Wazzup July?

Hey Guys, wazzup?

This is Nathan, finally taking over Danielle’s blog. Last week I went to TeenPact Judicial (TPJ) and had tons of fun and no sleep! TPJ is basically a week long Moot Court training and competition event. Cramming in around 8 hours of classroom instruction a day, the staff forced us students to work insanely hard to write our cases in the little free time provided as well as worshiping God and exercising. However, the week was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. The work load pushed me to my mental limit while the ice skating, Ultimate Frisbee, and snowboarding breaks allowed me to hangout with tons of AWESOME people. As mom previously posted I took 3rd in the oral Moot Court competition, as well as in the written brief. Though exhilarating, the competition was only one of the minor perks during the whole event. 

The best part of the week consisted of getting the whole TPJ family on the ice and playing Ultimate Frisbee. The rules were almost exactly the same as normal Ultimate, however, you had to be going side to side to catch the Frisbee and couldn't glide forward with it on your skates. Our group started a new sports tradition which I hope will be preserved by all future camps of Teenpacters. 

Another awesome part of the week was all the fantastic friends I met. When I first arrived I observed many different, random teenagers milling all over the place. When I left I recognized a group close knit friends with their own lives and hobbies dispersing all across the US; Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Chicago, and even Hawaii. We forged some amazing friendships strengthened through all-nighters and shared pranks. During the competition I found myself just as happy when I lost and my friend won, as I did when the situation was turned. The greatest trophy I took home from the competition was a shirt, with all the signatures and nicknames of my new friends, representing the special bond we possessed.

Well that's a recap of my week. Below are some pictures of a watermelon seed spitting competition organized by our amazing Grammy. The winner happened to be the only kid in the house over 6 feet tall.

Joshua spitting seeds

Grace taking air

Random neighbors Grammy invited over

The Amazing Grammy

Peanut taking a spit

The lineup

Not all frogs are found in Grammy's ponds

My beautiful Sister Joy Anna

Joy Anna preferred eating to spitting

Fun at Grammy's!

Praise God for Skype!  I've been able to see and talk with Danielle and Andy every morning and evening. It's very convenient that Danielle picked a country to stay in that is 12 hours difference from us - makes talking doable.  I think I may survive her being gone if we get to video talk each day.

I talked with Nathan very briefly last night.  He called to get my permission for him to ski. Yes, you read that right - ski!  And snow ski at that!  I guess Liberty University has the country's only man-made ski slope, and the Teenpacters got to use it last night.  He was excited, even though he has never been on skis before.  I didn't receive any further calls so I guess he did not break a leg.  When I asked him how he was enjoying the week there was a brief pause, then he replied that it was a LOT of work.  He said he was getting more sleep than the other kids - he had 4 hours but the rest only 2 - as it took that much time to get homework done and briefs prepared.  Ought to be interesting to hear all about the week in full when we pick him up tomorrow.

To beat the triple digit heat trend of the week, we've spent some time in the lake.  Grammy's friend has a beach and we have been swimming there since the water level is too low to get the boat in the water. Enjoy the photos!

This was the neighbor's huge float - the kids had a blast playing in it!

Peanut

Even Joy Anna loved the water.

She did not like losing her balance.

Joshua had fun.  He is a water rat and does great swimming with a life vest. No fear of the water.

Isaac is a goofball.

The beach area was quite large, but we staying in the water - too hot to do anything else.

Promise watering Grammy's plants.

Goofballs

Joy Anna usually loves the swing.

Joshua's face is a mess.  He has a shiner from crashing on his trike before we came.  Then he is also covered in mosquito bites. The bugs love him - no one else has bites but he has them everywhere.

Isaac is trying to give his "cool guy" look.

But he looks much more handsome here.

The kids were all taking turns with the camera. Grace did pretty well on this one.

I'm sure Danielle will fuss that these aren't edited.  She can go in and fix them for me! :)

Cheeseball

Grammy and PIG's

Grammy and JPIG's