The first half of July was really really hard.....

Our summer ended up being very focused on baseball... and it went on much longer than we anticipated since Mercer's team advanced to the State playoffs.

Pretty much every single night, Mercer had practice.  The coach from last year's All-Star team (coach Alan) kept the boys together throughout the school year this past year on a tournament team called the Spikes and I would say that it certainly paid off.  The majority of the All-Star team was made up of boys from the Spikes with a couple of additional players.  They really do play pretty well together and it showed.  In addition to a lot of practice, there was a lot of fundraising so that the families could get some assistance with the cost of travelling and lodging in Savannah.  They came up with a new slogan called "B"East Marietta as seen on their new t-shirt (instead of East Marietta) as a part of this effort to promote the boys' team.

Because Mercer's team was advancing to the state tournament, we had a very short window to pop up for a quick visit to North Carolina just before the 4th of July holiday - when there was a few days without practice.   I am really glad we went - as my grandpa was not doing well health-wise.  We visited him and grandma in the nursing home several times.  Unfortunately, he didn't really seem to know that we were there as he slept a lot.    












Our visits to the nursing home that trip were focused on spending time with and supporting Grandma.  The kids had activity books, Isabella played with a moth that was in the sun room, and we played matching games in the garden.  

One day while up, we took a trip to the zoo - and there was a major highlight for Isabella:  the temporary butterfly house.  She and I spent at least 30 minutes in there while mom and Mercer sat it out in the muggy heat.  (We found them later inside the cafe at least drinking a cool drink.)  Mercer was not interested in going inside the butterfly house.  Isabella was forlorn to leave.  She could have stayed in there for hours. 

The blue morpho butterflies were so impressive.  Huge.  Isabella patiently sat waiting for one to land on her, but never did.  There were others that did, but these striking blue ones just fluttered by for an occasional photo-op.

We also visited Aunt Becky.  The past two times we have been there, Uncle Tony was asleep...unfortunately, we had not seen him in quite some time.  


















The kids and I made it back to Georgia in time for our local 4th of July parade.  We missed part of it by the time we finished walking up there, but the kids seemed OK with all that we saw.  Mercer really has taken a liking to corvettes..... hmmm...

After the parade, Mercer and I stayed and "served" for the youth program at our church helping to sell parking spaces for the festivities on the square.  We walked back up for fireworks later that evening.  

Sadly, both grandpa and Uncle Tony passed away the following week.  Neither have been well for quite some time.  They took their final breaths one day apart - July 10th and July 11th.  The small town of Liberty, NC lost very very good men.  Both were funny and brought a lot of light to others around them.  Both took pride in their land (Grandpa's was much more extensive of a farm with crops, large-scale chicken houses back in the day, and acres of cattle roaming "the back 40."   Becky and Tony raised acres of peonies and other flowers to sell to florists and at a farmers market when not driving a truck.)  Both were devoted husbands and (grand)fathers.


Although both were suffering in different ways, I - with heavy heart - went up to visit with family later that week.  (Todd and the kids were in Savannah, as Mercer's tournament had just started.)  


I was not able to make it there in time for Uncle Tony's service, but went and visited Aunt Becky the next day.  My cousin Jeff and his family had already left, but I visited with my cousin Josh, Dan and their friends. We shared a meal, some hugs and some laughs.

This photograph used on his service announcement was typical Tony.  He liked to make BBQ - and - looks like he was licking his fingers....something you're never supposed to do, but likely was unapologetic about it!  :) 

Aunt Becky said that the church in town was packed with people -- many of whom told funny stories about Tony.  One even told how he asked my grandpa, Poppy, for permission to marry her... which really got to her / choked her up.  

He was a unique Uncle (he would always pick on Todd for being a Yankee and he would pick on all of the rest of us for any number of things).  Our kids thought he was funny "Crazy Uncle Tony."  (in a good way, of course!)  Becky and Tony had just moved into Grandma and Poppy's house earlier in the year - selling their little 2 story log cabin just down the road.  I am sure that she did not intend to live in this house by herself, but I do hope it brings her some comfort to be in her childhood home.

