Catching up!! I am so very behind, but for such good reasons... :) Stay tuned...

 

National Invitational Tournament of Champions!!! NITOC!!! Tennessee, here they come!!

 Joshua had the rare privilege of being invited - his first year ever competing - to the STOA National Tournament, (aka NITOC) in Tennessee.  

It was quite an honor to compete with the best in the nation, and you know this means the McM's were ALL IN!! 

They had a dorm apartment...

Natalie sweetly volunteered with the Catering and Hospitality Team all week, cooking, chopping and stocking everyday!  We were so proud of her serving heart!! 

They had so. much. fun. 

Every night was a different themed dance and snacks! 

Lots of games, fellowship and music amidst incredible speeches and debates! 

The cafeteria was a hit...

And Super-Daddy judged a million rounds and somehow managed to work everyday too!! 

(At least he secured himself a nice corner office...😎) 

Natalie worked every day in Catering/Hospitality whipping up lots of delicious food! 

600 kids everyday got pretty crazy! 

They made tons of new friends and danced themselves right into the hospital...well, that was only Joshua, but after dropping his friend, feeling horrible, her getting checked out at the ER...it was ALL OK....but we did manage to stay up almost all night that night! 

The epic moves that eventually landed Esther in the ER...

 

 Esther safely home from the ER at 2am...whew....

 

More dancing!  Every night dancing!  

One of Natalie's meals:

One would have no idea how these kids end up in the hospital 😂😂

They had a blast jamming too!! 

Found lots of new musical buddies, some that even live nearby us! 

Final award ceremony after seven full days of fun...

Lots of our friends took home awards! 

What an incredible experience!!  

More grandparents!!

We three that headed home got another grandparent visit after they went to the National Prayer Event in DC...

As always, lots of presents and laughs! 

😂Yip and Yap were a hit😂

  

The boys had a blast! 

They finally collapsed in exhaustion and sickness after the last hurrah and we had a nice quiet week of sniffles, movies and books...

Lunch with Grandpeez & On the Road AGAIN!!

Grandpeez treated us to lunch at his hotel...and some Foosball fun! 

Grandma J sent the sweetest cards along to the kiddos! 

We three headed home...

And the other three headed to Tennessee...and a little stop with friends! 

Super fun to meet long distance friends in person!! They were so hospitable! 

Lots of testosterone FUN with seven brothers!!!😂💪 

😂😂 The faces 😂😂

Such a wonderful visit with special friends!!

Further on into Tennessee to come...