Diva Camp Day 4

Dear Oz,   Today was building day at the nest...Poppa has lots of spare parts down in the "man cave"  so he helped each of you build a control panel for your rockets or anything else you ever decide to build. Each control panel had a hand held microphone so you and your brothers could communicate in your rockets. He also cut boxes to make helmets and helped put sides on your rockets.  You decorated your helmet with "7's" and stars.  You have quite an imagination.

You built some chair rockets yesterday so Poppa thought you might like to expand the project and make sides, a nose cone and paint them.  My dining room chairs were ready to blast off by the time you were finished.  You had a picnic lunch in your cockpits while watching Ninja Lego cartoons.

When Henry woke up from his nap we all went to Gypsy Hill Park.  You were an instant hit on the playground.  You especially enjoyed the tire swing and rode it most of the afternoon till you fell off it. You were such a brave boy and you got back on the swing right after.  The boy who was pushing it made it go much too fast and that is why you fell off.  You met a little 8 year old girl named Sophia who wanted your phone number so she could call you about meeting at the park tomorrow.   You were getting cold so watched your brothers feed the ducks.

After we left the park, Poppa took everyone out for ice cream cones.  You had a vanilla cone with 3 scoops and ate every bite of it.  After Henry was in bed Poppa took you outside and let you use the night vision goggles....Super Cool.

It's been a busy day buddy....lots more fun coming tomorrow.

Your Diva......

Diva Camp Day 3

Dear Oz...Today is Tuesday and we went to Equipping the Saints.  This is where Diva and Poppa work and we wanted to show you around and meet some of our friends.  Diva spends a lot of time sorting clothing out of my big mountain of black trash bags. I call it Mt. Clothesmore and it is big enough to climb.  Poppa let you climb on my bags which is something he rarely lets other people do....I think he must really like you.

Poppa took you on a tour of the building and showed you all the room filled with items that missionaries need.  There are rooms with computers, rooms with books and Bibles, rooms with medical supplies, rooms with tools, a room with lots and lots of typewriters and even a room with musical instruments.  You liked that room a lot because there were several guitars, keyboards, drum sets and even xylophones. 

This afternoon you helped your Poppa find his lap top.  Poppa had taken it off the table and forgot where he put it.  He had been looking everywhere for it and was quite upset that he forgot where he put it.  I was pretty sure he had taken it down to the "man cave" but he couldn't find it.  We prayed about it and I asked you if you would go downstairs with Poppa and look around to see if you could find it.   Guess What?  You found it really quickly!  Poppa was so relieved and thankful.  It was a huge blessing!  Thank you for helping him.

This morning before we left for ETS you and Henry made "a pencil rocket" out of my dining room chairs.  You decided that you both needed helmets so you put a shirt over your heads.  Henry even had a seat belt you made for him.  It was quite ingenious .....you have a great imagination. 

We got to talk to your Mom and Dad on Skype in Iceland.  Afterwards we took you to a new playground called "A Dream Come True".  It was made by a Girl Scout as her Eagle Project.  The playground is also equipped for handicapped children so everyone can have a place to have fun.  It is a nice playground and had some really great features.  You seemed to like the speedway and that they had bikes, and scooters you could use.  

On the way home, Poppa stopped at Dollar General and gave each of you 2 dollars and told you to buy the coolest toy you could get for the money.  This was your choice.

We had a really special day today.  I love you  buddy.

Your Diva....

Diva Camp Day 2

Dear Oz....You were excited this morning to see pictures of your mom and dad and know that they made it to Iceland.  You like the library especially some older boys you were able to play and build wild crazy rockets and houses.  Poppa found a great book on Pickup Trucks that you instantly had to read and look at the pictures.  Poppa loves old pickup trucks so he was very interested in the book also.

After the library we went to Food Lion to pick up some groceries.  They had shopping carts that look like cars so you had to drive one and so did your brothers.  Your cart  looked like a police car so you thought it would be funny to give Charlie a speeding ticket.  Charlie didn't like the idea so there was

quite a bit of yelling back and forth between the two of you.  (So much for make believe!)

 

   After lunch , Henry took a nap and you typed on the typewriter and played some computer games. You were glad when Poppa came home from work and brought a second typewriter.

We got a note from my friend Miss Donna that we saw at the nursing home yesterday.  Here is what she said about your visit with your brothers.  