I did make it to Grandpa's service in time.  It was a small graveside service.  It was hot.  Grandma, Uncle Mel, my mom and I stayed in the van until it was time to start the service.  Perhaps because it was hot, the service was brief; but it was very nice.  It included a 21 gun salute that was administered by 7 veterans.  One of the veterans presented a flag - the one that was on Grandpa's casket - to Grandma.  

Grandpa lived 94 long years.  

There is a bit of family that I haven't seen in awhile - my cousins Tracy and Mandy as well as their kids +  my uncles' families Erika, Lauren, Emma and Michael.  (We had a chance to get together with my Uncle Eddie and his wife, Rhonda, when we were up just before the 4th of July.)  It is the first time we have all come together in several years.  Each was mourning their loss. 


Melvin Cornell Nunn was a veteran of the Navy and worked for the State of North Carolina doing inspections (like his youngest son, Uncle Eddie, does now).  Some of my fondest memories are of Grandpa, however, at his Farm and Garden store - which is still there across from their house.  

It was fun to go in there as a kid and "explore" - there was every size nut, bolt and screw there -- even ginormous ones.  There were these barrels of seeds - red ones, yellow ones, white ones. I LOVED playing with the dried seeds... it was a sensory haven!  

This picture is the "retail" part of the store.














Sometimes in the back area - the warehouse - there were animals like kittens to play with.  Grandpa always impressed me - even into his 80's - throwing a 50 lb sack of feed over his shoulder and loading into someone's truck.

This picture is the "back-of-house" part of the store.

I also remember Grandma making lunch for the "boys" every day.  Sometimes I would run it across to them.  There was a little area off of this back warehouse where they had a cooler with cold cold sodas.  

I did a search for Liberty Farm and Garden online.  I came across a local photographer to the area who took pictures of rural places.  Here's one from his blog that has a glimpse of the inside of "the store."  

In rural areas of the country, general stores and farm supply stores act as social centers as well as retail outlets. I stopped by Liberty Farm and Garden in Liberty, North Carolina on a cold winter day to pick up some farm supplies. I was greeted by old friend and classmate Mike Foust on arrival and I found owner Melvin Nunn inside close to the stove.  (Photograph by Dan Routh, 2010)

It was definitely a social hub of this farming community. Grandpa in a rocking chair answering the phone or answering a question that someone had about farming.  He was a wealth of knowledge that people would come to seek advice.  

Often, there were men huddled around a heater in other chairs "sitting for a spell" -- sometimes talking -- sometimes not.  Just sitting.  It was a different way of life that I appreciated coming from the "city."   His oldest son, Uncle Mel, ran the store as Grandpa was aging, but was sold several years ago.  I am certain some of the same layers of dust are in the store from 20 years ago!  :)    I am sure Grandpa's wisdom and spirit still carries through the walls of the old farm and garden! 

The other photos were found online.  The rest of them came from Google Maps.  It's interesting how much you can find online.  Although I never really thought to take pictures of the store, I am glad that someone did!  



We have a tiny little farm and garden store here where we live.  I would much rather patronize them than the big chain stores.  In Grandpa's honor, I will continue to get my plants for our garden there and remember the times in his store in North Carolina every time I do.  

Both Grandpa and Uncle Tony will stay close to our hearts.

Honestly, June was pretty insane too.

Well, for having my 1st summer "off" - it sure doesn't feel relaxing. 

- Partly because  we have two very energetic kids. 
- Partly because I have been taking teaching classes.  (One was a 3-week "intensive" class... a semester packed into a few weeks.  The other is a more traditional 10-week online course that began on my last day of school and finishes up the first week of the new school year.)
- Partly because we had to "adult" and research a new used car for Todd (he was hit, but OK... his car was older and the insurance company did not want to fix it).  We were researching mortgage stuff and insurance stuff too.
- Partly because there is SO MUCH TO DO and catch up on that I did not get done during the school year... lots of projects around the house and lots to clean / purge.


