Luke the Cub Scout

 In February 2011 Luke joined Cub Scouts. 

 His first cub activity before he ever even attended a pack meeting was the Pinewood derby!

 The excitement involved in thinking/designing/making your own car is so fun to watch.

 Luke knew exactly how he wanted his car to look and his Dad helped him execute the details.

A dolphin car.

"Making Weight"

His first activity was a success! He had fun and got to make something with his Dad. 

On to the weekly meetings.

In the car ready to go to his first den meeting. Over the last year he has had a hard time going to meetings, (usually he doesn't want to stop reading or building with Lego's) but once he gets there he doesn't want to leave. I have just as much of a struggle getting him to leave as I did with getting him there.

Last summer Luke attended the "twilight" Cub scout camp- and I went and helped just like I did with Jack.

 Except this year I got to go almost every day. And this year it was hot. 

So very hot. We met at the camp from 2-7 or 8 in the evening. The boys all had a fun time, and I don't know if they noticed it was hot. I kept my mouth shut about how I felt I was going to melt.

summer 2011

 

(Going to camp gives me a great appreciation for those that work with youth. No matter what the capacity. But that is for another post- this is about Luke!)

Fast forward to this last February 2012 and Luke got to participate in another Pinewood Derby!

Once again he knew exactly how he wanted his "car" to be, and had just as much fun building it with his Dad.

A yellow submarine!

 I love how Luke does not get overly competitive when the cars are racing.
I can appreciate how he is just there for fun.

 Tucker made a sign to cheer his brother on. I don't know if Luke really loved it as much as this momma did.

 Luke really worked hard the last month he was a Bear Scout. He finished up all the requirements before he turned 9 and was able to earn his Wolf badge.

Now on to working toward his Bear!

End of the year 6th grade choir concert

This is Jack's last year with his choir teacher. Because our elementary and middle and high school are so close together the 6th grade choir is still taught by the same teacher as the elementary. She has done a fabulous job. I feel so thankful that she has given our kids such a wonderful music education.
She has passed on her love of music to them as well.

The last song that the kids sang was the Hallelujah chorus. I love hearing it sung. I love it even more hearing a group of 6th graders sing it. I love that every time Jack sings it from now on he will sing his part instead of just the melody. I love when this song is sung that everyone rises to their feet. I love the chills it brings me. I love how I can hear those around me singing, and that I just can't help but join in too.

morning with mom/donuts with dad

The yearly mornings with Mom- Its tradition- I tried to talk the kids into just eating something with me at home. But they were not going to have it. How can you break with tradition?

Jay had his time with the boys the week before. It was so funny- he called me on the way to work afterward and said that the boys were such a mess. By the time they had gotten their donuts and sat down he had goo from his elbow down to his wrist. He walked Tucker to class and basically gave him a bath in the sink before he left. 

But really we love it. If they stopped having them I would be so sad. We joke and tease about not going and about how messy it is but we love it. (mostly we just love being with the kids)

the pit

(Two weeks ago) Friday we had our first of 2012 firepit night. Last year we hardly used it. It was way too hot, and when it wasn't there was too much wind or we were under a burn ban! It felt like it had been a long time.

We had the kids invite friends over in shifts- which worked out well. The younger and the middle group got along great and we even were able to have a few cousins in the mix.

Jay was in charge of getting the fire started- and I wondered why he was taking a while to get outside and get it going- he reminded me that the starting of the fire was more fun for these kids than actually sitting around it.

He was right- they were all diligent in searching around the yard for stuff to burn and getting it all ready to go.

 

The older boys decided to make a zip line using rope and some handlebars. I had to just turn my head and not watch after seeing them do it.

I drew the line with Tucker and his friend.

 The boys actually got it to work, and I only heard one person fall.  Luke got the wind knocked out of him. It was only momentarily, so I guess it wasn't so bad of an activity.

I loved sitting out back and ignoring everything that "needed' to be done inside.

 

 And the s'mores were yummy (and messy) as usual.

 

As the boys friends left Savanna's friends arrived.

We had a fun 2nd round after dark- and all those photos were with my phone.

We did another firepit two nights ago- and I tried out something I saw on Pinterest.
Oreo cookie s'mores. It was yum. So yum. Way better than a plain S'more. A s'moreo is the way to go!

I love having the pit that Jay put in the backyard. I love how for now it brings the kids together- and for the most part they get along. I love that we have used it a few times again this year, and am hopeful for more before it gets too hot.