Since my last post

This summer has been so crazy, I'm just thankful I've taken pictures.  About the only way I can remember what's happening is by looking at my phone.  Since my last update, this is what's been going on around here...packing, unpacking, washing laundry, and repacking. Yep, that about sums up our summer.

Jack went to children's camp.  He had a blast!  Jack is made for camp.  He loves every aspect of it.  Although he did tell me that he chose his small group times incorrectly.  All the group times were outside and I think it was super hot.  Oh well.  He had a blast and took one shower.  I count that one shower a success, since he didn't even want to (nor did he see the need to) pack a towel.

Initially, I thought I was going to go to children's camp, but as it turned out, I was not needed.  I had already scheduled Clayton and Andrew to be in Jackson since I was supposed to be gone.  So, we continued on with the plan.
Clayton went to music camp at Union.

Andrew took some swimming lessons to go deeper in his knowledge of swimming.  Get it?!?  Go deeper.  Ha!  I am so punny.

While the boys were gone I did a few riveting things.  Like clean out and organize my freezer.

And, I helped a friend, who shall remain nameless, clean out her closet.  It was a blast, I tell you!

Oh and I cleaned out Fred's bathroom sink area.  I'm telling you, the fun that I have knows no bounds!

Once Jack got home, I opened his suitcase and gagged.  Mercy.  Camp laundry is the worst!

We had to repack Jack so he could go with Tee and Adam to St. Louis for a few days of fun.  No one can do a trip like Tee.  In fact, when we went on a trip this summer I wished I had counted how many times Jack said, "When I'm on a trip with Tee" or "Tee would let me" or "Tee takes me to (restaurant) and let's me get..."  They went to the Arch, the zoo, and a ballgame.  Oh, and they went to Cardinal Nation...twice.

Once Jack got home we had a few days and then we headed to EBC staff retreat in Paris, Tennessee.  We all met for dinner at Patti's and then headed to the cabin on the lake.
But before we headed to Paris, I had to take Dash the dog to the vet.  He has not been feeling well.  When we got to the parking lot of the vet, Dash got overly excited and scratched my legs.  You see, there was a dog in the parking lot...at the vet.  Mercy.  Dash is a little high strung.

 Once we got inside he was still feeling a little nervous.  He was so nervous, in fact, that they gave us our own special room.

 He even got the back of my leg in his excitement.  While we were at the vet I had them cut his nails.  Time well spent at the vet, I'd say.

 Then we finally hit the road.  Andrew insisted that he was not tired.  I encouraged him to rest.  Turns out, he was tired.  He slept for a good part of the trip.

We met up at Patti's for a delicious dinner and a photo bomber.

 We visited with a few friends while we were there.  And then we also met up with some friends at Dairy Delight, which was a must stop for Jack.

 We even stopped by the Eiffel Tower at the park.  We got an obligatory photo with the tower.

 Sunday morning Clayton left for the Ocoee for a mission trip.  We found out he was leaving about 2 hours before the trip.  For some reason we did not sign him up, but at the last minute someone backed out and a spot opened up for him.  He literally packed in 50 minutes.  I'm happy to report that we made it to church about 5 minutes late, which really isn't much later than usual.

Aunt Janice came to Memphis to get a friend at the airport.  While she was here she just picked up the kids.  So, Fred and I are kid-less again.  When school starts back we are not going to know what to do with ourselves! Fourteen days of summer left, in case anyone is counting.  I know I am.  Oh summer, how I love thee!

This week

While the two younger guys were in Jackson, Clayton and I were at youth camp in Florida.  I was the cook for the week and had a blast!  Clayton had a great time as well.  Fred even joined in on the fun on Thursday.
Here I am with about 25 pounds of taco meat that some teenagers devoured.

We tried to take a family picture and I tried to grab a kiss on the cheek from the almost teenager.  He ducked.  He pretended like I wasn't related to him all week so I didn't think one kiss on the cheek was out of bounds.  He did.  Ha!

We did manage to get one semi-decent picture of the three of us though.

Jack was finishing up basketball camp in Jackson while we were finishing up at camp.  I think Jack is about ready to go to college...if someone would just let him play basketball all day long.

 My grandmother, a.k.a. Union's biggest fan, figured up that she will be 98 when Jack plays for Union.  It brought me great joy to hear that she thought this through.  I have no doubt that she will be there cheering him on!

Andrew finished up this piece of art work at art camp.  He was so proud.  I told him I would find a special place at the house to hang it and he said, "No, I'm giving it to Mawmaw.  She needs some of my art work."  Ha!

Melody's crew was in town so Jack was able to reunite with his bff.  A good time was had by all!