We started the summer off by going to our library's summer reading kick-off. I don't have pictures of Mercer because he was hanging out with some neighbors around his age while I chased Isabella around the event.  

We ran into one of her dance friends, seen here, she got to read to and got to pet a dog.  (She decided to dress up for the event!) 

That first week, Mercer also spent the night with a friend and rode his bike to his house with a pack on his back.  He was so happy!  I was too, as this warms our heart to see him riding.  He's come so far!

We spent some time at the pool and I actually got to sleep in once or twice.  Much of the week, however, was full of running errands and shopping for Mercer's camping trip.  

We made some BSA emblem cookies (sort of) the night before too to send along the way.  

  

We had to pack up a week's worth of outfits sorted and stored in individual zip bags. There was some camping gear we needed, waterproof backpack, men's sized hiking boots (which will be Todd's when Mercer grows out of them), and even snacks - which he wanted sorted by day too -- to help him ration them through the week.  

I snuck in some notes of encouragement into each day's assortment of snacks + a few bucks tucked inside each one so that he could buy extra snacks at the trading post (which is lovingly referred to as the "sugar shack" by the boys because - from the photos we saw - looks like the soda and candy aisle of a gas station).  He actually came back with a little bit of money + an appreciation for raspberry iced tea.  Happy he didn't blow it all on candy!

Above are the last photos of Todd's car before his accident.

Here are some photos of his departure up at our church's parking lot...

... + the stop at the restaurant they go to every year along the way.  


The trip consisted of a group of boy scouts from middle / high school and a handful of adults. He and two other rising 6th graders that he's known for years bunked together with a few rising 7th graders including one that he played baseball with.  They had to clean their bunkhouse every morning in order to go to breakfast.  The rising 7th grader we know did tell us after the trip that they had to help clean up after the 6th graders a little, but that Mercer wasn't too bad.  :) 


The camp leaders sent us a bunch of pictures as "proof of life" -- showing us that the boys were OK.  

I was pretty busy with my intensive class, so I was fine, but the other two moms were constantly checking in / asking if anyone receive photos!  ha.  When we did see their smiling faces, it was helpful.

It was helpful to get a little insight into the living conditions that he had for the week as well.  

Each day, he had classes to go to -- I believe he will earn 3 badges for the work at camp.  Between dinner and bedtime, they had a little time to themselves, but each Thursday, they got the afternoon off.  He went swimming in the late and had fun jumping off of the "blob" - a large inflatable pillow.  Once he returned, he said that he wishes he was still there... so he must have had a good time.  

They have (for older boys) white water rafting, excursions, welding, and some other unique experiences.  Next year, he wants to do a course on bb guns and kayaking.

One of the moms sent this camp-wide group photo and pointed out that Mercer is seated in the 2nd row... on the left!  Amazing that she found him!!


Mercer missed Todd's birthday, but Todd seemed to be OK with it... in fact, Mercer sent Todd a hand-made card from camp... and it arrived on his actual birthday!  (so special!)  

Todd went to the square with guys from work after work to hang out for a bit, then we met up and went to a little restaurant for dinner that is in our neighborhood... just the 3 of us. 

Here, Isabella is whipping-up on Todd in a game of Memory (with little round picture discs provided by the restaurant).

During this week that Mercer was gone and I was in class, Isabella was attending a LEGO camp at a bouncy house place.  She seemed to enjoy it very much... especially the rock climbing wall / falling into the billowy-pillowy mats below!

I missed Mercer's return home on Saturday because I was in class, but Todd & Isabella picked him up.  He headed straight home to change and joined in a baseball scrimmage that was already in progress late Saturday morning!  (No down-time for this kid~) 


Mercer missed a week's worth of baseball practice, but he was happy that he got to enjoy this new experience as a rising Boy Scout!!  

We are glad that he got to have this new experience too.  

 The following day (Sunday) was Father's Day.  

