The Arrow Of Light

It is hard to believe Bayley isn't a cub scout anymore. Tonight his den did their last cub scout flag ceremony. It's wonderful to see how confident they are in it now. Hayden's Bear den is still unsure about what to do.

Bayley earned his Arrow of Light -- an actual arrow on a plaque for his wall. He got the award because of all the achievements he earned as a scout. It's one of the few things the boys carry forward in scouting, so he's very proud.

The ceremony to celebrate the boys crossing over from cub scouts to boy scouts was much more dramatic than I expected. There was a Native American ceremony where the boys literally crossed a bridge and were welcomed by their new troop.

The principal and two of our teachers came to watch the boys cross over. It really meant a lot to them to see the support they got from the school.

I don't get to do much with scouts since Grace is not event-friendly, so it was a real treat for me to be a part of it. Right up until the time where Grace ran up on stage thinking she could cross the bridge too. The boys think how I dance to the radio in the car is embarrassing...and yet they were not nearly as mortified by this as Jeff & I were!

 

Dinner Dance

Every year the boys' school has a Dinner Dance...which is really just a fun party for the kids. Dinner is pizza and concession candy. This year there was more dancing than usual. I like to think it will help out when the kids hit 7th grade and attend those awkward junior high dances. Maybe our kids will actually...move it-move it. HA!

My boys requested they have even more tickets for the basket raffles this year to up their chances of winning. We didn't get a basket. So of course they decided this means even MORE tickets next year. I think it would be cheaper to just make them a basket of their own!

The silent auction did well this year - I tried for a movie date with the 3rd grade teachers, front row tickets to Bayley's play, and PE camp. Managed to get PE camp...for the same price I'd have paid for it. But I'd have paid for it anyway, and now the money goes to the school.

My highlight of the night is always the hula hoop contest. I think they've been practicing in PE, because this year the 2nd graders were hooping it up, and that doesn't usually happen until 3rd grade. The teachers had a big bucket of shy and only 2 of them did the hula hoops...I think next year we should turn that into a money dance like at weddings. The kids can 'bid' money to get their teacher to hula. I'm big on the ideas, not so much on the follow through.

Grace had a great time running around and dancing. Once Jeff got there, the other kids running around her made him nervous she'd escape into oblivion, so he took her home. A good thing, since the boys insist on staying until the very end.

It's such a great tradition for the kids...even if the name is deceiving.

Last Flag Raising

Bayley's time as a cub scout is almost over. In a few weeks, he'll cross over into boy scouts at the blue and gold dinner. Yesterday was the last time the den will raise the flag at the elementary school, and last night their final den meeting.


Lucky for them, most of the boys are sticking together as they join a new boy scout troop. They've spent the last few months visiting troops to see which one fits them best. The parent thought the boys would probably wind up spread across troops in the area, but the boys had other plans. Most of them decided to choose the group they had the most fun with...and the troop is taking them snowshoeing the weekend after crossover to celebrate.

Scouts has been so wonderful for both our boys, exposing them to experiences that aren't on my to-do list. Even if it has made them a little obsessed with archery, BB guns, and slingshots.

Kaitlyn's 4th Birthday - Pump It Up

It's birthday party season for the baby girlfriends...they aren't babies anymore. Their independence was showing as the had the run of Pump It Up. Grace wasn't comfortable on any of the inflatables alone, but the rest of the girls had no trouble. Even Ava, who's younger than Grace!

I was thrilled that Bayley came along. He's getting so big so fast, I'm not sure how much longer he'll be willing to hang out with the younger ones.

For the group shot...Grace had a huge trantrum. Such a proud moment for me.

At Home With Dad

While Mom headed to a booksigning...Dad kept the kids busy with chores. They didn't seem to mind, since a chainsaw was involved!