Polar Bear Patches

Friday night camping was cold.

Their Polar Bear patches from camping in a 32 degree in Alabama laughable.

 

Both excited here to begin the evening.

 

Guess which smiling boy enjoyed the sleeping in the cold.

Guess which boy didn't bring one of his three layers and was cold...

Scouts Out

The boys joined a local troop last Saturday to get to know them and explore Starving Rock Park.

 

It was a great day for a hike and a great day trip to see some new friends.

 

And by the end of the very long day at home, Elaine and I decided our new motto is: When given the chance, go hiking.  Because we stayed in, and didn't have nearly as much fun.

Arrow Of Light Ceremony

Our boys + fire in a church.

But we didn't burn it down!

 

 

And so there was some re-cloaking ceremony.

Which is apparently very serious.

 

And now they sit with their new pack, all Boy Scouts now.

Yet Again

Pinewood Derby day is an all day affair.

Ben, shoved his wheels on his car and we took off early that day.

 

And in usual Pinewood Derby fashion, Ben places at the top after entirely disregarding the process of preparation for the races.  The amount of time that these parents and kids put into these cars boggles the mind; that Ben is here after we could barely get him to paint his car--perfect.

Cub Scouts No More

Congratulations to the whole crew, who had to be wrangled to the wall for a picture.

Onward to Boy Scouts. 

Well done boys.

 



They started in 2012 in Texas, moved to the group in Montgomery, and found their friends for three years in Wetumpka.  It's been fun and full of adventure, camping, service, and learning. 

Time Capsule

Not digging a grave.

Boy Scouts is always something new.

I earned an afternoon out with the girls.

Tradition

Kicking off the holidays: Christmas on the Coosa parade in downtown Wetumpka.

 

Where our boys insist on walking the route instead of riding--every year.

Arrow of Light: Crossover Camp

Saying goodbye for the weekend, as the boys attend their first Boy Scout Campout sans parents.

I was still able to get them to smile for a photo.

 

Once I was gone, their smiles apparently became huge...

 

Probably because they got to play huge Jenga.

 

And dodge ball of course.

 

And before I dropped them off and after seeing the forecast for the weekend, mommy went out and bought long underwear, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, 10 degree mummy sleeping bags... because I am still mommy.

 

And then, the rest of the Boy Scouts did not come prepared, and they all slept in the Dining Hall on the 35 degree night out.

Boy Scout Crossover Camp

Helping your friend.

 

Fireside.

 

Devotional.

 

Flag Ceremony

 

The crossing over part is pretty symbolic...

Bacon

 

A tree hit by lightning and ripe for climbing.

 

And lots of mud.

Life Size Hungry-Hungry Hippos

Cub Scout Graduates

Now entering the world of Webelos.

But not yet Boy Scouts?  I don't quite get it, but all three have a blast.

 

 

All five really, as the girls are very welcome Tag Alongs.

Sad that the Boy Scouts have a better program for girls than the Girl Scouts do. 

And a better set of girls, in my opinion.



Camera Class with the Boy Scouts

 

at our own city park.

looking for a loaf of bread no doubt.

at a pretty perfect time of day.

Not too bad.

They can take over the blog soon...

Boy Scout Weather Learning

 

Well, the weather vanes may have pointed in completely opposite directions some of the time.

 

 

And the rain gauges may have absolutely killed my last cleaning nerve.

 

 

But, man, watch the barometer go from high to low in an hour, and I would know in an instant that the headache was on its way.

USS Alabama

 

Overnight

 

Nothing like a battleship to bring the boy out of a boy.

 

Or the boy out of a man.

 

Nicholas was still Nicholas--all boy.  He jumped up here and then commanded that they spin him around to open up whatever this is.

Boy Scout Camping

Weekend before Halloween.

That's not me; I wasn't there for this one.

 

Milk Jug Jack-o-lanterns.

Pretty Cute.