Cub Scout Camp Is Done

Zachary finished off the last week of Cub Scout Camp. The temps were in the high 90s but there was usually a breeze.

They enjoyed working on the Den Car. We'll be racing against the Webelos' Car (the one that Ben made).

The boys decorated a Den Flag too. We were called the Grenaders 48ers! (Don't ask me why - better ask Zach!)



The boys made a marble bag out of leather. Here's a picture of Zachary embossing his logo onto the leather. Zach really enjoys working on projects. He always strives to do his best and actually finish them! :)

One evening (when I was chaperoning) we got rained out and were able to go home early. It was fun running through the rain and watching the whole camp scatter like ants! (I'm glad our Den was at the front of the pack. We got out quick!) Man, that was a hot and sweaty sweaty day.

Next year will be a bit different - Ben won't have to go, he'll be an 11-year old Scout. I'm not sure what they will do for a Summer Activity. But, as I think about this, Nicholas will be joining the ranks! He'll be participating as a Wolf Scout (1st year - 8 year old) and Zach will finish up as a Webelos Scout (10 year old). Time just never STOPS!

MOMENTS

...like these!


These four boys don't sit around STILL very often. So, this morning when we were at the Library, I walked out from a row of books and was so happy I had my cell phone to snap this cool picture. The sunlight is pouring thru the window but I did my best!


I can't believe how BIG they are all getting! WOW!

Blueberries!

This morning we drove about 40 minutes North of home to find acres and acres and acres and acres and acres of cattle, horses, fields and BLUEBERRIES! Each of the kids got a bucket and off we went! We picked (and ate) for about 30 minutes. After we were hot and sweaty we paid our $11 and went home - by way of SONIC - and had a great morning/early afternoon!

We'll be back next week for blackberries!
WE LOVE SUMMERTIME!

ONE more week of Camp

Zachary is enjoying Cub Scout Camp this week. He is representing the Bear Den. This is his second year at camp. He always looks forward to Camp. There's only ONE downside - the temps are to be in the high 90s all week and there is NO SWIMMING POOL! UGH!

Cub Scout Camp 2008 (Webelos)

The best part of Cub Scout Camp (beside the overnight camp-out) would have to be b-b guns! Each day the boys were able to do 40 minutes of shooting!



There was also the physical fitness side to it! (No one likes that part!)



Each Den made their own car. They raced them down the hills:



And the leaders... we tried to figure out all the BLASTED PAPERWORK!

Scout Camp Starts this Week

Benjamin is enjoying going to Cub Scout Camp this year. He is part of the Webelo Group (age 10). Since Webelos are older than the Wolves (age 8) and Bears (age 9), they get their own week, with a campout on Friday night. Glenn will head up for that.


The Golden Goliaths - Ben, Trevor, Chris, Nathan (Addison left early)

He has participated in the Wolf Group (age 8) and Bear Group (age 9) while we were in Arizona. It's been fun and Zachary will get his turn next week. (The Wolves and Bears participate together.)

We will get some action shots of the archery and b-b-guns later in the week. The first day is ALWAYS instructional and BORING!

Father & Sons Campout

Each year our church has the annual Father & Sons Campout. Each year I look forward to this activity! (Can you imagine why?) "Once our son is potty-trained, he's in," is what Glenn always has told me. This has been my incentive through these past 10 years of baby-raising boys! :)

We got to Texas and I began asking about the campout - to find out the date, to mark on the calendar. As the day got closer and closer I realized that there was not much talk about it. After questioning Glenn about it, I decided to call a member of the Bishopric and talk to his wife. We have been good friends since our move out here and she just has a lot of knowledge and knows what's going on.

She commented, "Well Cindy, with the recent ward split, I don't know if it will happen as it was earlier scheduled." I immediately responded, "Amy, they'll not cancel it, right??? They will re-schedule it, right???!!!" And she did agree.

Well, each Sunday I kept listening for more information about the campout and lo-and-behold, it was scheduled for May 30th and 31st. This year, all four boys were able to go with Dad! (Last year, Ben and Zach were sick.) Here's a nice picture of the Four Musketeers ready to tear-up the camp!

