T's Computer

Here is one of T's latest creations: his own lap top computer and its accompanying mouse! He saw something like this one TV and he immediately took out his new shoes from the box and got to work. I buy T his own roll of scotch tape. It just makes things easier for everyone! He drew some pictures with some numbers for the key board. He then found this pink, knit mouse for the finishing touch. He actually uses the pink mouse like a computer mouse! It's hilarious. He's said a few times, "I need to check my e-mail" and he'll swivel the mouse around and make clicking noises. I LOVE watching him because his imagination is infinite!!

Recent Court of Honor

N earned 1 merit badge at the recent Court of Honor: Family Life. He is almost done with all of the requirements needed to start on his Eagle. We just need to get a fire under him!!! He doesn't mind doing the merit badge work, he just hates making the phone calls to the counselors!

N gave a recap of the Varsity Scout High Adventure at Santa Cruz. He was already nervous, but when he saw me with the camera, it made it worse! Sorry about that, N!

B earned 5 merit badges! Environmental Science, Family Life, Cooking, Sculpture, and Art. He's very close to his next rank advancement. Afterwards, there was different types of cobbler to enjoy. The leaders made them in dutch ovens.

The Training Wheels are in the Trash!

N even took a turn helping T get started

This morning, while I was shoe shopping with N & J, T wanted to try the bigger bike with NO training wheels. So, G took him out to the nearby field and practiced. He's a bit short for the red bike, so stopping is a little tricky, but he did it! When I got home, I was treated to a great show!! He'd walk up the street a ways with G, get on the bike, ride it down the street, and stop on our front lawn. After a few times of doing this, he picked up the training wheels that were taken off of his smaller blue bike and walked over to the trash and dumped them in. Yeah!!!

Annual Tahoe Day Trip

On Thursday, July 29th, we headed up to King's Beach in North Tahoe to spend the day with friends. This has become an annual tradition and I believe we've gone at least once, sometimes twice, a summer for the past 4 or 5 years. We LOVE this beach! The water is shallow for quite a distance, which is great for the kids. It was challenging to get this picture of all of the kids. I used the appropriate phrase that it was like "herding cats" trying to get this picture! [B and J are in the back row, 2nd and 3rd from the right; T is in the front row, 1st on the left]

Most of us! We're missing one of our friends in this picture. I think she was still trying to find a few kids! We had a great time just visiting with one another!! The time just flew by.

B on the hunt for crawfish

J just chilaxin!

T having a great time in the sand and water

Me and T

We got to the beach at 11am. This was the first time that I had to park across the street! However, the beach wasn't crowded!?!?? We set up our umbrellas, chairs, and just had a great time. We didn't leave until 5pm! We missed having N with us. He was on a Varsity Scout outing to Santa Cruz. I'm so glad that we could make it up to Tahoe this summer. We've been busy, but we just HAD to squeeze this in. I had a wonderful time visiting with the mom's. I'm so lucky to call these ladies my friends!!

PS: Thank you for the pictures, Raimi! I can't believe that I forgot my camera! That almost never happens to me!

Sad, Sad Blog ...

We have been SO crazy busy this summer that I've completely neglected the blog! I have many adventures to share, pictures and all. We've been to Utah, visited family, then up to Shasta, then Tahoe, more family time, re-did my bathroom floor, had a birthday party, pool time, cement slides etc. The boys start school on August 11th. This summer has flown by with lightning speed! But, boy, we've had FUN!

Scout Camp

B is in the bright blue sweatshirt ...

B is 4th from the left. This is the group on the hike into camp

B is on the far right

B went to Boy Scout camp last week. [Thank you to my friend, Camie, for the pictures!! I really appreciate it!] The troop left EARLY Monday morning (3:45am). He said he had a better time than he thought he'd have at camp. He earned 4 merit badges. I told him that he had to get Environmental Science, but then he could pick which other ones he wanted to do. He did earn the Environmental Science one, along with Sculpture, Art, and Cooking. He also passed the very challenging swimming test on the 2nd try. Not all scouts pass it. He said that the water was freezing (58 degrees), and it was hard to breathe. He was happy to be home (Saturday afternoon). Happy for a clean, warm shower. Happy for a clean, flushing toilet. He admitted that he thought about hugging the toilet, he was so happy to see it! Also, he said he's going to have nightmares about "Big John". He shudders just talking about it! A highlight for him was the cash that we sent him to treat himself at the scout store. He LOVED the chocolate tacos! He enjoyed learning a few different card games, too. I'm so glad that he had fun, and that he returned safely. As for the rest of the family, we missed him ... but, it was a little eerie how quiet the house was while B was away .... hmmm ...