Oh the funny things I find on the Camera!!

We have two digital cameras!  One is a really nice smaller camera that I refer to my point and shoot one because as long as the dial is turned to auto I know it will take good pictures.  I keep it in my purse because you never know when there will be a photo opportunity.  It is also the one the kids are allowed to touch (of course they are suppose to ask for permission first) and take pictures with.  If we all go to something together we take both of our cameras and I let the kids take pictures with this one.  I love seeing what they take, see what their perspective is.  The other camera is my new one, a Nikon, that is less than user friendly.  I have had it 4 mos now and have not quite figured it all out.  It has a ton of settings and it is harder for me to use.  I LOVE it and it has some great features (well at least the 4 or so I have figured out) but I have a long way to go with it. I guess I should read the manual!  Anyway, sometimes I like to use the point and shoot one if the pictures are really important to me because I know they are going to turn out well.  I had taken it with us to the Blue and Gold Banquet so I was sure to get some good shots.  Long story getting a little longer......when i was downloading those pictures I found these lovely pictures on it.  I have no idea who was behind the camera or what on earth said person and Carter was doing, but they sure made me laugh!!  Enjoy!

Blue and Gold Banquet

Last night we attended the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.  We attend every year but this year was special because Michael moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts during the banquet. The boys also received their Arrow of Light as well!  This is a great accomplishment and he is really looking forward to being in Boy Scouts. He is looking forward to getting his Eagle Scout already and what he has to do to earn his merit badges!  They need around 21 required merit badges to earn their Eagle Scout award, however their are 120 or 121 badges total they can earn.  Although it is very unlikely a scout will earn all of the badges, if you know Michael, you know he wants to try.  So we may be hitting up some of you in the future for help in getting these accomplished.  Most all of these badges have 4 of 5 parts with 2 or 3 subparts in each of those.  In first grade Michael's group started as Tiger Cubs with 12 boys.  Yesterday only 2 of the original boys crossed over in addition to one boy who joined them the second year!   Now of course Jack is excited to become a Boy Scout in the future as well.  He has 2 years left.  Another right of passage I suppose is that both of the boys will be going to camp the 3rd week of July this year.  Michael will go to Boy Scout camp Sunday-Sat, and Jack will be going to  Cub Scout camp at the same camp that Monday-Thurs.  Neither of them have been to camp before but I am sure they will have a great time!!  Since Michael has been away from home before Jason will be spending most of the time he is their with Jack.  Jason is going since he is both of the boys' leader.  I am also proud of Jason, as for they last 5 years he has been Michael's leader and last 3 years Jack's.  It means a lot to the boys that even though he works 70-80 hours a week he still finds the time to do this for them!  Jason is also looking forward to Boy Scouts now too.  He cannot WAIT to take Michael on a High Adventure.  Jason was 13 when he went with his scout trip on a hiking trip in New Mexico.  I look forward to all the adventures having 3 boys will bring us in the future!!

Jack's Cub Scout Den

 Michael's Den

 They boys after they received their Arrow of Light

 Michael "crossing over" into Boy Scouts with the help of the other Boy Scouts

 They are now officially Boy Scouts!

 Jack after the banquet.  In just a few weeks he will be a Webelo!

 All 3 of my scouts

 And a picture with my future scout as well

My Boy Scout!

A Weekend Away

 Michael and Samuel with the ticket Michael won off one quarter in the arcade!! It was over 1000.

 Taking a break from swimming

 Carter looking ever so cute in Samuel's goggles!

 Ummm.....not sure why he is mad

 Hanging in the hot pool!

Watch out Michael here I come.

 CHEESE!!

 Modeling her new swimsuit

 They were just playing despite the look on Michael's face!

Driving the pirate ship

We spent last weekend at the Ramada Tropics Hotel in Des Moines with Jason's family and extended family!  We have been there a couple times before and the kids always love it!  It was  a nice relaxing weekend, we even got to take our dog "Lucky" with us to the hotel.  We weren't sure how it was going to go, but he was excellent and we had no problems with him!  I am sure the cat enjoyed having the house to herself for the weekend.  Even though they have separate areas with different depths, we still make Carter where is orange float vest because he has no fear!  The kids favorite part it the giant "hot pool" as they call it!

Wordless Wednesday--Mud Boots!!!!

Pop Bottle Science

A few years ago my mom gave Michael a book about pop bottle science for a gift.  We used it a lot but then it got put away somewhere is the closet of death.  While we were cleaning it the other day we came across the book again.  On this particular day we had just gotten home from church and had about an hour to kill before going back for the church potluck and Jack wanted to try something.  We decided on this balloon one, because it was simple and didn't take much time and also because I had everything we needed handy!  You will notice that they were very excited but then when I put the balloon on everyone stepped away in fear of what might happen.  Needless to say we did this more than once that day!

In the blink of an eye.....

 Newborn

 One

 Two

 Three

 Four

 Five

 Six

 Seven

 Eight

 Nine

Today

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY OLIVIA LAURYN!!

To a very special little girl who has such an amazing spirit and loving heart we could not imagine what the last 10 years would have been like with out you.  We thank God everyday for our pretty princess!! 

Wordless Wednesday--What is the right way to eat Ramen Noodles