a few videos from the birthday party!

Caleb playing "footbawllll..." with Larry! The boy's not Southern!!

Opening the box of trucks! BIG TRUCK!

Playing "punch balls" with Daddy...

Party Time! Saturday, July 25th

It's the day for Caleb's 2nd birthday party! We gathered at Lake Julian under a great shelter that shielded the sun and let through a breeze! We brought our own canopy also for a little extra shade.

Family and friends came in from Clover, SC, Beaufort, SC, and the surrounding Asheville area. Jeff, Angela, Eric, and Bennett enjoy the shade.

Larry, Joan, Mom and Dad arrive!

Larry, Wayne, Dad and Mom watch Caleb as he plays with his trucks. One of these was Bennett's truck from his childhood!

Caleb's friend Benjamin comes to play too. He has found a Handy Manny coloring book to view while seated on the dump truck!

Lunch time! Hot dogs and the trimmings were served! Nancy, Pete, and Jeff enjoy the canopy.

Time for presents! We learned "save the trucks for last" because Caleb was solely focused on playing with the truck with all the bells and whistles! He got Handy Manny linens and a comforter for his "big boy" room. And lots of trucks, tools, books, and love from all!

Nathaniel helping to open Caleb's trucks!

Brenda and Angela staying cool!

Finally, cake and candles. Caleb blew out both candles easily - but kept his trucks in his hands!

Had a vanilla cake for the kids, and a chocolate cake for Emily! Ha!

What a day! Can't believe Caleb is two years old! He's 34 1/2" tall and probably 30 lbs.!

...and baby makes 4!

I got to go with Emily and Eric July 22nd to see the ultrasound of the newest Freeman. Caleb and I played in the waiting room until time for the picture!

Afterward, we celebrated Jeff's birthday with brunch at J&K's Kitchen.

Caleb found his favorite past time taking place in the parking lot... dump trucks and bulldozers working on the road.

July Joys!

Another fun week! Caleb loves to spin around - and here he shows how dizzy he can get!

Helped Emily and Eric build a chicken coop for their future layers. Can't wait to see Caleb's face when he has 3 chicks to watch and feed! Eric looks like Tim the Tool Man!

What's next???

Man and fire!

Securing the run...

Celebrated Jeff's birthday a little early - with lasagne and an ice cream sundae bar. Since we had no cake, we lit the chocolate-coconut Partylite candle for fragrance. Quiet time for Caleb... here he studies his fire truck very carefully...

Our neighbor Pete with Caleb checking out his boat! Caleb had noticed the boat was missing after church - so he was glad to see it in the driveway later!

July 4th Fun!

Our three day weekend began with Bennett taking off to go deep sea fishing in Calabash, NC with his buddy Kevin.

Jeff and I went kayaking on Lake Lure. It was our first time there and we saw beautiful scenery plus...

grey heron and turtles sunning themselves along rocks and fallen branches.

I'm paddling Bennett's boat

while Jeff's paddling our boat. It's a little harder to control! On July 4th, we visited Camp Joy in Hendersonville to celebrate their 30th year! Nancy and Pete were greeters...

Olivia and a friend helped set up the Silent Auction area.

Late afternoon, we had a cook out with Mom and Dad. We shared rib eyes and shrimp on the grill - and salad and corn on the cob!

Toddling two year old (almost)

Caleb visited yesterday and played as usual with his special cars, Lightning McQueen and the King...

Clowning around!

Here's a video of Caleb doing one of his favorite things... running to Uncle Ben!

Can't believe he'll be 2 in a couple of weeks.

Caleb and goats

The Nature Center also has a petting zoo - and Caleb likes to play in the sand more than pet the sheep, but here he makes friends with several goats! Thank goodness for hand sanitizer!

Following a goat who later tried to get of the barnyard!

Butterflies and the Nature Center!

Caleb, Mom and I visited the Nature Center this morning. The new butterfly exhibit opened recently. Caleb was enthralled with the many colorful butterflies flitting around. He enjoyed blowing on them to watch them fly - rather than holding them on his finger. We were sprayed with sugar water when we went in to encourage butterflies to light on our fingers. What fun!

More pictures of Caleb and the butterflies...