Off the wagon...

Pinewood Derby

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Nicholas' telling me all about campfire building.

Nicholas ready for bed, the boys shared a mattress.

Low 40s at night, the boys were deep inside their sleeping bags. Henry was curled up like a ball at the bottom. Nicholas got hot and took off his jammies.

Henry's car #15 Minecraft design & Nicholas' #14 BSA theme.

Eating lunch.

Waiting for the races to start.

Henry's car middle lane, super fast blur.

Nicholas won Tiger 3rd place.

The boys enjoyed the pinewood derby

Henry congratulating Nicholas.

Raingutter Regatta

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:17:00 +0000

Henry earning the World Conservation Award. I didn't even hear his name being called, so the picture is cruddy.

The inflatable raingutters, new this year & very handy.

Getting ready to start the races, each rank had a table.

Anxious Henry waiting for his turn.

And they are off!

huffhuffpuffpuffhuff...i'm dizzy

Nicholas waiting his turn at the trough.

Nicholas had a melt-down because he had to wait again for another turn.

After the races, the boys could 'race' their boats against anyone or themselves.

The boys were fascinated by the big scouts who were emptying the gutters. Lots of questions.

Nicholas was happy to get his mess kit.

Henry's mess kit, luckily its slightly different then Nicholas'. I'm never without a Sharpie, names were immediately added to the kits.

8th Kyu Test

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:53:00 +0000

The boys tested for 8th Kyu on the 30th of November, Henry was so nervous he was about to cry. Nicholas treated it like any other day, no worries or thoughts about it.

Large class testing together, the senseis were slightly overwhelmed, people kept showing up. They didn't turn them away like I would have, there is a reason why they want the performance sheets turned in 3 days before testing. .

Side kicks and stuff

Nicholas getting ready to show defense moves.

Being attacked from behind defense moves.

Henry's turn.

Breaking away followed by a kick.

Henry falling asleep during the brown belt testing.

Henry asleep. All of the adults were laughing, they too agreed that the testing was going long.

That is a lot of people testing for ranks.

All waiting patiently.

Henry getting his belt and hang shakes/bow all around.

Nicholas' award of orange belt.

The boys with their sensei Sherry and her sensei - her dad - John Ingram - Hachi Dan (8th degree) - who is a student of Master Mitchum.

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Goonie Golf morning at Disney World. We all had fun playing through the characters and only lost two balls - one of nicholas' and one of mine which I hit into the next county.

Dancing stretch

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Nicholas dancing the Cha Cha Slide during PE. He looks like a rubber band the way he moves around.

New Bobcat in the house

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:17:00 +0000

The pack did a very cool Bobcat ceremony for all the boys who earned the Bobcat rank. The first rank in Cub Scouts is the Bobcat, all new scouts have to earn it to proceed in their current rank. Nicholas is in first grade so he is working towards his Tiger rank and Henry is working towards Bear.

Stage setting: Curtain opens up, native american music/spirit/wind blowing/flute type music is playing, a tee-pee with a faux-campfire and the Cubmaster dressed in traditional NA dress.

The Cubmaster gives the background on the Bobcat and why it is important. Calls the new Bobcats forwards, she proceeds to tell us/them what the colours signify and the den leaders paint the scouts faces. Then the boys are presented to their parents.

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:21:00 +0000

New belts

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:11:00 +0000

The boys earned Yellow belt last week, the testing was an hour long with lots of questions and showing of technique. They had to know 4 'moves' all said in Japanese and do them without help/reminders.

Nicholas showing a self defense move - breakaway with a gr0in kick.

Henry fending off a punch and throwing a solar plexus punch.

Rollersplat

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:01:00 +0000

The school PTA had a rollerskating party last week, so the boys wanted to go and skate. They were hysterical to watch - up, down, grabbing the wall, holding on to each other and laughing.

First Day

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Boys were somewhat excited to get back into school. They could not stand still for a picture, all kicks, jumps, spins & jiggles.

The crazies are ready to head to school with an attitude that needs fixin'.

We got a stripe

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:49:00 +0000

The boys earned a stripe in class last night. They were excited to see that they are advancing in Isshinryu. They might be eligible to test for yellow at the end of September.

