Lucas Gets His Cast Off!

It was an exciting day for Lucas ... he got his cast off! His ulna has healed nicely and while he still has activity restrictions for another month, he should make a complete recovery. 

First step: cutting the cast (almost like scoring it with a circular blade that doesn't cut deep)

Second: Prying it wider...with a tool that does the opposite of pliers.

Third: Snipping the under layers of gauze with scissors.

Fourth: ITCH! SCRATCH! Then get told by the doctor NOT to scratch it.

He did not want to keep it. Phew!

Good as new!

Committed

While we haven't committed to a paint color, we have committed to paint. This one color will ideally span two floors and most of the common areas. So we better like it. A lot.

I've been to the big box stores, Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. I've Googled and Pinterested the perfect gray, but the perfect gray for US is proving elusive. I was hoping for a cool gray, but they tend to veer too blue. Mark thinks gray is cold and impersonal. I think it's refreshing and crisp. Also, the moldings throughout the house are slightly off white which makes them look dingy next to a cool color. So maybe a "greige"? We painted the guest room Wheat Bread and it's more brown than gray, but it's not blue, so it may be the winner. Or not.

I'm rather indecisive if you couldn't tell.

Cub Scout Camp (Friday)

Friday's camp salute was to Teachers, and also the military, as the boys made up what they missed due to rain on Wednesday. They built flower boxes and filled them with dirt and seeds.

I don't even want to know what this is.

There was an Egg Drop Contest. The boys were supposed to put an egg inside a container they built or padded and hope their egg survived the drop from the tall ladder. We had a few boys with successful drops, but mine did not want to participate. Fine by me - at this point, I was glad it was the last day of camp!

They practiced pitching a tent and knot tying.

There was also an obstacle course and a free-for-all water fight.

Ethan and his Bear friends.

Overall it was a GREAT week. The boys had a blast. It was super hot and dusty and buggy, but we made it and I think we all learned something! 

Cub Scout Camp (Thursday)

Thursday's camp salute was to the Medical Professionals. The boys learned how to make a splint from sticks, make a first aid kit, and got a visit from an ambulance.

These were baking soda bombs: baking soda wrapped in a paper towel, put inside a little baggie with some vinegar and wait for it to pop!

Chillaxin' at dinner.

First aid kits.

Last stop: more archery!

Cub Scout Camp (Wednesday)

Wednesday's camp salute was to the Military. The boys got to do archery again, make survival bracelets out of paracord, and get their faces painted camo-style. The day was cut in half by bad storms heading our way, so camp broke just after dinner. 

Our field-mates...the place was literally jumping with every color and size grasshopper imaginable.

Ethan and Cameron

Camo-style!

Cub Scout Camp (Tuesday)

Tuesday's Day Camp Hero was the Police Department. The boys got to bounce in a bounce house which is TOTALLY NOT ALLOWED for Lucas with his cast. He was devastated so they gave him his own three minutes in the bouncy ALONE so nobody could run into him.

They fingerprinted themselves and made fingerprint art.

Lucas loves archery. Unfortunately he can't bend his cast arm tighter than 90 degrees so it's challenging for him to hold the bow and aim, but he loves to try!

The campers all made SWAPS to trade with other campers. Lucas' are I SPY bags with rice and stuff inside the boys need to squish the rice around to find. Ethan's are red, white and blue braided yarn. Other boys have tattoos, army guys, mini camp rolls, flags, etc...anything with a safety pin!

They also made a beaded flag, learned about flag appreciation and how to fold a flag properly.

Cub Scout Camp (Monday)

This week began Cub Scout Day Camp. Every day from about 2:30-8:30 pm, Lucas and Ethan are campers, Jacob is a red shirt (Boy Scout volunteer) and I am Walking Den Leader. Sarah went to the Tot Lot and volunteered there helping with younger tots.

The camp is themed around "Saluting Our Nation's Heroes" and Day One was about firefighters. The boys made fireman's hats and sprayed water at a plywood house facade with a garden hose to "put out" an imaginary fire. 

Here's Lucas with another Ethan N. that will be in his Tiger Den in the fall.

Red Shirt Jacob.

Visit from the Flower Mound Fire Department.

Learning how to build different types of fires. This one is called a teepee, but they also learned lean-to and log cabin techniques. They never lit anything but did talk about fire safety.

It is HOT. So the boys are encouraged to drink lots of water and douse themselves every chance they get. We also shoot BB guns and practice archery.

Kicked Off Summer at Great Wolf Lodge

The first week of summer vacation, we spent three days at Great Wolf Lodge. There is so much more to do here than swim! This time we got the Paw Passes - where each kids got a pair of wolf ears, crafts, games, ice cream and all kinds of stuff included. 

Coloring t-shirts and backpacks with fabric markers.

Build-A-Wolf: each kid got to pick an animal or pillow, stuff it, and dress it in a fun outfit.

Pictures with characters after story time in the lobby.

Magiquest: each child got a wand that captures data as they scour the hotel for the interactive displays that lead them on a complex scavenger hunt for gold and runes.

We cheered for the Spurs from the hotel restaurant.

Glitter tattoos for everyone! (Except Ethan. He gifted his to Sarah.)

We couldn't even use all the Paw Pass perks in three days! Luckily, we can go back and visit the arcade and play more Magiquest another time. The points don't expire and their Magiquest wands pick up where they left off on their quests!