Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

Kelly was inspired by his cousin, John Michael’s, car last year and thus developed his own cheese mobile to race in his Cub Scout Pack’s annual Pinewood Derby. He was very proud of his silly little car and he and his Daddy had lots of fun during the race. During their 3 races Kelly placed 2nd, 1st and 3rd. His average race time was 4.0140. (Speaking of time…Jeff got handed over control of the timer this year because he was the only one who knew how to work the computer and get it all set up.) After the last race the front wheels of Kelly’s car came off…he raced the wheels right off! Can’t wait to see what kind of car he comes up with for next year.

Rock Ranch

Jeff, Kelly, Michaela and I joined Kelly's Cub Scout pack at Rock Ranch the weekend of November 7th-9th. (Madie had to march in a game Friday night so she spent the weekend with Grandma and Papa...we missed having her with us.) We arrived after dark on Friday night and it was raining so we slept inside one of the Conestoga wagons. That was an adventure!

On Saturday we went over to the main part of the ranch for the "Family Fun Days". They had lots of things for the kids to do...corn box (yes, a box filled with dried corn...similar to a sand box...they thought it was cool!), bouncies, animal petting area, John Deere trikes (Jeff rode too!), corn cannon, family dodge ball, fishing, corn maze...it was a very full day!

That night we all snuggled into our tent...and froze! When we got up the grass was frozen. It got down into the 20's. Brrr! I woke up to chomp, chomp, chomp. I unzipped my tent door to peer outside and there were the cows eating their breakfast. Too cool. Of course I had to take some pictures of the cows.

It was a great weekend and the fall leaves were BEAUTIFUL!

Kelly fought the bobcat this weekend...and won!

Kelly's Cub Scout Pack camped this past weekend at Seminole State Park in southwestern Georgia. We had beautiful weather! Highs in the high 70's and lows in the 50's. We didn't get up there until early Saturday morning because Madie had to march in a game Friday night but we quickly set up camp and then went hiking.

The rest of the day we spent riding bikes, throwing a baseball/softball, Madie practiced her flag routine and Michaela and Kelly tried to play with the flags, reading and just laying around enjoying the great outdoors.

The pack all had dinner together and then the boys got into their Class "A" uniforms and we all gathered at the Pioneer campground in the woods. Kelly had been nervous all day for this event to occur..."The Bobcat Ceremony" is a tradition of Pack 2.

This is what occured -
A teepee was located down a short path in the woods and there were torches lineing the path. Down by the teepee you could hear a very upset and anxious bobcat. When we arrived it was still light and you could see the bobcat brush up against the side of the teepee! The boys started a hugh fire and they all sat around it. It was dark when the ceremony finally started and each boy was called to the front. They all had to deminstrate their knowledge of the Boy Scout Law, handshake, motto, etc and then they all recieved their warpaint. Each color stood for something. Finally, we all called Akela and up the path he walked...an Indian chief in full dress. He told the boys that they must be brave and fight the bobcat and took them two by two holding onto his staff down to the teepee. Soon after arriving at the teepee you could here the older boys who lined the path give off a blood curtleing screem and soon after Akela would walk back up the path without the boys. He gathered them two by two until they had all gone to fight the bobcat. After the last two had gone he return with the older boys who were all distressed that none of the boys had made it (one of the little sister's in the group was about ready to cry!). Moments later the boys dragged themselves up the path limping and moaning, shirts untucked and all disheveled. Kelly even had bloody (paint) scratch marks up his arms! They had survived the bobcat and were so pleased with themselves. They all recieved a patch and the ceremony ended with an official flag retireing (burning) ceremony. Afterwards we all returned to our camps and we built a fire and enjoyed smores (what would camping be without a smore!)

A very busy Saturday for Kelly

What a busy day! We started off the day by stopping at Walmart to pick up some items we needed for the day and then we were off to our first stop. From 12-3pm Kelly had his end of the year Cub Scout party and ceremony. The whole family went and watched Kelly get his awards and then afterwards the kids went swimming, enjoyed a large bouncy waterside and hot dogs and snow cones from a concession stand. We left a little early to drop Jeff and the girls off at home and get Kelly to his next event.
From 3-5:30 Kelly attended a going away bowling party for one of his friends. He and his family are moving to North Carolina. Then it was on to his last stop.

