We recently attended the end of VBS program where we were able to see the kids singing and dancing along with songs they learned during the week, and get an idea of what they had learned during the week.
One of the highlights of the week was the horses brought by our Pastor. The theme of the week was “Saddle Up” and our Pastor has a horse ranch (rescues) so it really REALLY fit. As I mentioned in a previous post, I tried getting my little man to pet one of the horses and he wasn’t having it. I showed him how easy it was, and how the horse wouldn’t hurt him. I rubbed and petted and rubbed and talked and he just shook his head NO and ducked out. Then later, when it was over, he came running to tell me he had actually RIDDEN the horses! He not only pet them, he got on the back of one and rode it. After I tried and tried and failed. 
Well, at least I have picture proof that he did indeed sit on the back of that giant animal that he refused to touch until after I had left and he just had to prove me wrong because that is what kids do best just to make us walk around with pie in our face! *breathe* Oh, right, back to the program.
My little man was cute, but it did take a little while to get there. It would seem that his attention was focused elsewhere in the beginning. Where? I’m not sure, but we all got a great view of his backside…
while all the other kiddos were busy singing and dancing along to the music… pictures being snapped, videos being recorded, I was waiting patiently for MY CHILD TO TURN AROUND SO I COULD TAKE HIS PICTURE! He was happily singing and dancing, moving his feet, moving his hands, just like the rest of the kiddos—or so it appeared from this view… he just would.not.turn.around! Maybe he knew I was holding the camera and he was doing it on purpose? Or maybe he was thinking… “I’ll just let mama take a picture of me from behind because that’s the best view.” I’ve seen his backside a bazillion times. It’s cute, really. But NOT WHAT I WAS GOING FOR HERE!
I tried getting his attention without being overly obvious… a few PSSTs here and there. Several loudly whispered “ZAKKs” and… I even flailed my arms like a wild pigeon a few times when I –thought- he was about to turn his head. And. Nothing.
By this point everyone is starting to giggle because MY CHILD is the ONLY one who isn’t forward-facing, and he’s REALLY getting into this dance. *red-face* He even wiggled his butt a couple times, and that really got the laughs. *red-face giggle* Maybe his goal was to be the class clown? If so, he nailed it!
But alas the song was over and it was time for them to sit down. The next age group needed a turn. They all faced-forward also. 
Finally, it was his age group’s time again!! I had another chance! I’d get a good picture this time, I mean this was his first VBS and all and I really need photo memories of this moment because they’re only this age once, right? RIGHT? So they all pile on stage, which filled up rather quickly. A couple little girls decided to step off-stage right in front- which really did work better because it enabled us to see all the kids- and then, here comes my little man.. out of the pack of boys, situating himself right smack dab in the middle of the girls! He didn’t stay on stage with the boys; oh no, he found himself a spot right there with the little girls. Front and center. Literally. With the girls. Not the boys, the girls. (He’s so his daddy’s boy!) At least I was able to get pictures of the right side this time. He danced and spun and did these cute little hand gestures and sang and smiled at the little girls every chance he got and… well it was cute. And again, giggles from the crowd. By this point it was quite obvious that my child was choosing to be the class clown. But hey, someone has to right? And it did make the whole night memorable, and cute. Well, except for the time he turned to the little girl on his left and poked her in the side. She didn’t think it was funny, but he did. Somehow I don’t think it was the right time for tickling OR flirting with the neighbor.
I was able to get a few pictures for the memory album though, and most of them include his face. In the end, he received his certificate along with a bag of goodies (which I don’t recommend giving to a five year old unless the festivities are over because it’s really really hard to keep them from ripping it open and ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ over everything in there including the suckers and candy which can only make them a little more hyper!).
It was a great night, no one got hurt, and he ended up smiling for me after all! I did have to coax that smile because he was “too tiiiiired” to take a picture, but mama always gets her way! Just sometimes it takes eleventy-hundred tries.
We celebrated by taking the kids out to a fast-food joint of their choosing. My little man didn’t quite make it though… he was fast asleep about five minutes out- despite the sugar rush from the goody bag. It must have been from all that dancing and arm-flailing and butt-wiggling. I hear it’s really good exercise.
Though I was a little red-faced a time or two, and there were those teary-eyed moments–from trying desperately hard to suppress my laughter– it was a great trip to ‘Saddle Ridge Ranch’. And another set of memories to go into the mama vault. Have to cherish these because he’ll be grown before I know it. (And will probably still be a clown I suspect!)
****other people’s kids’ faces have been blurred for their protection and privacy
