Arrow of Light

Whittaker had a grand finale for his almost 11 years of scouting.  He earned his Webelos and Arrow of Light award in under six months.  It is typically is done in two years.  It helps that he has sat through eleven years of Scouting meetings and likely completed each rank more than once in that time.

Scouts should start at age 2... they're adorable then!

Although I won't miss the required uniforms and patches and redundant parts of scouting... the boys had a lot of fun.  Now we will have fun doing new things.  

Onward, Upword, Forward... etc.

Derby; The Finish Line

We made it... to the finish!

The final derby.  

The district decided to put on a final shindig derby to celebrate the end of the scouting legacy.  Since it was an unofficial Derby.. they could race any car they had ever made as long as it still met the qualifications of weight and rules.  Also siblings could also race a car.  Emerson was so excited!

They did not win, but they enjoyed the races.  

I do wonder at all this finality... The wards still own the tracks, timers, scales.... the boys love racing the cars.... perhaps there will be derbies of a new sort in the future.

Cub Camp

Cub Camp this year was only one day.

Emerson was excited to be allowed to attend.

A fun day of hiking, slingshots, and outdoor adventures.

We made tin can drums.

At the end of the day as we were waiting for the closing activities before heading home, the boys sat around drumming.  We suggested that the boys may wish to try dancing to the beat of their new drums.  The cubs did not agree.  I was unsure if they were more eager to be beating the drums or just not interested in dancing.  Emerson however felt no shyness and hopped up. 

He dances to the beat of their drums just fine!

Filling in the Details

Daddy worked in Hawaii for a few weeks and brought back a few fresh pineapples.  

While we gobbled away, slurping the dribble off our chins, we filled him in on all that had occurred while he was away this trip.

Friends went to Brazil and brought us back and new hammock as a thanks for taking care of their pets.

A neighbourhood cat has been stalking me.

It's quite disconcerting to be stared at while washing the dishes.

(I know the solution is to just stop doing dishes!)

Emerson became stuck in a bucket.

It took two people to get him out.

He got stuck a few more times before we confiscated the bucket.

Miles spent days and days in one spot finishing up his extra courses that he took this semester.  Fortunately he enjoyed them.  We often would peek in and seeing him grinning away and when we glanced at the screen, none of us saw anything amusing or pleasant... 

Chemistry, Graphic Design and Microsoft Office Specialist.

To each his own. 

Sarah claimed there wasn't enough space in her room for all her shoes.  Rather than pare down her shoe collection, she opted for opening up a wall and creating new shelves.

On a particularly quiet afternoon, I thought Emerson was napping and assumed Whittaker was playing legos with Duncan.

I was wrong.

Duncan was voraciously reading Harry Potter and the little boys... well, they were stripped down in the sandbox.

Having the time of their lives.

Until it began to rain.  Then they were dancing on the deck trying to rinse off the sand.

Emerson discovered that other people have water bottles identical to his.

He was relieved when we returned home and his was still on his hook.

We spent an ENTIRE saturday doing Scouts.  Miles performed his Native American Hoop Dancing.  Duncan earned two merit badges.  The boys and I played every carnival game known to man, and participated in the dance demonstration, and climbed rock walls, and played on bounce houses, and sawed a tree in half, and generally had a good time.

Unfortunately, as we told Daddy all about our activities... 

His red eye flight and jet lag caught up to him.

It's the Year of the Monkey

Although it feels like it's always the year of the monkeys around here.. It's officially the year of the Monkey according to the Chinese zodiac.

For Cub Scouts we had our Blue and Gold Banquet and chose to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

At my district meeting I had been asked to come up with an idea to share for a Blue and Gold Banquet.  With the date of the banquet in February I thought the Chinese New Year would be fun.   My partner chose an Angry Bird's theme.  However she broke her foot and wasn't able to do hers but it was already on the schedule so the kids and I took on the Angry Bird one as well... Yes it was as much fun to plan an Angry Bird Party as it sounds!  We presented our ideas to the district leaders and had a lot of fun.  The leaders of my own pack saw that I already had everything planned out for a banquet and decided to use the Chinese New Year since I'd already planned it out for them.  We had a blast.

The only problem I ran into was that I could stop coming up with great ideas and had to stop at some point.

Setting up for the banquet was fun and it turned out well.  We dimmed the lights and had our glow stick Chinese Kirigami lanterns strung for fun lighting.  