Jeff and Kelly packed up a tent, sleeping bags and a few snacks and were off to watch the baseball game at 7pm...FSU vs NC. The Boy Scouts had been invited to come watch the game and then set up tents around the field and spend the night. They got to watch "Everyone's Hero" on the jumbo tron. I think the highlight of their evening was when Buster Posey (ACC Player of the Year!) walked by their tent on his way out of the park and said hi.

Cub Scout camping at Paynes Prairie

Veterans day weekend we spent camping at Paynes Prairie just south of Gainesville, Florida. Madie did not join us for this trip. She spent the weekend with Nana and Abuelo working on her Science Fair project (more about that later...)
We arrived at the park early Saturday morning to find someone else camped out on our spot. Thank goodness another pack family decided not to come at the last minute so we took there spot which ended up being much better (the other one was a walk in site...yuck!). After we set up camp we took a little trip to visit the farm of author Marjorie K. Rawlings. She is the author of "The Yearling", "Cross Creek", and many other books. It was very interesting walking around her farm and seeing the chickens, roosters, ducks, etc. roaming free around the farm. We also took a tour of her house. I guess I'm going to need to read some of her books now! Saturday evening we joined the rest of the pack for chili and then it was back to camp to roast marshmallows and watch a movie in the tent...brrr, it was cold!
On Sunday we went to the visitors center and observation tower where we watched a movie about Paynes Prairie and then saw wild horses in the distance. On our way back from the tower Michaela spotted a raccoon up a tree. Then we took a hike down Cone's Dike Trail. We went back to the tent for lunch and a little rest. While we were at camp we got to see a huge bald eagle fly into a nearby tree and sit for awhile. It was amazing! Later that afternoon we went for a hike down by the lake. We saw many alligators, birds, and armadillos. That evening we enjoyed baked potatoes done in the campfire, pork chops, green beans and cornbread. YUMMY!!
Monday we packed up camp and went on one more hike which went right thru the prairie. Although we did not get to see any bison it was still nice to spend time walking with the kids and Jeff.

Cub Scout camping at Lake Seminole

The weekend of October 19th we went camping for the first time with Kelly's Cub Scout Pack. The kids and Jeff had Friday off so they went up early to set up camp and I joined them after work. We had chili for dinner, smores and turned in early. Jeff's and my air mattress slowly died during the night so after breakfast, baggie omelets, and a short hike with his fellow Tiger Scouts we went to Walmart to purchase a new one. Later that evening we joined the rest of the pack by the lake for dinner and then the Bobcat Ceremony. The boys were all excited to see 11 of the boys fight the bobcat. It was very cool. On Sunday we had pancakes and bacon for breakfast, packed up camp, took another short hike and then headed off for home. We really enjoy camping at Lake Seminole State Park in Georgia.

Space Derby

Kelly participated in his first Cub Scout Space Derby on Saturday. Although his rocket did not do very well he had lots of fun. We have tried to teach the kids that as long as they had fun doing the activity or sport than they were a winner. The smile on Kelly's face after each race meant he came in 1st place. He's a winner!

Kelly finally is a Cub Scout

Kelly is so excited!! He has been impatiently waiting to join Cub Scouts for years. When he was 3 or 4 he wanted to be a Girl Scout like his older sisters. But we finally convinced him that was not a good idea because he was a boy not a girl. Maybe the fact that we dressed him in the cookie outfit every year to help his sisters sell Girl Scout cookies was not such a good idea...he sure did help sell a lot of cookies though.

He went to his first meeting decked out head to toe in Tiger Scout gear and looking oh-so cute! Tonight he went to his first popcorn show and sell. He was so adorable asking everyone if they wanted to buy some "pahorn". He has problems pronouncing popcorn...it's so cute. They did really well at their booth that night and he is on his way to meeting his goal.