Our Boy Scout

Tonight we went to a "court of honor" for boy scouts. Chance received a few merit badges that he earned while at camp. I asked him to write about his experience.

July 7th I went to my first scout camp. It was fun . I went to flag ceremonies and camp fires . We couldn't bring electronics like cellphones and mp3 players but some people brought them anyway. First we would have a flag ceremony then breakfast. We ate in a cafeteria, the food was good . We then went to our merit badges . We would eat lunch at about 12:30 or 1:00 . Then we went back to our merit badges . After the merit badges, we ate dinner. Finally we had free time which means we could go where ever we wanted around the camp . After that we would go back to our camp site for a campfire . You can guess what we did after that, yep go to bed. We had buddies that we had to share a tent with. Everyday, we would have little activities . And that really sums it up , it's a lot of fun and a good experience .

As for the merit badges, I had rifle shooting , art , wood carving and first-aid . I would of had 6 except that I did trail to first class which took away 2 classes .

We are very proud of Chance!

A present from Arizona

Gunnar decided last October, after his cousin Lucas's birthday party, that he was going to have a Spiderman birthday party. So, for 9 months I have been hearing about his"Spiderman birthday".

Starting mid-April Gunnar asked daily... "is my birthday here yet?" Finally, in June, after hearing this daily, and losing my mind, I told Gunnar we would make a chain and every night before bed he would rip a piece of the chain off and he would be that much closer to his birthday.

Well, you can imagine how long this chain was.

He would rip the links of the chain off and throw them in the garbage...another day down.

We are now just days away and Gunnar is so excited.

So, today when a package arrived in the mail from his Grandma and Grandpa Martineau in Arizona...I told him he could go ahead and open it. He was thrilled.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa...I love you so much!

Chuck E. Cheese's

Happy 3rd Birthday Maddy!

My friend Robin had her daughter Madeline's party yesterday!

Hugs for the birthday girl.
Gunnar couldn't wait to open his goodie bag because he wanted the groovy sunglasses inside.

What's Chuck E. Cheese's without the games?

The Arvai Family...Mike, Ashley, Robin, and Madeline

Gunnar stayed for over a half hour after the party was over making his own music video. I was laughing so hard. He was in his own little world (on stage mind you). He was dancing and singing and doing all sorts of awesome moves. It was so cute. He's a natural Rock Star.

Here he is playing air guitar and singing into a microphone.

And the final touch was his own music video.

Way to go Gunn!

CAMPING!!

Day 1

We got to Kopachuck State Park Thursday to set up camp. The Miles and the Pines were meeting us the following day. (The Loughrans were supposed to come too but their kids got sick...we missed them.) We got to the campsite and started setting up our tent.

I bought this blowup Coleman chair for $2.99. Regularly $35.99.

I was so proud of myself.

Getting ready for dinner!

Steak and potatoes. Thanks to my friend Deon (and Pappy) we had the best potatoes ever!

Jenn and Erik decided to come and visit us Thursday night. They couldn't stay the night yet because they both had to work in the morning but we had a good time.

Erik and John

(I am not quite sure what they are doing here.)

Jenn and the boys put on two skits for us. They were both very good and funny.

What great actors!!

Day 2

The next morning (after sleeping maybe an hour total) I had to have hot chocolate. I insisted (against John's better judgement) on having it really, really hot and in turn, burnt my tongue really bad.

We had cereal for breakfast. You know those little individual boxes...it was very exciting!!

Then we decided to find some trails.

Dorks

Axle loved the water.

"Crabby"

John and the boys found walking sticks in the woods and "widdled" the day away.

The Pines arrived and set up camp.

Chance and Ean

Derek had a license to crab/dig for stuff (I don't know what it's called) and so the boys went hunting for yummy clams/oysters/whatever.

Karen with Ean asleep on her back.

Ean and Randon playing on the beach.

Back at camp and ready to make dinner

Gunnar is so in love with Jennifer

I know these aren't clams but let's just call them that for now...this was the first time the boys have ever tried "clam". Chance did not like them but Coby said they were really good.

Derek brought his guitar and played a bunch of songs for us. He is really good and everyone sang along. It was fun. Chance loved it and even played some songs himself.

Smores!!

Karen, me, and Jenn

Day 3

We woke up and John made some delicious egg burritos. We got everything packed up and headed to the beach one last time before we went home.

Derek found a sea anemone. It was very cool.

We had a great time camping and can't wait until we go again.