Each table was ready for our evening.  We served Mandarin orange chicken, with ham fried rice, and egg rolls.  All eaten with chopsticks of course!  

For dessert we had a Chinese dragon cake.  Thanks to Miles for making him look authentic.  (He looked like a snake when I had finished.  Miles added a tail, some feet and tweaked the scales)

By far the best game of the night was a game we stole from my Angry Birds plans.  We had a 3 man slingshot to launch our monkeys at the target.  A calendar on the wall.  We were sending the monkey into the new year.

At the end of the evening when it was all cleaned up we went home pleased.  We also went home with leftover food and lanterns.  The boys immediately strung them up in their room and went to bed with the glow of the lanterns welcoming in the new year!

Who's the Bomb?

We had a special guest from the Bomb squad come speak to our cub scouts.  He brought and demonstrated the units remote robotic bomb diffuser.

It was a big hit.. obviously.. .boys.. remote control robots... a film about bombs..including some explosions...

They attempted to try on his bomb squad uniform suit.. but since the vest alone weighed more than any of the boys (90lbs)... they were unable to even lift it.

The officer was informative regarding how much training is involved and how dangerous and serious the job is.

For Emerson it was just an awesome Robot night at scouts.

 For Whittaker however, it was a nerve wracking experience.  He was paying close attention regarding booby traps, trip wires, and the dangers of bombs.  Most nerve wracking to him however was the claw arm of the robot that he wasn't sure wouldn't suddenly come toward him.  Once the officer explained that the robot was capable of grasping hold of a full grown person and dragging them out of a building with the claw, Whittaker slunk to the back of his seat and wouldn't approach the robot at all.  Even after we told him that the robot would be dragging a person to safety, rescuing them... he didn't want to have anything to do with it.

Miles came home and spoke of all the gears and mechanisms turning both on the robot and in his brain.  I didn't understand any of it.  He's even more convinced that he's interested in robotics engineering now.

The Eagle Flies

This was one of three presentations Miles gave to promote the Blood Drive for his Eagle Project.

He spoke to the District Cub Scout Leaders and the BSA Round Table Commissioners as well as the High School Seminary Students.  

There was a great deal of behind the scenes work.

Hours of telephone calls to schedule appointments, including setting up and running a call center evening with the youth in the neighbourhood.  Learning telephone scheduling skills and appointment scheduling.  He had to meet with the representatives from the Red Cross to arrange dates, building and write up a short bio of his reasons for choosing a blood drive to use as flyers.  He had to hand out the hundreds of flyers and create posters to advertise the blood drive.  He approached Little Caesars Pizza for a donation of pizza to thank all the hard workers at the blood drive for their support in volunteering.  He also arranged mints and lifesaver donations as thank you's for all the individuals who willingly came to donate. 

The day of the drive finally arrived and all the hard work paid off..... until the equipment failed.  The red cross remote location drives require an internet connection to run their drives these day and the equipment they had to receive the connection failed.  Our 8 hour drive came to a grinding halt after only 2 hours.  We were down for a full hour before we could continue.  We learned flexibility and the importance of being prepared.  We had to make calls to reschedule and cancel some appointments.  

With the technical difficulties our numbers were down but we still met the minimum donation goal.(barely)  I like to think that I am the reason.  Towards the end of the drive, there was an opening so I bravely took it.  I had clear expectations.  After witnessing the procedure I insisted on a book holder to distract me.  Someone else to answer my questions so I wouldn't have to look towards the arm at all and plenty of juice!  I proudly wore my "I donated today" sticker!  I may even do it again.  

Sarah vacillated too long but she'll do it one of these days.  Miles is eager to donate and is counting down the months until he can!  Only 13 more months!

BSA Mascots

Someone is just too cute for his britches.

He is pleased to be the caboose of a full steam ahead train of Scouters.

Their favourite part of scouting with Mummy as a scout leader is holing up in a small classroom with a movie and popcorn while I teach my monthly scout leaders class.  

Who wouldn't want to be a scout with these perks?

Under the Sea

Our Blue and Gold Banquet had an Under the Sea theme and we truly ate our meal among the fish.  It was fun.  I've enjoyed being leaders with these fellow leaders.  They don't hesitate to decorate and go all out for a good party.  It helps to balance my tendency to be practicality and just accomplish the requirements at each meeting.  We all agreed that we need to remember to take photos at our activities.... now we're agreed we should take photos while it's happening and not just as we decorate!  We were all so busy having a good time we forgot to take pictures of the scouts enjoying the fun.

