CA Soccer Camp

Jackson went to CA Soccer Camp last week. He was actually too young, but when your Papa and Uncle Andrew are in charge you can join the join. My dad has been coaching the soccer team at CA for around 10 years. Since my brother now works at CA, he coaches the junior high team and assists with the high school team. My parents and brother are huge soccer enthusiasts. They are really hoping Jackson and Drew will love soccer as well.

The camp was in the morning from 7:30 am until 10:30 am. He went two days for half the time and two days for the whole time. He had so much fun. I was so proud of his willingness to try everything and stick with the bigger kids. He loved doing all the drills and having a scrimmage at the end of each day. A highlight was get to wear a blue penny during the scrimmage.

Jackson and the other kids work on their dribbling.

Uncle Andrew with Jackson before working on some ball skills.

Coach (aka Papa) demonstrating some footwork.

Every year they plant a tree by the soccer field on the last day of camp. They are holding up four fingers because this is the fourth year of soccer camp. The kids are ages 5 to 12.

On the last day, Papa turned the sprinklers on and let the kids run and play on the field. Jackson told me, it was "sprinkler soccer."

When we would leave after dropping Jackson off at soccer camp, Drew would keep saying, "Jack...ball." He had fun kicking the ball while he was there.

Uncle Andrew and Drew

Father's Day

On Father's Day, I woke up feeling horrible. Andy and the boys went to church and I headed to the walk-in clinic. I found out that I had strep throat. It was not the Father's Day celebration that we had planned. We had to postpone our festivities due to my sickness. Andy is always a great dad and rolls with the punches, so he was not upset. However, I felt horrible in more ways than one. Thankfully after a few doses of antibiotics, I felt so much better. Andy went ahead and opened his present on Father's Day. We had gotten him some gear for Wilderness Trek in July.

We celebrated Father's Day a week later with dinner at Shogun. Jackson and Drew had never been to a Japanese Hibachi grill. When pulled into the restaurant, Jackson asked what kind of food it was. We told him it was like Pei Wei but you get to watch them cook the food. He immediately pulled out chopsticks from our last trip to PW and replied, "great...I have my chopsticks." We had no idea they were still in the car.

Family Picture (notice Jackson holding his chopsticks)

Watching the "dinnertainment" as Andy called it. Jackson was mesmerized and so excited about the fire. Drew, on the other hand, was scared and wanted to sit in Andy's lap. However, he loved watching the fire at the table's close to us and would clap.

Jackson loved our chef. They talked the entire time. He was so friendly and kind to Jackson.

He even let Jackson wear his hat!

Jackson posing on the rocks outside and still holding his precious chopsticks. When we left the restaurant, he called it "Cookeville" several times. I think he got confused about them cooking the food in front of you. Look out Moe's--this may be Jackson's new favorite place to eat!

Pigeon Forge

At the beginning of June, the boys and I went to Pigeon Forge with my family. We were very blessed to all stay together in a great chalet. It was a little scary driving up the mountain to get there. It was steep and curvy. Jackson loved the air hockey, foosball, and pool tables inside the chalet. Outside, he loved "swimming" in the hot tub. We set up the baby pool on the deck for Drew.

Mommy and Drew on the deck

Drew would stand by the door and stay, "out" until someone would take him outside.
Everyone loved our lunch at the Apple Barn. Drew especially liked the apple fritters. Who could resist that yummy goodness?

Jackson wanted his picture in front of The Apple Barn sign, so he could "remember it." This is very rare. He usually gets upset and wants nothing to do with pictures.

The boys had fun playing at the pool. The baby pool even had a cool mushroom sprinkler.

They also had fun playing at a local playground one afternoon.

Drew really liked crawling in the tunnel.

Drew on the rocks outside The Old Mill.

Granny, Grandaddy, Rebekah, Jackson and Drew before we headed home.

Jackson, Grammy, Rebekah, Papa, and Drew

The Track

One afternoon while we were in Pigeon Forge, we headed to The Track. Jackson really wanted to ride the go karts, and we thought Drew would enjoy the kiddie rides. Drew loved to see all the go karts zoom past us. He would say, "brmmmm!"