We celebrated Todd again -- but we got to celebrate as a whole family!  We had breakfast and opened his gift (after Mercer and I got back from his Acolyte duty at church), we went to the pool (where we had little bites and Isabella played with a lizard), and we ate a nice dinner at night (the fancy marscapone cheese pasta that we make only once or twice a year!)  

I think Todd felt loved on that day! 

   

Looks like someone is getting tickled in this picture.  ha!

I was juggling a STEM conference the following week (which was actually really awesome / I walked away with some fantastic swag - a makey makey computer kit, two 3D printer pens, a microscope and a mini drone!).  The kids have played with all of the tech already (except the microscope). They went to a day camp (not extended camp) while I went to the conference.   

Isabella went to an animal-themed VBS at a nearby church in the evenings as well while Mercer had baseball practice every night.    I was in my 2nd week of the Intensive teaching class, however, this week was more focused on reading books and turning in an assignment every day.  I worked on assignments before they got up/ after they went to bed and while they were at practice or VBS. 

I did miss one day of my conference because my classes were too much to keep up with considering that I still had my 10 week online class to submit 3 assignments for.  It was a tough week!   

(On their last day at this camp, they took a field trip and got their face painted / they wanted a picture before wiping it off.)













One of the evenings this week, however, I did take a break from school work and spent it with my childhood "sister," Susan who now lives in Arkansas.  

She and her mom came over to Marietta and we went to the new Market off of the square / ate / caught up.  (Susan announced that she's going to grad school -- she wants to be a school counselor!)  <3 

Mercer's All-Star series began the following weekend.  These 11U (11 and Under) boys played others from northwest Metro Atlanta -- pretty much Cherokee and Cobb Counties.  We are in "District 2" here in Georgia.  

The first team they played, they beat with a 10-run mercy rule.  The next day, the boys played their big rival... Smyrna... and WON a close game in extra innings!   This, in itself, was a victory!!  Mercer pitched in both of these games.

This tournament was being run as a "double elimination" tournament -- whereas you were knocked out if you lost two games.  So far, our boys had not lost a game in our local tournament.  Because they won two games, they had a bye-day (a day off while the other teams competed to see who would be in Tuesday's final playoff game).  Smyrna won against the other team and advanced, so we had to play them again.  The final game was a nail-biter... tied 0-0 for the majority of the game.  
   

The game went right up to the end and... on an error by the other team... one of our players scored! As soon as that player crossed the base, the crowd roared and the game was over.  East Marietta won 1-0 !!

They were undefeated in the District 2 Tournament and would advance to the State Championship in July!

 Yes- this picture was taken at 10:00 on a school night, but we celebrated the win with some ice cream!

The following week, the kids went to VBS at our church each morning.  Mercer was actually a helper this year.  He helped with the games outside and had a great time doing it!  The ladies that ran those stations said he was really helpful.  I think he mainly enjoyed the volunteer room because he could eat snacks and soda every day!


Unfortunately, I didn't see any photos of M in the VBS pictures on their website. There were several photos of Isabella, however.  She got to be the leader's helper once and Isabella was really happy that she knew kids from church and from her school there.    (unlike the other VBS where she didn't know anyone -- but went for the animal encounters!)

Once after VBS, the rising 6th grade and older kids walked up to the square for pizza.  Again... he's loving this new "freedom" and these new responsibilities of being a VBS helper instead of an attendee.  He especially loved being with the older kids to go for pizza!  His little boy mannerisms are starting to go away. 

There are still some little boy things he does - like playing with matchbox cars, bey blade spinning tops... and farting (sigh.) We went to the pool most afternoons in June and Mercer had baseball practice every night. Todd took Isabella to practice sometimes to play on the playground so that I could finish the work for my final week of the 3 week intensive class + the assignments for my 10 week online class.  Thankfully, I was able to get most of my classwork done on time or with extra time to spare.  

I wrapped up the 3 week intensive with my 3rd and final Saturday class where I had to present a lesson.  After my class ended, Todd, the kids and I went across town to look at another car for Todd to test drive.... this one was the "right" one. He drove home later that night in a new, used Acura SUV.  




That's a wrap for June.  
It was a lot!