12 Days of Christmas

For the second week of December....  I forgot to take photos... most of the time.

Sarah got a job.  She works just down the street at the school... cleaning!


Patrick's Sterling Singers performance.  Sarah had her first training for work and couldn't go.  I had to stay with Whittaker and Emerson.  So the Bishop took Miles and Duncan so they could watch the performance.  Then they went for ice cream.

Christmas cookies with the Scouts.  We were learning about primary and secondary colours.  What better way than with balls of different colours of cookie dough.   Although it looked like play dough and as leaders we were tempted to snitch the dough but the colour made us leery.  The swirly dough looked pretty cool in the end.


Relief Society Dinner.  This evening was for Caleb... and all the other missionaries from our ward.  We enjoyed a meal and shared stories of the missionaries.  The ward all put together packages for each of them.  What a great feeling of sweet kindness and such generosity, from our friends and neighbours.

Baby Sybil Avery  Rose was born to Bailey on 12-12 at 12:21.  My children's official relationship is 1st cousin once removed.  BUT.. I am sweet Sybil's great-grand auntie!

Ward Christmas breakfast and play.  Sarah and James Peck were the stage crew for Sister Moulton.  Duncan was a member of the main cast family and played a very spoiled and materialistic boy.  (So didn't fit.  He's my boy literally asking for socks and a nailbrush for Christmas.)  Cooper was a singer in the choir.  The play was cute and a lot of fun, to participate in and to watch.  They did a cute version of the 12 days of Christmas about service to others.


Duncan had Family Home Evening this week and he taught us about the meaning behind the song, 12 Days of Christmas.  It was fun to learn.

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me (Our Heavenly Father) a partridge in a pear tree (The Savior, and his atonement)

On the 2nd day, 2 turtle doves (2 books of Scripture)

On the 3rd day, 3 french hens (3 wise men and gifts)

On the 4th day, 4 calling birds (4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John who testify of Christs life and teachings)

On the 5th day, 5 golden rings (The Torah or the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament, regarded as more valuable than gold)

On the 6th day, 6 geese a laying (6 days to create the earth)

On the 7th day, 7 swans a swimming (7 gifts of the spirit mentioned in Romans 12; Prophecy, Ministering/Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Charity, Leadership, Mercy... Although it could just as easily be the gifts of Prophecy, tongues, wisdom and knowledge, testimony, faith, miracles and healing)

On the 8th day, 8 maids a milking (The 8 Beattitudes; 

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst afterrighteousness: for they shall be filled.
 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called thechildren of God.
 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.)

On the 9th day, 9 ladies dancing, (9 fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law".)

On the 10th day, 10 lords a leaping (The 10 commandments, Exodus 20:3-17;

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of thefathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in itthou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thystranger that is within thy gates:
 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lordblessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
 12 ¶Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be longupon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
 13 Thou shalt not kill.
 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
 15 Thou shalt not steal.
 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.)

On the 11th day, 11 pipers piping (The 11 apostles who remained faithful to Christ)

On the 12th day, 12 drummers drumming (12 Latter day apostles who still testify of Christ/ originally it was the 12 points of the Apostles Creed)

In connection with him, we hung our new ornament on the Christmas tree.  They were from the song... Snow globes with a depiction of one of the 12 days of Christmas.

Egg Nog, aka Christmas milk, and other general lounging about... I often find this scene..... (I'd like to say they're watching Christmas movies or uplifting things but generally it's just Curious George.)

911

It has been a very long 6 week course in First Aid.  Each week as we struggle to keep the boys' focus and teach them all the requirements, I come away shaking my head and wondering if we will ever work on a different advancement or if we will be stuck in First Aid land for evermore.

Cooper is typically capable of regurgitating anything he has ever read, seen or heard verbatim.  However that skill apparently is not available when it comes to knowledge of First Aid.  For some reason he can not find the least bit of interest in the subject and instead has been goofy, silly and down right obnoxious during class. We quiz throughout the week on the assigned reading and practice the rescue breathing, Heimlich and the taking of pulse.  Why oh, why does each lesson end with him insulting or baffling our instructor.

On snake bite night he demanded that he know exactly which variety of snake had bitten and spouted off all the available information regarding habitat, diet and venom of the snake.  Could he tell what to do in the event of a bite..... 'cricket... cricket'.

