Pine Cove

Paul and I went to Pine Cove Mother-Son Camp with some friends.  There was so much to do, we had an amazing time.  Friday night we checked in, got set up and checked the camp out.  Paul did the "Breathtaker," which is a swing requiring a harness.  They hooked him in, then pulled him back and up until he said he was "high enough," then let him swing.  It looked like breathtaking fun.

Paul is being pulled back into the trees on the Breathtaker

Friday night we had a fajita dinner and a club session, which is singing and Bible study and more fun.  After that was "Pitch Black Attack."  We formed teams with our cabin mates and had to follow clues to four different areas of the campground in the dark.  The posse would be waiting to catch us and send us back to start unless we had a good reason for being out in the woods in the dark.  We were geocachers following coordinates and did well with the posse.  We did not win, but got the best creative score.

Paul is prepared for Pitch Black Attack

After breakfast and a Bible lesson on Saturday, we did a mom-son devotional.  Paul is truly awesome.  The devotional opened with "How do we know God is real?"  Paul looked at me like I must be slow and answered, "because He made everything."  I asked if anyone had ever suggested to him that the world just came into being on its own and God doesn't exist.  "No."  I hope his faith remains so unshakable.  As we proceeded, he told me about the many mansions prepared in heaven and other scriptural examples I had no idea he'd absorbed.  I am really impressed by this boy.

Making paper airplanes

The camp prepared a picnic lunch for each mom and son.  After we ate, we had an afternoon of free time.  We made it through the Gauntlet, practiced shooting BB guns and archery, rode horses, played laser tag and played at the playground.

Paul climbs the pole to begin the Gauntlet

Gauntlet: walking the log high in the air

Gauntlet: crossing the high wire

Gauntlet: zipline

Shooting range

Archery: he's retrieving his arrows

We used coffee filters under our helmets

There's always time to play with a caterpillar

Paul rides Marge

Laser tag

Winning the round of laser tag

Tetherball air

Pine Cove style swing

We had great friends in our cabin to share the weekend.  This is a trip to take again!

Paul, Reese, Jude and Alec

Backyard Gecko Family

It was a beautiful April evening, so we ate dinner out back.  Coker noticed some movement on the other side of the yard and sent TJ over to investigate.  He found a family of friendly geckos.  I guess that's what they are.  I call 'em lizards.

An Interview with Papaw

 I wish I had thought to ask Coker to record this interview.  He said it was very entertaining.

TJ's Schoolwork

I've been taking pictures of the school and art work the boys have produced this year.  My plan is to load it on Shutterfly.com for safe-keeping and recycle the paper.  I just cannot keep it all!  Here are my favorites of TJ's...

This is a book he made in class.  His teacher wrote his words.

This is TJ's writing.  I'm not sure what it means, but he writes, "vrus narar ene mr he ur stic hsis inenr" 

Some artwork:

A Sweet book:

 Just cute:

Presidential Artwork:

This is from art class.  I think it's great!

Coker Dunks...

...Paul in the pool.

No children were harmed.  Paul asked to be dunked again.

Easter Weekend

The Great Easter Picnic, or the Nichols (Coker's Grandmother's) Family Reunion is always the Saturday before Easter.  We had so much fun!  It was hot out in Shep!  This was the first time in 30? years the picnic was at Coker's grandparents' farm in Shep.  

The egg toss and water balloon toss were exciting.  Coker and Paul paired up, while TJ and I formed a team.

 There were eggs to hunt,

 A baby to hold,

 (Paul could only be convinced to give Caden back for a diaper change)

A mule to ride, and cousins to play.

Finally, Easter day came.  I got a silly shot before church.

 And a "serious" shot.

 We hunted more eggs and feasted at Aunt Sharon's house.

In his excitement to get out of the car and into Aunt Sharon's house, TJ ran into the car door and split his head.  Luckily, "Aunt" Cissy was there to clean him up.  TJ is tough and hard-headed, so he rested a little and was ready to play again quickly.  Look here if you want to see the gash!