OTTER'S GAME

Friday night we invited friends & family to the Otter's for a baseball party. We had a lot of fun ~ despite the rain! Then 3 of my friends (Riley, Jake & Garrett) came over for my 1st sleepover! We camped out in our basement in a tent.

The Bug Man & Fisherman

I've got two new hobbies - bug catching & fishing. All thanks to my birthday. Dude got me a fishing pole (and tackle box) and Aunt Lynn & Uncle Steve got me a bug vacuum and kit.

There is nothing as fun as practicing fishing skills in your backyard!

As part of my backyard extermination I've caught a fly, ant and sweat bee so far.

My 5th Birthday

Dinosaurs & Creatures Camp

Last week I attended the "Creatures Features" camp at the Children's Museum. It was in the mornings and we did all kinds of cool stuff with bugs, animals and dinosaurs. My favorite part was the skeleton room where we learned about how archaeologist's dig for dinosaur bones and artifacts.

We went on a field trip to the nature center and made lots of neat stuff, including a dinosaur egg. They had the zoo bring in animals and talk to us about what they eat in the wild. Did you know snakes eat mice? They really do!

Mama Terry got to come pick me up a couple times and Dad took the afternoon off on Friday to pick me up and we stayed to play in the museum. He had never been before so I showed him all around.

What Will I Be?

Ethan came home from a special half-day camp at the children's museum this week and told me he knew what he wanted to be when he was a "big kid."

"I want to be a teacher. But they have to call me 'Ethan'. None of this 'Mr.' stuff!"

However, today he's decided he'd like to be a veterinarian. No telling what tomorrow will bring...

Corn On The Cob

Ethan, Jake & Luke

The Sandbox I Never Thought I'd Get

Kind of like the dog. Mom caved again. Actually, Dad just built it while Mom & I were gone for the weekend.

4th of July Vacation

We spent the weekend before the 4th of July in Warsaw visiting family. As usual we did a lot of fun things while we were there. We stayed at Papa Ivory & Mama Judy's and got to swim and drive the big red tractor! Plus I helped Daddy & Papa with a project and messed around in the barn. We visited Great Grandma & Grandpa Carpenter and I helped feed the fish in their lake.

I got to celebrate my birthday a little early with Grandma Anita, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Doug, Aunt Natalie, my cousins and Great Grandpa & Grandma Blackburn. We also celebrated Madyson's birthday & Dad's at the lake. Lots of sand and water! That night we got to see the fireworks at the lake too!

Grandma Anita also took Madyson, Jordan and I to the Fort Wayne Zoo. They had a lot of really neat things there to do.

As usual I miss them and can't wait to see them all again soon!

To My Dad:

It's your 30th birthday today. You had just turned 25 when I was born. From that moment on you became my dad. No experience needed, just faith.

God must have known what a perfect father you'd be and how much love you had in your heart. Mom knew when she picked you, that you'd be a great man.

Happy Birthday Dad!
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GOD MADE DADS

God took the strength of a mountain

The majesty of a tree

The warmth of a summer sun

The calm of a quiet sea

The generous soul of nature

The comforting arm of night

The wisdom of the ages

The power of the eagle's flight

The joy of a morning in spring

The faith of a mustard seed

The patience of eternity

The depth of a family need

Then God combined these qualities

When there was nothing more to add

He knew His masterpiece was complete

And so He called it ... Dad