On bandaging night, as he attempted to wrap the arm of the 'dislocated shoulder victim who wouldn't stop panicking', he yelled at him, ""Listen, I can just as easily break something else as I can fix you, so be quiet would you!"

On CPR night, he couldn't stop giggling long enough to give his dummy one full breath.

On First Aid kit night, we brought the first aid kits we'd put together and when the leader asked him to tell him what each item was used for, he replied, "I'm not a neurosurgeon you know!  I can't use half of this stuff."

Tonight on what should have been the final test night, he was given the scenario that he then was supposed to demonstrate the correct First Aid to use.  Cooper was quiet for a minute.  He commenced to bandage for a few minutes, looking perplexed and quite un at ease.  Then, at the prompting from the leader, "What do you think you should do next?"

"Well....",  He looked at the 'patient'.  "I'm just a Webelos scout and I don't know what to do next.  I'm terribly sorry.  I'm afraid you will most likely die."

The room was silent.  The leaders looked at each other, at me, at Cooper.  They finally closed their mouths.
We're going to be doing a little more review... again.... next week.

Bedside Manner

Cooper and Duncan have been working on their first aid requirements for scouts.  They've covered most of the requirements, what to do for nose bleeds, bee stings, burns, small cuts, how to prevent infection and how and when to administer CPR.  This evenings class was about bandaging.  They had been paying attention and practicing wrapping different bandaging techniques on each other and it was time for showing the instructor what they remembered.

The instructor would tell them what injury he had sustained and then they needed to select the correct bandaging technique and administer it to him.  Meanwhile, the instructor was playing the part of an injured person... complete with moaning and complaining.  This was rather distracting for Cooper who was concentrating on trying to complete his tasks correctly.  After a few minutes trying to figure out how to attach a sling to this moaning and rather large man, he looked straight at him and said,

"Listen, I can just as easily break something else as I can fix you, so be quiet would you!"

Next weeks lesson, the importance of keeping your cool in an emergency.

Missionary Prep

 "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."  

Preparing for his mission has taken a great deal of time.  And as for 'shall not fear'...  We began to wonder. He's had some technical difficulties with his citizenship papers.  He has had documents turned in by medical and dental both who forgot to sign the forms so we had to return.  He has had medical conditions (an ingrown toe nail), that had to be dealt with and he's been working every hour he can to earn his financial obligation.  He has also attended a year of the missionary prep class offered each week.  He has enjoyed the class, but his teacher recently told him, he's never had a prospective elder as long as Caleb... usually they are only there a few months ahead of time... not a year.  Finally once all the paperwork was turned in the only thing left was his ecclesiastical interview.  It went well, but as he returned to the van, he opened the door and managed to hit himself in the head with the corner of the door he opened himself.  It looked worse than it was and I had nothing to offer to place on the wound to mop up the blood, so he walked back into the church and grabbed some tissues.  (yes I told him to protect the new white shirt before I asked how bad the head was)  

Since we had recently been to the E.R. for his broken thumb and for Whittaker's stitches in his head we felt we were experts.  We knew that although head wounds bleed profusely, often unless they are deep, they are superficial.  We had heard from a friend that she simply superglues many of her children's cuts back together.  Once we had his face cleaned up of the blood, we have the gluing technique a try.   I'm a believer!  Forget bandaids!

Fortunately, this portion of the missionary prep has ended and with it we hope his string of bad luck!  Now to accumulate the items on his shopping list and safely send him on his way!

I received a letter from the mission office in Ohio.  'To the Parents of Elder Noble'.  It urged that we prepare him for the rigors of life away from home by being sure he knew how to prepare a few simple meals, wash a load of laundry correctly and maintain a clean environment especially a kitchen and bathroom.  It also mentioned that his mission would require him to ride a bicycle and he may wish to prepare himself physically. I read through the list and chuckled.  Just that day I had called home while out running errands and told him to start the rice and chop the veggies for the stir fry.  He surprised us by also making an apple cobbler.  I think he has the first mastered.  As for the cleaning.... I don't doubt that he knows how to clean a bathroom or a kitchen but I'm happy to allow him the opportunity to practice in the upcoming months, just to be certain.

BUT ... in all his years as my son, if he hasn't learned a thing of two about laundry.... well... I might have to disown him!

