the trophy...

this past Saturday was Jaden's Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquet...it's sort of a year-end thing (even tho they'll still have activities over the summer)...parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles come out to enjoy a big meal & support their young Scout

this is also the time when the boys display their derby cars & have their family members vote on the "most original" design...each quarter in your kiddos' bag/box/can = 1 vote...& all the money raised goes back into supporting our boys' Scout Pack

pins/badges/beltloops are also awarded to the boys...Jaden earned some of each that night!

then the moment that the boys have been waiting for...time for the trophies to be handed out!

Jaden knew he'd be getting one...he won the Pinewood Derby race in January & knew a 1st place trophy was coming his way...when he checked out the trophy table & found out his was blue (if u know Jaden, u know everything must be blue), he flipped his lid! ~lol~

& when the Webelo I top 3 were called up, u could see how proud he was to be included...look at that puffed out chest!!!

he was super proud to win at the actual race! but having the real-live trophy, in his hot little hands, totally sealed the deal...plus it's BLUE! ~lol~

he was actually kissing it the whole way home...i love this kid!!!
♥

xoxo,
sharon

Pinewood Derby 2011

Pinewood Derby car Den & Pack races
1/22/11

Curtis is super handy around the house...a killer electrician! but when it comes to wood-working, not so much ;0) i helped Jaden create a derby car last year & he did pretty well...even earned "best craftsmanship" for the Pack

but this year, i enlisted the help of Grandpa (my dad)...he not only helped Jaden carve/sand his car...but also taught him the names of all the tools they used, & how to safely operate them (with adult supervision of course!)...it sounds like it was not only fun for the both of them...but some really great kiddo/grandfather bonding time!

after it was all built & ready to go, i had Jaden give it a paint job at home...of course, it couldn't be any color other than blue! ;0) this year's car was named "the green dragon" & looked super fast!

Jaden won all 3 heats in his Den race...putting him at 1st place for the Webelos! then there was a 5-way tie for 3rd place in the Pack races...Jaden was beat out in the run-off for that - but was still thrilled about his Den win!

i knew you'd help Jaden create a winner, Grandpa...thanks!!!

xoxo,
sharon

ps. Jaden will get a trophy, & we'll find out who won the "best craftsmanship" award at the Blue & Gold banquet next month...we can't wait!

Cub Scout camping...

Saturday, Curtis went to pick Corey up bright & early...he came to spend the day with us, & that he did - from 8am until about 10pm that night! i think he must miss his brother & get a little bored on the weekends now...fine by us - that just means we get to see him more! :0)

that afternoon, we headed to camp Brethren Woods to spend the day with the Scouts...first, there was swimming for a few hours...

the kiddos really loved having Corey along...he's so great with them too - loves playing with em & teaching em new things...he's also super helpful to Curtis & i! we had a great time checking out his awesome diving board skills!

he encouraged the girls (who are normally nervous about the diving board & take lots of coaxing to work up the nerve to jump off) to just go for it...& pretty soon, they were trying out some tricks too! ~lol~

but my favorite part was watching him throw the kiddos around in the water...i remember begging my dad to do this to me when i was little...i bet it's fun having a strong big bro ;0)

we also got to do some fishing at the "lake"

& there were a few canoes & a paddle boat to play in too!

the rain showed up right around dinner time...but luckily, it was mostly just sprinkles

& we didn't let it stop us from taking a family hike...actually, we learned the forest makes a pretty good umbrella! ;0)

because Curtis had to work that evening, & i had a cake order to fill (plus 2 girls to watch), Jaden didn't get to stay over at the camp with the rest of his den...he was fine with that tho - happy to go home & set up his tent for some backyard camping instead

the girls had fun playing in the tent while there was still daylight...& of course, making some wild mushroom "soup" to eat at their "camp site"...but they had absolutely no interest in sleeping in the tent after dark!

i wondered if Jaden would mind going at it alone...i blew up an air mattress & got him all cozy inside...then Curtis went out for a bit when he got home from work - but Jaden almost insisted Curt go inside after about a half hour or so! i think he was interested in seeing if he could do it alone too ;0)

he woke up around 7am on Sunday & came inside...he woke me, to let me know he was up, then proceeded to fix himself some cereal...i asked him how it went, & he replied "well." ~lol~ so when he asked to do it again on Sunday night, i was like why not?! i snapped the above pic of him reading in his tent around 9pm...i went back out at 9:30 to check on him again & he was fast asleep with his light turned out!!!

if u know Jaden, u know that he sleeps very little (classic autistic trait)...he takes forever to go to sleep, & is up before the sun most days! something about that tent must soothe him (or confuse his body about what time it really is)...i was tempted to let him continue to sleep out there if he was that comfortable, but for now, we're only allowing it on the weekends (no school nights)

since Curtis felt a little guilty about the whole Jaden not being able to camp out with the Scouts thing, he did some sucking up on Sunday & took us all to the pool (a place the kiddos NEVER get tired of!)...we picked the perfect time to go too - we got there just as they opened & we were the ONLY ones for the first hour or so!

it was fun, having the whole pool to ourselves...& it also gave the girls a chance to practice their tricks off the diving board some more...it's too bad the summer is coming to an end - just as they're getting really comfortable with swimming in the deep end...oh well, i guess we've got something to look forward to for next summer!

the rest of the weekend...