My cousins, Anna and James, had fun riding the Wild Woody.

Papa and Jackson rode the go karts together. Jackson had a look of pure excitement on his face the entire time.

Drew loved the swings. He laughed and smiled the whole time he was riding. When he got out, he kept pointing at them. I guess he wanted to do it again.

Jackson got to pick three rides to do in the kiddie area. He chose the "caged carousel" (ferris wheel), the train, and the airplanes.

Drew did three rides as well--the swings, carousel, and train. He loved all of them!

We all rode the train together.

Putt Putt Golf

Jackson believes that it is not a vacation unless you play putt putt golf. He has been looking forward to playing with my grandaddy since he found out we were going to Pigeon Forge. He is so funny to watch, because he will keep hitting the ball even it has not stopped. On some holes, he is extremely focused and does a good job. On other holes, he just wants to hit the ball as many times as possible.

The boys are ready to play putt putt! I found these matching shirts for them that say "Miniature Golf Jr. Champion" and could resist putting them on.

Drew had to have a putter and the golf ball in his hands at all times. He got upset when he threw his ball into the water and we were unable to retrieve. Luckily, he was satisfied when we gave him one of ours to use.

My sweet grandaddy swinging the putter. Even at 80 something, both my grandparents played and had a good time.

Jackson with the serious golfers, Uncle Jeff and Anna.

Here is the whole group after 18 holes of putt putt in the hot sun.

Camp Okawehna

This is Andy's ninth year to spend a week at Camp Okawehna. It is a camp for children with kidney disease or have had a kidney transplant. They set up a full dialysis unit in one of the buildings, so children will have the opportunity to spend a week at summer camp. The "carnival" is always on Monday night and that is usually the night we go to see Andy and have fun. Jackson loves going to camp and cannot wait until he is old enough to stay the whole week. This year, he did get to spend one night at camp. He thought is was "so, so cool." Jackson and Drew loved all the carnival games and inflatables.

Here are they are playing a toss game.

Daddy and Jackson
Jackson did the entire obstacle course inflatable on the first try. He probably did the course a dozen times that night. He loved all the climbing and jumping.

Daddy and Drew

Whee! Andy took Drew down the big slide several times. Drew thought it was wonderful. I do not think Andy enjoyed carrying all 30+ pounds of Drew to the top each time.

Jackson loves the big slide. He did it numerous times and was completely fearless.

Yummy cotton candy...what carnival is not complete without junk food.

Also at camp was a tethered hot air balloon. We waited in line for a long to be able to go up. This was the boys' first time to "ride" in a hot air balloon. Jackson loved it, however Drew thought it was too loud and too hot because of the fire used.

Ready for lift off...

Here are two views from the hot air balloon of all the fun stuff at the camp carnival.

Jackson also tried his hand at boxing. I think the equipment was a little big for him, but he still enjoyed it.

Drew and I left Jackson at camp with Andy for the night. We did not get to experience the magic show. Andy says it is quite entertaining. Here is Jackson with the magician who likes to be referred to as The Mysterion.

Oh Baby!

On Saturday, June 6, I was blessed to be at two baby showers. It was a fun day for me and my friends. We enjoyed celebrating Molly and Dana's pregnancies and cannot wait to meet Millie and Alex sometime in July. Candie, Laura Beth, and I hosted a brunch at my house. Breakfast foods and a beautiful cake from Emily were on the menu. All the girls had fun being together and looking at all the girly pink baby stuff for Millie.

Beautiful Molly with letters Candie made to hang in Millie's room

After a quick pit stop at church to set up for VBS we headed to April's house for Dana's baby shower for Alex. She got lots of precious blue boy things. Here are several of the girls who came to the shower. April, Lauren, and Ashley had a wonderful shower with lots of delicious desserts including homemade ice cream.

From the looks on our faces, we must have loved the gift she opened ;)