He should be capable of doing laundry in a washtub and hanging it out on a clothesline.
He should know the proper way to iron any article of clothing.
He should know how to sort by colours and by fabric type.
He should know how to pretreat a stain.
He should know how to test for colourfastness.
He should know how to mend a popped seam, reattach a button and fix a fallen hem.
He should know how to correctly hang clothing on a hangar so they don't pucker or crease.
He should know how to fold clothing so they stack neatly.
He should even know how to prewash a cloth diaper load and sunbleach them and properly fold and stuff different styles of diapers.(not likely a missionary skill needed but...)
He should even know how to make an eco friendly detergent.

As I looked back over the list of things the mission office mentioned, it dawned on me that I could simply send his cooking merit badge, his cycling merit badge and his home repairs and family life merit badge to them as my response that, yes... he is prepared for these 'rigors of life'.  

(I really ought to suggest to the BSA that they instigate a laundry merit badge.  I could be a counselor for that.)

Let there be Light

We moved into our current house Feb. 1st, 2007.  It has been exactly 7 years.  In all that time we have had a light switch in our living room, but no light fixture.  We've had a lamp or two, but with small children crawling and climbing, lamps are not a grand plan.

Miles was working on his Family Life merit badge.  One thing he had to do was a project around the home that would benefit the family.  We brainstormed for awhile and were not sure what he could help to do that would qualify, that he either wasn't already doing or would truly benefit the family as a whole.  Then as we sat in the dark living room thinking about it..... (light bulb moment!)

We checked the outlet to be sure there was indeed power and began the project.  I had the easy part and the difficult part.  I had to select the fixture.  I also had to wait for it to be completed.  I am learning that once the decision for a project to be taken on is made I am completely impatient to see it completed!

I selected a fixture and Miles and Patrick checked the attic and the wiring.  All seemed in order.  It went up quickly.  One evening and voila!  A light fixture.

Glitch... even when we flicked the switch.. there wasn't any light.  hmmm.

A few phone calls to the experts.  Patrick and Miles tried a few things and then ....


Well  ...now there is light.

WHY DID WE WAIT 7 YEARS??                


LIGHT IS GLORIOUS!

Vigil

Vigil: a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, esp. to keep watch or pray...

hmm...
well, regardless.

Caleb was nominated and received an award through the scouting order of the arrow program referred to as "Vigil".  I don't think it has anything to do with sleeping though.  It's an honour bestowed typically for outstanding service within the organisation.  

As pictured,  you can see that it also came with cake.

50 miler

Scouting merit badges aren't just for looks on a sash. Some I think are just for fun, such as the archery, Chess, Fishing and Canoeing. I've been impressed that many of the merit badges introduce the young men to career options they may not have considered or hobbies and interests that they may have never dabbled in otherwise. However, there are some merit badges that take a great deal of effort and perseverance for the boys to earn. Some that stretch their limits both mentally, emotionally and physically. I suppose you could say, I'm coming around to seeing scouting in a new light. Perhaps it isn't all fluff after all.

One of the most physically exerting badges for Caleb was his bicycling badge. He initially thought it would be a fun and simple one to earn over the summer. He learned that instead it would launch him into bicycle history, mechanics and a rigorous training program for his actual cycling portion. There were two, 10 mile rides, two 15 mile rides, two 25 mile rides and then finally the 50 mile ride. He and his counselor actually went on many 15 mile rides throughout the training and he found the 25 mile rides fun and exciting. The 50 mile ride however found him home afterward with shaky legs and a desire to stay at home and in bed for the next 16 hours! He was completely wiped.

He has since been on many shorter rides (10-20 milers), and finds that he enjoys cycling more than he thought he would. He is working on building a new bike and I hope he eventually stops growing so he can fit a bike for more than a year!

Parade of Scouting

 Miles riding on the float with the Order of the Arrow.  He was thrilled to be included as Caleb's stand in!

 Patrick driving the air conditioned truck that pulled the float.  

 The scouts carried the flags at the beginning of the parade.  Cooper and Duncan chose large flags this year and were amazing.  They carried them the entire 1.5 miles of parade without any resting.  Cooper said it was an honor to walk with the National Guard carrying the flag and he knew he should carry the flag straight and high.

Whittaker walked about half of the parade and then joined Emerson in the stroller.  Emerson sat and watched the people lining the streets.  

 What the boys walked the parade, carrying flags in 100* weather for.....

a popsicle at the end!

 Emerson's traveling system.  

How do I get the parade route air conditioned? or at least petition for a 6am parade start time!?!  

Something is amiss in the planning that the women and young boys walk carrying the flags, the older boys ride on a trailer/float and the men drive the air conditioned truck.....