Jacob: Boy Scout Troop Guide

Jacob is now a troop elder of sorts. At least he's older than the brand new fifth graders that just joined his troop. He was asked to be a Troop Guide as his leadership position this year, basically guiding the first-years through the first couple rank advancements and their first campouts. He's very excited. I told him it will probably be the hardest and best leadership job in the troop! Herding cats!

His troop is also starting a new program called the Good Turn Program. Adult scouts will lead boy scouts in doing home maintenance projects for seniors and those who cannot do things for themselves. It teaches the boys about home maintenance and basic repairs so they'll be smarter homeowners someday. I took this photo of Jacob (and some pics of other boys) doing things around the house for the brochure.

Here he is again, showing Ethan's Cub Scout Den the Boy Scout Pledge. 

And lastly, here's one of his community service projects: peeler bead bunnies for the local hospital to hand out as try favors around Easter! There's 75 rabbits in there...it was a lot of work because these bunnies did not multiply by themselves!

We're very proud of all he's accomplished with Scouts. It's been a great program and learning experience for him. He should earn his Life rank in September and then can begin work on his Eagle!

Ice-maggeddon 2015

Three days of school cancelled for ice and snow. One day where school got released early. My MN friends are probably laughing their heads off right now. 

Something jumping around on the neighbor's roof!

Five inches in the morning. Zero inches by dinner. It all melted.

2015 Blue & Gold Banquet

Every year, the Cub Scouts celebrate the crossover of 5th grade boys to Boy Scouts with a banquet for the whole Pack. I was in charge of the event this year with help from two fabulous ladies both named Lisa. We chose an Astronomy theme.

One Lisa made all the white chocolate stars for the cupcakes, and a chocolate Scout symbol for each place setting.

The other Lisa made a giant starry sky backdrop for photos...so fun! She also made the centerpieces. 

I made these constellation viewers and all the place cards for the entry.

I also made a huge powerpoint presentation with videos too, which took me forever, but was worth it in the end. Fun event to plan! 

Thinking Day 2015: Sweden

Sarah's Girl Scout Troop participated in a local event called Thinking Day where each troop had to research a different country. This year, the girls chose Sweden. I ran to a store to buy a specific Dala horse stamp so that we could stamp the passports of each girl as she passed by our booth. I went to a store called The Wooden Spoon in Plano and met Gwen, the owner. I got to talking to her and found out that she was originally from Minnesota too. Her shop was full of Scandanavian goodies, some of which she let me borrow for our Thinking Day display: a $120 hand-carved and painted Dala horse, a 2-ft tall statue of Santa Lucia, a Jultomten - a Christmas troll, and a 6-ft maypole wrapped in flowers and ribbons! It was amazing! 

The girls watched a performance by a Bollywood dance group and then got to learn a few steps and have their picture taken with the performers.

Where's Woody?

We have a woodpecker!

Sarah Gets Braces

Sarah has been having annual orthodontic consults since before we left San Antonio. Just a matter of time, they said. Well, the time is now! She wanted to get them on as soon as possible ... in order to get them off as soon as possible! Probably about two years for her.

Ironically, Jacob should get his braces OFF at his next visit in March!

Before

After

Hanging Around

On Thursdays, while Sarah is at swim team practice, her little brothers get to visit the rock wall at Lifetime. Sarah was so insanely jealous, that we had to go back after her practice so she could climb too. 

Valentine Outtakes

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you liked our card as much as the kids like cupcakes!

Swimming Fun

Lucas' grade level got to do a week of swimming in daily field trips to the local nataorium. He loved it, especially because they got to ride a school bus (we live too close for him to ride one daily) and they did lots of fun activities with flippers and life jackets and the diving board!

Jacob: Star Scout

Jacob earned his Star Scout rank and six more merit badges: Archery, Astronomy, Aviation, Communication, Cooking, and Wood Carving. He was also invited to be a Troop Guide (a leadership position) for the incoming first-year scouts. 

Pippi Longstocking

Sarah and her Girl Scout Troop did a Thinking Day project about Sweden. The woman who wrote the Pippi Longstocking series was from Sweden. We toyed with the idea of doing all the girls' hair like this, but the time necessary would have outweighed our patience.