Acolyting for the first time...

(Michael blogging...) Emma and Carter had their first experiences as acolytes at our church. This means that they get to wear little white robes and carry a flame to the front of the church and light the candles at the front of the sanctuary during the first part of the Sunday service.

After a few times of running though the routine for practice - it was showtime! They both pulled it off without a hitch and beamed with pride as they walked back down the aisle. I met them both afterward to help them disrobe and tell them that they did a great job. Carter's reply was: "Now everyone knows I'm old enough to handle fire!" Great...

First Day of School

(Michael blogging...) Not that the first day of school is some unexpected or novel event - but it's a continuing rite of passage and a great opportunity to take pictures! Ethan is in 8th grade, Harry in 4th, and Emma and Carter are now in 1st grade!

Labor Day...with very little labor this time!

(Michael blogging...) For the umpteenth time - our church held the annual all-church campout over Labor Day weekend. This year - we had it at Nehalem Bay State Park campground.

Ethan and Justin both spent the bulk of their time with the youth group - leaving Laura and I to "only" have to tend to Harry, Brendan, Emma, and Carter. All four of them enjoyed their time on the beach and even had a chance to fly a kite!

We were both surprised at how well the whole weekend went - and how little stress we felt, even with the pending start to the school year. We had a little rain at night - but the daytime weather was sublime!

Laura and I may even press our luck and help plan the next year's campout. After all - they should only keep getting easier, right?

Brendan provide, perhaps, the most memorable moment of the campout when he saw Carter gnawing on a stick he just dug out of the brush. With utter disgust and incredulity, he admonished Carter for this act of barbarity and I was lucky enough to take a picture at that precise moment.