Scouting Adventures


Since turning 11 Jared has been working hard in Boy Scouts.  This week he earned his Tenderfoot rank advancement. He's also been put in as Patrol Leader of his little patrol of three boys.
On Friday, Chuck came home early from work and the boys packed up for Jared's first ever scout campout. It was cold and threatening rain, but undaunted they went.

The blown down tent the next morning.

They were able to set up tents and get a fire built and eat foil dinners before the rain hit.  The rain pounded and wind blew and at around 2 am Jared said the tent shuttered and blew down on him and his fellow scout. Wet and tentless, the boys were sent to spend the rest of night in the leaders van, while Chuck and the scout leader toughed it out in their tent that was still standing.   The next morning the sun came out and they were able to do some geocashing.


It's Thursday Night 
 What's happening at our house?

Chuck got the "Spot On" award at work for dealing with an expensive billing crisis last year in a professional and efficient way. We celebrated his award with a carrot cake.

Learning to read patterns is like learning a new language.  Kaitlin cut out all the pieces to her vest.

This is where you'll find Jared every morning and night.

Ruth got some engineering help on her cracker box car. Washers were the key to keeping the wheels from rubbing against the body. The next day the car rolled the required distance and she got an A.

Ruth is One of a Kind

It's a Mom's prerogative to think all her kids are special. Let me tell you a little about what Ruth's been up to.

I mentioned a month or two ago that she was working on a YouTube series. She writes, storyboards, animates, and voices My Little Pony cartoons.  Now she has over 600 subscribers. I tease her telling her that she needs to keep working on this so she can pay for college by being a YouTube star.

We went to our city talent show this weekend. This is the first time in two years that we haven't performed in the show.  At intermission they invited anyone who wanted to to go on the stage and sing "Let it Go."  Ruth volunteered and ran up on stage.  When the music started all the kids stood frozen while they sang, but then one little boy started dancing across the stage.  Not to be overshadowed, Ruth stepped out center stage and started to sing with much passion, and then many others joined her while she hammed it up for the audience.  Only six years ago this was the girl who clung to my skirts when we first went on stage for The Music Man. Now, look at her. Drama has given her amazing self confidence. 

Speaking of drama, Ruth is working hard on her school musical, Honk.  This week I went in and with a team of student helpers, designed and cut out several large panels of clumps of grass, some as tall as 7 or 8 feet.