Big Bear Camp 2009

Camp Kanza

Trey got to go to his first real live Cub Scout camp this weekend. It was 3 days long - ironically the hottest, muggiest, most miserable days we've seen so far this summer! But the boys had so much fun!!

They passed off 11 requirements, and 15 electives - they got to swim, canoe, learn archery and shoot guns, play games and get good and stinky! He seemed impressed most by them getting to retire an old flag. What a great experience!

He was all nice and tan and TIRED when he got home. We were so glad to have him back, and he was especially glad to see his little dog, Junior.

And then he passed out!

Brotherly Love

I was stung by a wasp a couple years ago, and since then have been absolutely terrified of the darn things. They are really mean!! So when a wasp is spied in the house (which, in summer is almost every day) I promptly run to my room and lock the door (because we all know a wasp that is good and angry can unlock any door) and remain there until my boys have "apprehended" the creature. They're so good to me.

This has occured several times this week, with the latest incident ending on Brett's bed - the top bunk. The boys smashed away at the insect with a broom until it was completely obliterated, and wasp-body parts were strewn about.

Trey and Cameron took the opportunity that night to torment poor Brettsky by telling him over and over they had seen another wasp up on his bed, crawling around. He was pretty freaked out, so I told Trey that since he had taken the liberty to scare him, Brett would get to share his bed for the night if he didn't want to sleep alone.

Brett was delighted! Treyton acted as though he weren't, but as you can tell....I don't think he minded one bit.

All Hale the Queen!!

For starters, yes. I chopped my hair off last week. It feels good not to have it on my neck in this nasty, humid weather!

And YES, that is a magic crown I'm wearing!

My boys made it especially for me in Primary today. It contains a magical power. Whenever I put it on, they have to do whatever I ask.

Happy Mothers' Day to me!!!

Weenie Roast

Before it got super cold over Easter Weekend, the kids asked if we could PLEASE have a little cookout. So we pulled out the roasting sticks and did just that!

The boys helped Dad feed the fire until it was plenty big, and filled up on hotdogs, chips, baked beans, and pop. And of course, smores.

I told the infamous "Monster -With- the -Buggar story, which scared Brett half out of his pants. Then they begged me to tell a version of "The Cookie Story" (an original bedtime story made up by yours truly that they adore) that involved vampires and monsters. We passed on that for Brettsky's sake. I told them a version that involved all their best buds from school, and sent them off to stink their sheets up with smoke.

It's so nice to have our very own campground only 10 yards from our front door, and noone around for miles. We will sure miss that when we move into town!

Everybunny Loves Easter!

Our Easter was a little off the beaten path of tradition. Even for us! It rained chilly cats and dogs all day on Easter. Instead of Dad hiding eggs full of candy around the yard for the boys to go find, we let the boys stuff the eggs and hide them from each other. I thought this would be so disappointing for them, but they LOVED it! And it kept them busy for a while! Some of them were hid a little too well, apparently, because we were finding eggs for about a week afterward.

Snow Day!!!

Fer real!

We've been awaiting a nice big storm all week, and on Thursday it finally rolled in! It started with a chilly spring rain, then by Friday morning had turned into a chilly spring snowfall.

By noon it was a real bona fide blizzard that got school cancelled, and most people hunkered down inside.

We woke up today with 18 inches of snow - which is ironically more than we've had in any winter past. This was a VERY mild winter! So I guess we deserve it. Adam returned home from work 2 hours late after helping several people who had gotten themselves stuck, and waiting on his replacement Firefighter to get unstuck and to the station.

I thought that for sure he would be ok in his enormous, jacked up F150. Wrong. He got stuck in the driveway. And then - LOL - called ME, as if I could come rescue him in the 4-runner! (we have a loooong driveway, if that sounds strange to those of you who've never been here)

Our boys have enjoyed being outside several times today to build snowmen and a snow fort under the trampoline. Right now they are clutching cups of hot chocolate with their red, frozen little paws and falling asleep to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".

Needless to say, most businesses are closed, and church is cancelled in the morning. So we've nowhere to go! Oh Darn!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!!

My mom came on a spontaneous visit last week. She knows the true value of the Kansas wind, and harnessed it as a true champion!

She described the experience like that of keeping 3 kids' fishing lines untangled and baited while trying to avoid being dive-bombed by angry pelicans!

Thanks for showing us how to fly kites, Gramma D!