KIDS!!!

Our devotion verse for today, Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Our morning started bright and early! We ate breakfast (eggs w/cheese and ham, chocolate chip pancakes, and oatmeal) and hit the road. We ran into a little bit of traffic on the way to Head Start, but made it before 8! As we entered the center doors, we were spotted by one of the boys, who yelled, "Whites!", threw his hands in the air with a big smile, and ran away (in a playful way). We were greeted with many smiles, hellos and waves from the children & teachers. We couldn't play with the children just yet though...they needed to eat breakfast and we didn't want to distract them (that's the teacher in my not wanting to cause chaos so early in the morning!) :) Then, we met Ms. Butler (one of the 3 & young 4's teachers) and Ms. Shaun (the social worker). We had a little introduction to the center, and then washed some chairs while the kids finished their breakfast.

There were 6 classes total, squeezed into 3 classrooms. It was a really spacious center, but we didn't take any pictures inside due to the policies of the center, and for the protection of the kids. They have a small kitchen, 4 pairs of bathrooms, a small conference room, small break room, and a HUGE playground.

We cleaned every chair in the building (I'm pretty sure!), helped with lunch and snack time, and enjoyed outside time with the kids! :) EVERYONE was chasing or being chased, playing catch, pushing kids on the swings, bouncing kids on the bridge, and/or other participating in other various outdoor actives!

Once we came inside (before it was too hot and raining!) Ms. Anna & Ms. Alison helped in one of the younger classrooms (I can't remember the teachers names!). Ms. Anna read "Little Ms. Spider's Tea Party" to the class. Then, she enjoyed the Dramatic play area with several kids; while Ms. Alison enjoyed the block area with a few of the boys...we made patterns and roads! :) Mr. James and Mr. Mack helped the kitchen staff rearrange the refrigerator, move large quantities of bananas and other foods, and helped breakdown all the boxes from the food the moved into the kitchen :) Ms. Claire and Mr. Mike helped some of the teachers in the older classrooms fix up their bulletin boards for Graduation! Mr. Mitch and Ms. Amelia helped decorate the hallway for Graduation by hanging 2011 graduation hats from the ceiling (the teachers were amazed by the height of our boys, and the twins! LOL!). Mr. Jordan and Mr. Dan entertained some of the older kids with arm wrestling and thumb wars :)

After all the playing and hard work, we enjoyed lunch while the kids enjoyed lunch (I enjoyed a ham sandwich that Mack made...even though I really wanted my PBJ that Claire ate. :) LOL!). Then, the boys helped Mr. Johnson (the maintenance person, who works two jobs to help support his family!) set up hoses for water day...which he later realized wasn't until Friday and he has his days messed up; so the boys picked up all the hoses and toys and put them away for him (with a little chuckle and smiles on their faces). Mr. Johnson had worked at Wal-Mart until 3 am this morning, went home, slept until 11 and then came to work at Head Start...he apologized for the mistake, which of course we understood!

Everyone (but Dan and I) helped the kitchen staff set up the lunches for a field trip the school is taking to the zoo tomorrow too! They packed 128 white bags with spoons, mustard, mayo, fruit cups, and cookies. Jordan and Skarda prepped the water coolers for tomorrow too!

Mack & Dan also helped Mr. Johnson mop out a storage closet, which had an inch of water in it because the AC was leaking (we are hoping to go back and help him clean out and organize the closet on Thursday!) :)

After all of that the boys took a break on the playground, while the girls helped prepare snack for the classes.

After all of our hard work, laughs, and fun times, it was time to go. As we were saying good bye, we noticed that EVERY 3/4 year old was sleeping, and most of the 4/5 year olds were too! We tuckered them out...and they tuckered us out too! :)

Some of us made a pit stop at Winne Dixie for ice cream, then we came back to Camp, and did our part for the week! We cleaned the bathrooms and showers, restocked the toilet paper, paper towels, soap dispensers, etc. and swept the lounge and dining hall entrance. It was a long day! Gantor had to be choked out because of "Harry's spell" (which was he had to play with the kids today, which isn't his favorite thing!)...LOL!

We relaxed before dinner (special pork chops, yams and greens...YUMMY!!!!!!!), then had devotion/prayer time. We talked about how Jesus guides us on our life's path, step by step. How He is ALWAYS there, and how we can have hope in Him! The kids did great!!! :) Then we had worship, and Alyssa gave her testimony...it was amazing, be sure to ask us about it!

Now, everyone is enjoying a huge game of spoons, and I'm going to join them :) Tomorrow we are off to the wetlands in City Park to help plant some plants! We'll keep you posted! :)