Boyscouting and stuff

Alex had his first boyscout camp out this weekend. Friday night they had great weather. Unfortunately it rained a lot of Saturday. But, by 3:30 when we showed up, the rain had stopped thankfully. The end of Saturday was an award ceremony. Alex earned his scout badge. He gave me a pin in recognition of this and then he received a badge. Lots of other kids had earned a lot of other badges and ranks it was a nice ceremony. Alex had a great time all weekend, rain or not.




There were a number of activities to watch or participate in before we at the hog they roasted in the ground. I should have gotten some pictures of the hog. It was a whole hog skin, head, apple in the mouth. And after they began cutting it up, boys happily took the jaw bone, skull and other bones to carry around as trophies. I thought it was gross, but I'm not a 11 year old (or older) boy. Here you see the kids trying the knife drop. They all loved this game - Tim didn't get a turn. There was also Frisbee and a place to hit golf balls. All this took place before the ceremonies.


There was also a spot where you could try to hit a playing card attached to a chunk of a tree stump on an easel by throwing an ax, yes, throwing an ax.


Nothing can mesmerize him more, than Blues Clues.


Timmy had been laying down for the above picture but of course by the time I got the camera, he was sitting up. When I said, "ugh, I had wanted Timmy laying down." Henry said he would do it.


"Quick, there's a bunny," Sophia called out. And sure enough there was, we actually have seen at least 3, our neighbor tells us there are 4. As little as the bunnies are they have the power to make my children be quiet and stand still for minutes at a time, all together - and that is quite a feat!

What we've been up to

We started memorial day weekend on our anniversary with a picnic and time at a playground. We grilled and roasted marshmallows, you see everyone begging for the ones hot from the grill. We even went to a baseball game. The game may have been a lot of fun except Timmy didn't like it. We were in the free section way in the back (so far away from most people). And for a while he looked at the parking lot, trains that occasionally went by, birds flying, the score board, even the game for a little bit. Then he wanted down to run and play and we put the leash on him, so he could have a little freedom. But it was never enough. No matter how far he could go, he wanted to go one step father. So he cried a good amount of the rest of the game. Well, maybe he'll do better next time.



We visited Kathy and Dale at their cabin on Sun - Mon of Memorial day weekend. It was a great time and their cabin (if you don't know was in need of a lot of love when they bought it) is looking great! We grilled and had a campfire. And the kids warmed up to Michelle's dog's. The guys got out some guns and did a little target practicing. Kathy and Dale also now have a paddle boat and we used it! It was fun, their pond is the perfect size for it. You can see fish, some snails at one end and just tool around. Timmy was so relaxed he fell asleep for one ride.


I love this picture. All three of them getting along so well, all it took was a golf cart. Alex drove the 3 of them around the pond a lot! Lucy (Michelle's, Dale's daughter, dog) even got a couple rides.


There were maybe a million tadpoles at Kathy and Dale's. In some spots the pond looked black there were so many. Here Dale and Randy are showing some to Timmy. (There were enough tadpoles Dale just reached in the pond and scooped them out.)



Max had his actual birthday on the 23. He got his presents from us and his siblings that day. He got 2 Pirates of the Caribbean lego sets. So there is opening them, and then everyone watching him put them together. It was a happy day.



Alex is working on his cycling merit badge for boy scouts. To earn this he must complete 2 - 10mile, 2- 15 mile, 2-25 mile and one 50 mile, bike rides. The 50 m. he needs to plan himself and complete in 8 hours. This is Alex after his first 25 mile bike ride (he accomplished 2 weeks ago). This ride was done with some other boy scouts, and an adult leader planned the ride. And Randy was nice enough to ride it with him.