mel. I’m in awe of you all the time!
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I’m exhausted just looking at the pictures! I was in charge of VBS ( for 40 kids) once and I’m still recovering. Great work!
Mary
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It’s approximately 4:15 am. Waking in the middle of the night is not unusual for me. I despise insomnia. I so wish I could go to bed at night and wake up to that lovely sound of happy, singing birds. And just the hint of daylight. Feeling rested.
I don’t know when or how I ever joined Club Mom. I believe I went to the sight after watching The View and hearing Meredith mention it. I remember feeling a bit odd when I joined since my children are not children anymore. But because raising my children was the highlight of my life, I concluded that I was allowed.
“The Amazing Shrinking Woman” caught my eye yesterday, and so I somehow found my way here. I am not sure who will be reading what I write, or if I will ever find my way back to this area of the computer. But I am an overweight middle-aged woman and the thought of losing weight with others is inviting to me. I read of Melodee’s loss and was happy for her. I never fathomed that I would have a temporary goal to reach 199. To get below that 200 mark. My fat is the result of binge eating and sugar.
I searched for “Empty Nest Mom” in the box that was provided on one of the pages of this site. But it did not advance. Are there other older Mom’s who have joined?
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Wow. That looks great!
Now I want to buy some foam insulation to paint on.
Amazing about your daughter. With my daughter it was the opposite. Once she could walk, we never saw her. Now, as an adult, she comes to visit almost every day!
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Looks great! Now sit back and enjoy that Diet Coke with Lime (one of my favs!).
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wow! that’s awesome! your church is beautiful, btw! and how exciting for your little one!! you’ve got lots to celebrate with your diet coke with lime. I think I’ll join you!! 🙂
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wow! everything looks so great! you did a really great job and i’m sure all these kids will be so blessed by all your (and your volunteers) efforts!
and about your daughter – you give me hope for my ever clingy (though i do have to admit i love it right now mostly) daughter. i don’t want her to socially isolate herself from others and your stories of your daughter’s turn-around behavior lately have been encouraging!!
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The set looks great, Mel and it sounds like a great turnout. Congrats on surviving!
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Wow! It looks fantastic! And how great that you all had such a great turnout! Glad your daughter is having fun too (more fun for mom). Now, maybe you can enjoy the rest of the week and think of all the little lives that will be touched with the love of God.
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You go girl!
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squeeeeeee!! success!! 😉
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I’m thinking they owe you at least a 24 pack of Diet Coke with Lime for all the work you put into seeing this VBS done, and done well I might add. Not that you are looking for a payment, but it is nice to be appreciated.
The rum would, of course, be up to you since it is church and all. (I don’t know how that would go with the Lime though… Maybe you should ask for regular Diet Coke, just in case.)
Well done, Mel!
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Looks awesome! I’m very impressesd with the village you painted….ours is next week…I’m turning our parlor into an underwater coral reef! woo hoo!
thanks for always making me smile… 🙂
grace
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Looks fab!
And, Mr. Personality needs to take some lessons from Babygirl. He refused to swim with the swim instructor at swimming lessons today. Sigh. Although, it feels crazy that they will be four in just a couple months, doesn’t it?
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Ah, Fiesta. Since I am pregnant this year I asked for a cushy job, so I’m manning the Chadder station. What fun! Watching the video 4-5 times a day and asking the children questions when all they really want to do is is go run and play. I guess I should have just ran a crew or done games like last year.
Oh, BTW, your foam village is wonderful! We have one too – fortunately donated by another church who had their Fiesta a few weeks ago and was just going to throw all their stuff away.
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Everything looks GREAT! It used to tire me out just getting my kids to VBS everyday for a week; I can’t imagine how you pulled it off. I wonder if I’ll ever be the type of person who isn’t overwhelmed by the slightest bit of responsibility (on top of the parenting thing, but that’s just a LITTLE thing, you know. :-P)
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I’ve been following your VBS saga. Those decorations look GREAT! Enjoy your Diet Coke. And lime :o)
Terri
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What a big girl she is!! She’s totally cracking me up. I need to see another picture, please 🙂
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Enjoy your diet coke, you earned it! Isn’t amazing how our kids surprise us, even when they are with us the majority of the time? I hope she enjoys the VBS, you too.
Can’t wait to hear more.
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And doesn’t the Diet Coke with Lime just make it ALL worth while?? It looks great! You all did a wonderful job!
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Melodee – it looks GREAT. Yeah for your little girl too :). She’s so brave and absolutely precious. I can’t wait for my little man to go next year, as a helper that is!
We are proud of you Melodee, you did such an amazing job. The kids are sure blessed!
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It looks amazing! I hope you survive it all and then get a week off.
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Hi Mel!! It looks so attractive.. I wish I could be part of the Fiesta too! Wow you are a SuperWoman..you got all that done in so less time and now you have truly earned your diet coke eh 😉
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Wow! You all did a fantastic job! Very , very cute! Hope the kids have a blast learning about the Lord!
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