Pink is in

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Henry had to fight off a girl to wear the pink mitts. Soooo when we have to get him a full sparring gear do we go with his fave colour (pink) or blue/red/black/white.. ughh

Karate ka

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:41:00 +0000

I signed the boys up for karate a few weeks ago finally after all their begging (boys & joe). They are having lots of fun and will actually 'practice' karate outside the dojo...that's joe job.

Henry charging the makiwara at the end of the obstacle course. He thinks he needs to finish off with a flourish.
Nico showing his Mae Geri (front kick).
The boys working punches.
The dreaded kicking exercise, multiple kicks over and over to strengthen & practice moves.

Schools out for Summer...well 10 days

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:10:00 +0000

School let out at 11.30am today and the kids did not want to leave school until they said good-bye to every teacher they had over their young school life.

Henry earned Most Improved Panther award, Citizenship ribbon (no Ns on report card), a free Chili's meal, a Wendy's meal ticket & a Good reader award. The award that is the most special to him is the Proud Panther pin that is a paw print made of glass by his teacher Mrs. B.

Nicholas earned the Citizenship ribbon & a wendy's meal. Both boys missed school a few days over the school year so neither of them earned the "Perfect Attendance" award...whoopdeedoo.

The big flower was made by the 5th graders, they handed them out to the kinder classes.

Bear cub

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Henry moved up to bear from wolf cub last night. He is excited for the bear activities to start, especially the knife whittling and fire building achievements.

He also decorated a cake for the pack meeting.

5K walk

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Sun, 22 May 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Weight Watchers had a 5k walk this morning at trail that Chaya & I walk every other day. There were lots of WW participants and a few from our Thursday meeting. We had our picture with Marie, our leader. The walk started at 8am and it was over by 9am, a short & fun walk.

More about the trip

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Hitting the links in St. Augustine, lots of golf balls lost in the ponds.

Henry watching the African Stork wait for its meal next to the "dead zebra".
The Swamp filled with varieties of alligators, crocodiles & asst birds.

Alligator looking for some lovin', you can see the water vibrating from the grunts/bellows he's making.

Nico & his sticker collection of the day.

Villa Zorayda, Henry wanted me to take a picture of the place where "a deadly rug is hung on the wall so no one can walk on it and die", folklore about a rug that killed everyone who has walked on it.

testing..testing...

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:22:00 +0000

So is this email blogger finally working...

It's working again....Sweet Augustine

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:11:00 +0000

The boys and I spent a week in St. Augustine doing touristy things..trolley rides, Alligator Farm, Lighthouse, Old city walks, camping at the Anastasia State Park, walking along the beach, fishing, chocolate tour, winery visit and Ripley's.

We really enjoyed ourselves...well maybe not Nico and Ripley's.

Whetstone Chocolate factory tour...nico was watching the spinning machine rotate in circles & twists. Showing how they make hollowed shapes like bunnies & stuff.

The boys watching the machine fill candy molds and then they ate them.

Heading down the spiral staircase at St. Augustine Lighthouse - 219 steps to the top, the boys ran all the way and all the way down.
The last two flights are narrow.
The view from the top...check out mr. bunny hiding in Henry's pocket.

Report cards

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:41:00 +0000

Both boys came home with excellent report cards - ribbons & certificates too! I am so proud of them, especially H. He deserves all the kudos he gets.

First Game

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:53:00 +0000

The kids waiting for the refs to show up so the game can begin.

The holding pen....aka waiting your turn tent. Nico and another boy were bored so they started to wrestle.
Nico is called into the game, he was excited.
Nico's turn to be goalie, he stopped the ball and kicked it back into play.

Nico has the ball.....
BAM! He gets kicked in the shin, thankfully he wears full leg protection and the game continued.
Game Over and congrats for everyone.

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:58:00 +0000

Watch here he comes...just don't call him becky.

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:07:00 +0000

We are finally home.

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:24:00 +0000

The tooth finally fell out! Now henry says he can eat oreo cookies.

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey S-O) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Dang it was hot last night, this was the temp at 8.30pm.