Happy Campers

RAIN! For us here in Middle Tennessee 2010 will be remembered as the year Nashville got the 500 year flood. What's funny is that this has been a really dry year. So, we're really glad to see the rain.

WELCOME HOME! I'd like to extend a welcome to a new Tennessean and member of the Freeland family. A couple of weeks ago Brian, Debbie, and Jessica Freeland went to China to adopt Olivia. They returned home this weekend. As with any adoption, this has been in the works for quite some time, and we are very happy that they have Olivia home now. You can follow up on the Freelands on the blog at http://thefreelands.blogspot.com/.

EXCITED BOY. East Robertson Elementary uses Character Counts to promote good behavior among students. Every so often students who have received good behavior commendations have their names in a drawing to be able to decorate one of the concrete blocks in the hallway near the library. They can paint their bricks however they wish within certain guidelines. Jenna and Ben have both painted bricks in the past.

This year Nate's name was among those chosen for the honor and he is EXCITED. He came home with the news Friday and has one week to come up with a design. When Nate was telling me about this he was literally wiggling and dancing with excitement. I can't wait to see what he decides to put on his brick.

CAMPING. We had a church bonfire and campout over a Buzz and Tammy Graves' house Friday night. I know I've mentioned previous events we've had over at the Graves', but I'm not sure if I've said much about their yard and shed.

Buzz has set his yard up to be a place where kids can come and have fun. He has a sand volleyball court, a zip line, tetherball, horseshoes, corn hole, and hillbilly golf as well as plenty of space where kids can just run and have fun. His shed has a big room where people can eat and play other games like table tennis. Basically, their yard is a place where kids can be kids and have good, clean, cheap fun.

Friday we loaded our camping gear and headed over to their house for an evening of fun. We had several people come for supper. Rick and Sharon Robinson stayed overnight in their camper. I camped out with our boys a several other boys who wanted to stay the night. Vicki and Jenna went home but returned in the morning for breakfast.

When we got home Saturday Jenna said she wanted to camp out in the backyard that night. The boys were game for this so we set up the big tent. Ben wound up sleeping inside due to a sore throat, but Jenna and Nate bedded down for the night out there. I know Nate went to sleep pretty quickly, but I saw Jenna's book light on pretty late.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY PARTY. As recently as last year it was really hard for Nate to see Jenna or Ben go to a birthday party. He was simply too young to be invited to many parties like his brother and sister. His social life has changed since then.

Nate was invited to a party for his friend Zachary Saturday afternoon. He came home with a large box and telling us all about the good time he'd had. Nate was so impressed by the party that he said it was the best party he'd been to except his own. And after a moment to think it over he said, "Nope, it was even better than my own party."

Zachary's mom had a large box for each guest and helped them decorate their boxes as cars. When the cars were made they parked them in front of the TV and had a drive-in movie. Their cars were even complete with a window tray with a cup holder (this was a shoebox fastened to the side of the car with binder clips). Nate's car is now parked in our living room and he sits in it to watch TV now.

MARRIAGE PLANS. The other day Ben said to Vicki that he was never going to get married.

"So you're going to be a bachelor, huh?" replied Vicki.

"Yep." And then about 30 seconds later Ben asked, "What's a bachelor?"

I guess we have a little time yet before he starts to notice girls.

Joe