Our days are still warm, even hot, but it is beginning to feel like fall. The Pinsons combined all the corn on the farm this week and Bill Chatman has begun firing the tobacco.
NEW ACTIVITIES. We’ve added two things to the schedule now. First, the kids are going to Awana. Since our church doesn’t offer the program Vicki is taking them to Providence Baptist near Franklin, Kentucky. They came home last Sunday really excited about it, and Vicki is going to help out with the second graders.
Ben has added Cub Scouts to his schedule. This meets on Monday nights. Our first meeting was more about paperwork and information for the parents than being exciting for the kids so I hope he isn’t left wondering what he’s gotten himself into. One neat thing for him is that we stopped by to see if Mom could dig up my old Cub Scout uniform on our way home. The shirt fits, but he doesn’t have much room for growth.
WELCOME JAKE! Tuesday afternoon after work I brought a new puppy home. One of Vicki’s colleagues from the YMCA was trying to give a litter away. Nate was the only kid home when I arrived (Jenna and Ben were at Aunt Mar’s and Mom’s) so he got naming rights. Jake, or Jakey as Nate calls him, is a brown mutt and he was seven weeks old yesterday.
At first poor Jake was depressed having been yanked away from all his siblings, but he has settled in very well now. The kids have had the best time playing with him. Nate spent almost all day Thursday rolling in the grass with him. When he came in at one point Vicki said, “Nate, you smell just like a dog. Why do you have to roll around in the yard with him?” Nate defended himself saying, “But he’s so cuddly Mom.”
GIRLS NIGHT OUT. Vicki and five friends went to see Rascal Flatts in concert at the Sommet Center (Nashville Arena) Friday night. I hear they had a great time letting their hair down (though not too much since one of the friends brought her eighth grade daughter).
LATE BIRTHDAY PRESENT. It has taken about eight weeks for Ben to get his birthday present from Vicki and me. Ben and I have been known to stop by the airport to watch the planes on occasion so that gave me the idea to give him his first “flight lesson” for his birthday. But with the recent heat wave it just didn’t work out to go flying until now (if you are wondering why look up “density altitude”.)
Saturday we all loaded up and headed to the airport where local flight instructor, Kevin Black, took us up in a Cessna 172. This is a four seater so the boys and I took the first trip. We flew out to Cross Plains and circled over the neighborhood. Then Nate and I got out to let Vicki and Jenna go up. Ben rode both trips since it was his birthday present. They added a tour over Springfield as well.
I was actually sort of surprised as I looked back when we were returning to the airport. Ben was sitting with his head between his knees. I asked if he was sick but he said he was just scared. He admitted to being scared after the second ride as well. And while I think Jenna was glad to have the opportunity to go up I don’t think she wants to ride a small plane again either. Nate on the other hand wouldn’t look away from the window and pouted when he had to stay behind on the second trip. It was a very smooth flying day. Scared or not, I think that will be a day they’ll always remember.
Joe