I loved it! 

Thank you so very, VERY much for all the gifts and candy.

And the artwork ... please let the children know how much I appreciate it.

You'll have to let me know what their impressions were after visiting.

Heard lots of wonderful comments about the boys!

Again, thank you once again.

Thank you for being kind and sweet to our friend.

Diva

Diva Camp Begins

Dear Oz,

Today was the day that Mommy and Daddy left for Iceland on a special trip .  While they are gone, the next 5 days, we will be having a wild crazy time at Diva's and Poppa's.  Poppa promised you on your birthday that boys that are 7 and older can go into the "Man Cave" and you are excited to see what treasures Poppa stores down there.  Poppa is really excited too!

Before Mommy and Daddy left for Baltimore...you and your brothers gave them lots of hugs and kisses.  It was really hard for Mommy to leave her boys but she knows we will have a really good time and that it is a special time for Poppa and Diva to have my boys here.

You are growing so tall and you are so smart.  Henry found a button for me on the floor and I told you that Poppa is my finder when I misplace items.  I told you that Poppa always says, "Well if I'm your finder, what does that make you?"

Answer:  "The Loser!" 

You were quiet for a minute and said, "Diva you are NOT the loser, you are the asker".

My heart just melted at your thoughtfulness.

You really enjoyed Poppa's old Royal typewriter this afternoon.  It is 73 years old and you typed on it almost all afternoon.  You enjoyed writing silly stories on it.  You laughed and laughed at the stories you wrote.  Poppa was so pleased you loved his old typewriter (he does too!) and told me he is thinking about buying one for you tomorrow at Equipping the Saints.

This evening we heard from Mommy and Daddy that they were on the plane and asked for prayers about their trip.  We prayed about it at supper and you had the sweetest prayer for them at bedtime.  You also prayed that everyone would go to sleep so Poppa wouldn't be a grumpy ole bear tomorrow.  That really made me laugh.

I love you so much buddy.  Poppa was proud to share your first time watching the TV show " Myth Busters"...one of his favorite shows with you today.  I wonder what fun adventures we will have tomorrow.

Love you to the moon and back again....

Your Diva

Our little Secret

Lego Force Field

Dear Oz,

You and I have a special game that we play called "force field".  It's an imaginary game involving electricity bolts, protective bubbles, tickle blasters, and freeze volts.  I love your imagination and how you love to explain things to me.  We started playing this game when you were 4 years old and I was helping your mom and dad move into your new home.

Your Dad was working down stairs staining the floor so we had to stay upstairs.  We invented a number of games during that time.

I love you Buddy.  I love your wonderful mind and sweet spirit.    Diva

Roller skating Diva

Dear Oz,

This is a picture of you and your Mom at a skating party.  It was one of the first times you have been on roller skates.  It is hard to stand up and not fall.  When I first started skating my feet would go in opposite directions and I would fall on my bottom or on my knees or elbows.  I learned to skate on the sidewalks on the cracked and uneven payment.  I used to tie a pillow around my bottom since I fell so much when I first started skating.

Diva didn't have knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet when I skated.  I went through a lot of bandaides and even broke my left wrist when I was 6.  That was the first bone I ever broke.  I broke the same wrist 3 times (in the first, second and third grades).  I wasn't very graceful and would fall, trip or tumble frequently.


I learned to skate using metal skates that would clamp on my shoes.  I needed a skate key to make the clamps tight so they would not come off when I picked up my feet.  I lost a lot of skate keys so my dad would use the pliers to put my skates on.

I enjoyed skating a lot when I was growing up.  We had a roller rink not very far from our house and they would let kids skate free every Saturday morning for 3 milk tops from a particular brand of milk.  My mom would ask neighbors and friends to save the tops for me so I could skate.  The skating rink was lots of fun and one of my best memories of childhood.  My older sister didn't like skating so it something I got to do by myself with my friends.

I had a skating party for my birthday one year.  I was able to invite my whole class, Brownie troop , church friends and neighbors to come to my party.  I was pretty popular that whole week.  It was one of my best parties. I'll have to look through my pictures to see if I can find a picture of that party.

I am looking forward to see what you will enjoy doing.  Poppa and I want to live closer so we can come to your games, or school programs.  Know that you are loved and prayed for every single day.

Your Cheerleader....Diva