there was some reading...all sweet like...together...with no fighting! ;0)

someone crossed over & became a Webelo...

there was a super yummy Sunday breakfast buffet with a local superstar ;0)

some snuggling with the pooch while watching iCarly...again!

lots of walking...& finding treats to take home to Socks...

even some gardening...well, mostly the girls looked for more treats for Socks...

but Mama was happy to finally have the tomatoes, cucs, corn, beans, cabbage, squash & pumpkins in the ground (still have to pick up some pepper plants)...

actually, i got the coolest Mother's Day gift from my parents...one day while i was at work, they came by & tilled/fertilized my garden, put in my tomato stakes, & left me a hoe, rake, seeds & starter plants! totally cool, right?!

i'm so excited about my garden this year...a big improvement from the little veggie bed i started with last year! hopefully, we harvest some major veggies this summer...Corinn is sooooo excited! ;0)

weekend recap...including Corinn's 6th bday...

ugh - i'm such a blog slacker!

not only with posting...but with reading & commenting too! i haven't had time to check in on my friends' blogs in quite some time & i feel so out of the loop...i apologize...it's this damn job! ;0)

anyway, better late than never...here's our weekend recap...

Saturday, Jaden's Cub Scout Pack had their annual Blue & Gold Banquet - this was our first year attending...they kick off the banquet with the derby car Pack races...this is where the top 3 from each of the Den races compete for the top trophies

i told you how Jaden's only goal at the Den races was to win a trophy...luckily, they didn't hand out trophies then - but i was worried how he'd handle the winners getting 1 this time...i prepped him, explaining that the big winners probably would get a trophy, & that it was ok that he didn't...he was actually ok with it - finally saying "u're right Ma, it's only a trophy" ;0)

but i still had hope that he'd win the "most original design" competition since it was purely based on the amount of money each scout could collect in their box

Jaden drew his 3-headed dragon car on his box...his aunt Kelly (my sis) donated $10 to the cause...i threw in $30 & crossed my fingers (hey, the money goes to the Scouts - so it was for a good cause)

but honestly, it was this car AND box that should have won! i mean look at this kid's creativity!

me & another mom were in charge of counting out the money toward the end of the banquet...i had high hopes when she counted Jaden's total & told me it was $41.75...all the other boxes i'd been counting had $15-20 in them!

but then, i got to this one kid's box...it was a pretty cool car - actually a truck, but definitely not the most original...but he must have had all his grandparents & uncles in attendance at the banquet - cause his box total came up to $129.50!!!

Jaden did come in 2nd, but of course his total was no competition for the little rich kid ;0)

so anyway, the time came to hand out the trophies...they ended up not only giving one to the top 3 winners of the Pack races - but they waited to hand out the Den race winner trophies until the banquet too...so there was this table with about 15 trophies on it & i'm praying that Jaden doesn't cry...i know he's still hoping he'll get a trophy - but i know otherwise...so i'm busy trying to chat with him & talk about how fun the banquet & races were...just basically trying to distract him so his mind isn't on the trophies

they give them all out & then it's time for the "most original design" winner to receive his plaque...i announce the winner & let everyone know that the Scouts raised $312 with the voting (pretty cool fundraiser, huh?)...then i sit down

then the Pack Master announces that they have 2 surprise awards...we had some visiting Scout Masters from other local troops at the banquet...& the Pack Master had asked them to vote on 2 different categories

one was "best overall design" & they awarded that boy with a plaque as well

the other was for "best craftsmanship" & wouldn't u know?
Jaden won!!!

he was so stinkin' proud! & i may or may not have cheered a little too loud for him ;0) but to see him go up & accept his plaque (a pretty good trophy replacement) was priceless!!!

i posted on Corinn's 6th birthday last week...but we just had her party this past Sunday

she wanted not 1, but 2 cakes...she wanted to include both her favorites right now - puppies AND kitties ;0) she & i sat down & drew up the design - the puppy was to be brown, but yellow cake...& the kitty was to be white with gray stripes - & fudge chip cake

i won't tell u about how the puppy's head fell off right before the party...& how i had to scramble to repair it & find a way to keep it standing...but hey, it worked & was all worth it in the end!

we invited all our local immediate family (my mom & bros/sis - & their kiddos)...plus Corinn had a sleepover the night before...she was allowed to invite over 1 friend - but lucky for her, her BFF is a twin...so she got a 2fer! ~lol~

i tell ya what - girls are awfully loud...especially when u get 5 of em together! ;0)



Corinn had waited almost a whole week from her actual birthday to open presents - so she was just a tad excited! ;0)

Curtis was at Corinn's beck & call all day...earlier, he'd taken all 4 girls (plus Jaden) to the river to throw rocks...he drove around until they found a playground that wasn't still covered in snow so they could play too...then, when one of Corinn's friends wanted the training wheels taken off one of the girls' old bikes, he was right there to assist...what an awesome daddy! ;0)

& i just thought this pic of Corinn & her BFF locking arms was sweet ;0)

& that was it - another busy/fast weekend that just flew on by!

but hey, it's getting warmer here...it's starting to feel like maybe Spring is right around the corner (jumping for joy inside!)

well, if u don't count all the random snow we got yesterday & that's still coming down today...it's not enough to count really - didn't delay school or anything...i think it's honestly too warm to stick...it's crazy how "warm" 40 degrees feels after nothing but super low temps for so long!