Clark’s day at the office
Posted by: Joe on: February 21, 2012
To earn a Tiger Cub elective with Cub Scout Pack 457, Clark went to the office with me today. He was excited to have a coffee cup (filled with chocolate milk) like the one I use. We had a good day together.
He sat through an actual meeting that lasted much longer than I expected and he only spun his chair around a few. . .hundred times.
Friday Field Trips
Posted by: Joe on: February 18, 2012
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park was a ceremonial grounds for woodland era Native Americans. It was never a fort at all but because that’s what the English thought it was when they discovered it that’s what they named it.
The walls were between 4 and 6 feet tall. Today they are covered by dirt and leaves.
More beautiful weather brought on another field trip to Nashville. This time we headed for Centennial Park. As we researched Tennessee’s Centennial we discovered that it wasn’t held in 1896. Due to budget constraints and bickering on where the money would come from, it was finally set to begin in May of 1897 and run through October 1897.
All of the beautiful buildings, with the exception of two, were torn down following the Centennial Exposition. One building was moved to Franklin and is now a private residence. The other building was the Parthenon. The Parthenon was one of the smaller buildings built for the Centennial which creates an image of the park area being filled with huge, gorgeous buildings. The Parthenon standing today was rebuilt in the early 1900s out of more durable materials.
Chloe is standing near what remains of the Women’s building during the Centennial.
Afterward we had lunch at the Elliston Place Soda Shop. It’s Nashville’s oldest restaurant that has remained in the same location.
Since we had been to the Ryman two weeks ago, I decided to take the kids to see where the Grand Ole Opry now plays.
We also stepped inside Opryland Hotel.
The weather has been gorgeous in Tennessee in January 2012! Because of the high temps outside, it has afforded us many opportunities to take field trips. This week Chloe has been studying Murfreesboro history. We took a walk down Main Street, read the plaques, talked about the architecture. It was fun imagining what life was like in Murfreesboro in the 1870-1920s during the reconstruction era when there was a push to build schools and universities.
Oaklands Historical House Museum is always a favorite historical spot to visit!
TN Bicentennial Mall and State Museum Field Trip
Posted by: Joe on: February 17, 2012
The weather was so unseasonably warm we decided to take off to Bicentennial Mall with a picnic lunch. We walked down the Mall timeline of Tennessee and Clark selected a beautiful spot for our lunch…right in front of the capitol!
The Union Gospel Tabernacle (better known as the Ryman Auditorium)
Posted by: Joe on: February 17, 2012
As Chloe’s Tennessee history unit continues, we found ourselves studying what Nashville is known for, Country Music. We toured the historic Ryman Auditorium and learned about how the Grand Ole Opry got its start. The Ryman played it’s part as a host building during the Centennial celebration in 1897. That’s when the balcony was constructed and named the Confederate Gallery after the Confederate Veterans.
A “Moving” Christmas
Posted by: Joe on: February 17, 2012
On December 8th, we moved to our new house. . .
The day after we moved, we had reservations to tour the governor’s mansion. It was a self-guided tour of the formal areas of the residence.
Christmas Morning 2011
Clark’s “Get Well” gift to Chloe
Posted by: Joe on: January 7, 2012
Several weeks ago:
Clark decided that he wanted to do something to make his sister feel better. While at Target, he noticed that she paid special attention to the Christmas Barbie. He told Anna that since Chloe was sick he wanted to spend his own money to buy her that Barbie. So after dinner Anna took him to make the purchase. On the way he said, “She will be thrilled, not excited but thrilled. I can’t wait to see the smile on her face.” He wrapped it (mostly himself) with “the girliest paper we have”. He was right. She was thrilled. We are, too.
Am I a proud Dad? Um, yes.
Greenhouse Ministries
Posted by: Joe on: December 2, 2011
We decided to sponsor a local family for Christmas this year. The kids enjoyed shopping for Noah, age 5. We delivered the gifts and a box of pantry goods to the Greenhouse Ministries building where the family would be able to pick them up.
Borodash 2011
Posted by: Joe on: November 25, 2011
The 2nd annual Borodash on Thanksgiving Day 2011 was wonderful and cold. It was obvious that many more people signed up for this year’s race. Almost 1,000 more, in fact for a total of more than 2,500 registered runners.
A good friend, Brian Holaway, designed our shirts. He’s a very talented guy who owns a local company called Brian Holaway Creative. As you can see, he’s awesome.
WISH Team Race Results:
Joe Wakham 1567 742 35 58:49 14:43 Murfreesboro TN
Chloe Wakham 1568 826 9 58:49 14:43 Murfreesboro TN
Anna Wakham 1569 827 36 58:50 14:43 Murfreesboro TN
Clark Wakham 1570 743 7 58:50 14:43 Murfreesboro TN
Clark: I was kinda tired. And I could run some more though and we were almost to the finish line until they were done saying all the stuff and all the prizes. I felt like it was going to be a long time since I couldn’t ride in the stroller like I did last year but it wasn’t.
Chloe: It felt like the course was shorter because we knew how long it was and it wasn’t as tiring. We didn’t get hot because of the cold. I didn’t think I would work up an appetite but afterwards I ate three muffins! My feet were sore even hours after the race. It was tiring but when I thought about the cause – Neema House & Greenhouse – it was easier to run.
Chloe: Afterwards, we all received medals. I was happy to finally finish the 2nd annual Borodash!!
Our new home!
Posted by: Joe on: November 18, 2011
If everything goes according to plan, we will close on the purchase of this house on December 2nd and begin the process of moving from Choctaw Trace to Red Oak Trail during the following week. The WISH team is excited and nervous and thankful and blessed. We have many plans for our new home. Anna has already planted the idea that Dad will build a playhouse in the woods.
We look forward to hosting many gatherings with our friends and family. We’ve begun the process of shopping for furniture, but that won’t get going strong until we sell the Choctaw property.