While they were playing at Mimi's Fred assembled the basketball goal.  Our basketball goal kept falling over so this was goes into the ground and it a little more steady.  Since Jack plays on it a lot we figured it would be a good investment.  Sweet Fred worked all day on it. 

Eventually we all made our way to Jackson for Swim Weekend.  Swim weekend is all about swimming, relaxing while swimming, eating...and then repeat. 

Of course, while we were there Jack and I had to spend a little time at convenient care, because it is a holiday after all.  You know we can't go through a holiday without someone getting sick.  

In other exciting news, I went to the bank, Costco, and Kroger.  Click List has made its way to Bartlett and I'm sold.  I just order my groceries through an app, select a pick up time, pull into a designated parking space, call the number listed and...wait for it...they bring my selected groceries to my car.  Yes they did!  If you think that sounds awesome, multiply it by 100 and then that will give you a good idea on how excited I am to use this service.  It is $4.95 and worth every penny!

While at Costco, Andrew found what he would like for Christmas.  Andrew loves a stuffed animal!  Also while at Costco, my boys consumed many samples...which we bought.   

The boys spent a little bit of time at Fred and Renee's which gave me a chance to walk the 6 mile loop at Shelby Farms with a friend.  Then I got to go to yoga with Liz.  Fred and I went to lunch and we celebrated Grandma Beulah's birthday later that evening.  All in all it's been a stellar week!

A week at home

Fred and Renee take the boys out on a "date" for their birthday.  Jack decided to go to Cheesecake Factory, Best Buy, and Academy Sports.  He had a great time.  

Sunday was Father's day.  Fred hung out with his parents and I drove to Jackson to spend time with my dad.  Then we all met up at our house to celebrate our Fred.  Sadly, I have no pictures.  I do have a picture of Fred's card from Dash.  Please excuse one word.  The card was just too perfect.  

We actually have a week at home and it's all things wonderful!  Well, a week at home is a loose term, but we'll take it by any definition.
Andrew had little kids camp at church Monday and Monday night.  Zachary went with him.  If you told him he was going to Disney World he could not have been more excited!

Before I took Andrew to Little Kids Camp I met Janice at exit 42 to drop Jack off.  He spent a couple of days at Mimi's house, because his best friend from Paris, Bennett, was in Jackson with his grandmother.  Those two sure do love each other.  They are birds of a feather. Spending time with your best friend at your grandmother's house has to be the very definition of perfection.  Look at these smiles...

If you're doing the math you have realized that we only have one kiddo at home at this point.  He had to do all sorts of extra things around the house since he was by himself.  We mowed the yard together.  Dash gets very stressed when we mow.  Clayton sneezes every time he gets in the sun.  It is so delightful.

Since Clayton was such a good help at home and an only child we told him we could go out to eat.  Guess what he chose?  Yep, Cheesecake Factory.  Now, I don't normally enjoy a chain restaurant, but yum.  Seriously, I ate a bacon, date and goat cheese pizza and it was the best pizza I've ever eaten.  Seriously.

This was my motto with the pizza that I ate...

Tuesday night some of my sweet friends came into town.  I showed  Chick Fil A.  Ha!  And then we went to La Michoacana for ice cream.  I think they were fans. I loved hanging out with them!  

 Meanwhile...Jack and Bennett ate McDonald's in Jackson.  Jack had a Big Mac.  He said he had never had one before.  Of course, Aunt Janice took care of that!
Katie, if you still read this blog, I knew this would make you smile!

 Friday was our anniversary and we grabbed lunch out and then we had a wedding that evening.  I decided about 3 hours before the wedding to find a new dress.  I'm happy to report that I was successful...and I'm officially crazy.  What was I thinking?!?

Early Sunday morning I headed out with a few friends for Beach Blast (our church youth camp) in Panama City.  We were in two cars.  I had just commented to my friend riding with me that I thought we were making great time.  All of a sudden our friends driving in front of us had a flat tire.  I'm here to tell you, there is nothing you can not learn on You Tube.  About 30 minutes later, we had the spare tire on the car, we rolled into Walmart and had it fixed.  All in all it was a good trip.  It took us about 14 hours (should have been 8), but who's counting?!?

 Monday I rolled to Sam's to get ready for youth camp.  Because, going to Sam's seems like the logical thing to do when you are at the beach, right?!?

 I did not even mess around with a cart.  I just went for this big guy.  Please note the water in my cart.  One must hydrate when pushing this think through the grocery.

 An hour later, it was full.  Whew.

 Andrew and Jack stayed in Jackson.  Andrew is getting to attend art camp.  He is so excited!

 Jack is getting to go to basketball camp at Union.  He could not be more excited either.  He goes from 8 am to 5 pm.  That's one happy camper.