In there adventures they were really excited to see this snake! After Glenn snapped a few pictures of it, they left it alone and continued on their adventures! Later that evening some of the men were commenting on the COPPERHEAD SNAKES in the area - WATCH OUT FOR THEM! If it's a copperheard, we're not sure - but it sure looks a lot different than a garter snake?!?!

Christopher was very content to whittle with his newfound pocket knife. (Does Dad KNOW that you have a knife?) He whittled and whittled till wha-la... a pencil!





Well, Emma and I had a really fun time too! After we got the boys off - we packed up the van with some returns to do (Gap, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn) that just happened to be at The Mall. We ran the Mall (including the Disney Store) and then over to another favorite - REI! We caught a burrito at Chipotle with an Izze and then as the sun was going down we thought we should stop for an icecream surprise at Double Dip (the local Ma & Pa icecream stand/shop).

As we were heading home in the dark, Emma said to me, "Mom, can we just go home now and go to bed?!" I asked if she liked shopping and she responded, "I do, but I just need some rest. Maybe we can go again tomorrow!" :)

DEFINITELY - a fun time was had by ALL!

Baseball Survival 2008

WE SURVIVED BASEBALL SEASON 2008!

Each year Glenn and I ask ourselves, "Why do we do this..." But, when the boys show an interest in something, we do like to "jump on it!" So, once again we had baseball sign-up back in December and the season began in March.

Benjamin played on the Pirates Team. Their team won 2nd place in the pre-season tournament! He was very excited! But, then the season went DOWN from there. It's okay though - he still had a great time playing. He was positioned as the 2nd baseman and right field man/alternating each game with another boy. Ben's team did not practice that much during the season - which was okay too (it was a recreational team), for the head coach was traveling lots with his job and we had so many other practices to go too that my head was spinning!



Zachary played on the Cardinals Team. He surprised us all at shortstop with some quick moves. Then he showed an interest in pitching about mid-season and was put in as pitcher. He did AWESOME! (As long as he's not stuck in outfield, there is never complaining.) Their team made 2nd seed in the post-tournament and won their first game. But, then they lost the second game 0 to 1, which was a hard loss. It was a great experience! (Zach's team was very consistent with practices twice a week.)



Christopher did his first year of t-ball! T-ball is just fun! You can't go wrong with t-ball, EXCEPT that Chris has stated it is way to boring. He wants to get back into soccer. (He did soccer for a season when we lived in Arizona.) He did well and learned the sport well. The head coach of his team is head coach for the city highschool football team - HE WAS TOUGH! He made these little guys run the bases if they weren't paying attention - but the little guys enjoyed it and that really ticked the coach off! :) The coach practiced these guys WAY TOO MUCH for t-ball (2x a week also) but it really really did pay off. Chris knows the sport very well. (I think!)

Christopher is the kind of kid that will always try his hardest and do his best - especially when there was somebody (AKA - the coach) ALWAYS checking up on him. He worked hard and always smiled - even running laps around the bases. "I told him that it was the coaches way of making him a faster runner!" And I do have to say that Christopher's main concern was the after-game snack and the trophy that finally finally FINALLY came at the end of the season! That's the best! Another one to put next to the soccer trophy! YES!

Nicholas opted out of baseball this year... WHY? Only one guess - his true love is GYMNASTICS! He is in the off-season right now and really practicing hard. (He practices twice a week for 4 hours each. And thank goodness his practices usually coincided with the other's practices, for I could drop him off and get the others all over the city.) He will begin the competitive season at the end of the year and is really really REALLY looking forward to competing this year! We are excited for him too. He is the buffest, cutest kid!

Nick has been very supportive of going to ALL the brother's baseball games these past three months. Each Saturday we have had 3 games to get too - needless to say, I'm really glad it's ALL OVER! We are very familiar with ALL three ballparks in the city - blah! And of course, they are all about 10 miles from each - endless driving and driving and driving... this is a picture of Nicholas since he didn't get his picture in for a while. He received the "critical thinker" award at his End Of The Year Party from 1st grade!