DERBY VIDEOS

Here are a couple videos from the Pinewood Derby. One is of Cole receiving his trophy, and the other is a race where his car came in first place. For the life of me I cannot get the second video to turn around on the screen...sorry!

PINEWOOD DERBY

We had a blast yesterday at Pack 464's Pinewood Derby. We brought Sean and Carollynn along for fun, and all the kids enjoyed themselves. Cole's derby car won the "Best Design" trophy! What a proud mom and dad moment! Paco and Cole worked hard on their cars, and most of the Dads were up awfully late Friday night (or early Saturday morning?)  putting the finishing touches and meeting weight requirements on the cars. Paco was at the store at midnight weighing his car on the postal scale. HA! Gracie got to race Daddy's yellow and red car in 

the open division as well.

PINEWOOD DERBY PANIC

The boys have been working on their Pinewood Derby cars...especially hard since their first trial run is tomorrow and they are...well....not even close to being done. Good luck guys! We girls will be inside doing...girly stuff.

A COUPLE OF GOOD LOOKIN' SCOUTS

Paco and Cole are very involved in their Cub Scout pack. Paco is a den leader for Cole's wolf scout pack. It's great father-son time, and they both really enjoy it. Check out my handsome guys in their uniforms....

ODDS AND ENDS

It's been a busy week around here! Monday night we had Cole's cub scout pool party...fun times! Cole got his prizes for his popcorn sales...he was the top seller in his pack selling over $1800.00. He earned $115.00 in Walmart gift cards, and has been waiting, waiting, waiting to get them so he could buy a portable DVD player. He's been talking about it for months. So, after a fun party eating pizza and fruit, drinking soda, opening presents and SWIMMING, we went to Walmart and he bought his DVD player. He paid for it himself and was so proud!!! He carried it out of the store, held it all the way home and then hooked it up himself when we got home. We're so proud of him and hopefully he will take good care of it because he bought it himself.

On to other things...like I said we've been booked up all week long. Between work, visiting Santa, haircuts, shopping, Christmas parties, cleaning, wrapping gifts, visiting with friends....its been crazy. I am SO looking forward to this week being over and moving on into January!!

Speaking of busy, time for me to get moving....lots to do!

TRAILBLAZER DAYS, DAISY SCOUTS

Last Saturday Paco and Cole spent the day at Diamond Lake for Boy Scout Trailblazer days. They had a blast taking part in archery, wildlife demonstrations, shooting a bb gun, fishing and so on. Cole even had a perfect bullseye TWICE when shooting a bb gun for the first time ever. He was SO proud of himself! He earned a marksmanship badge for his cub scout uniform. I was so proud and excited for him. I wasn't QUITE as excited about the face paint the Air Force survival school put on his face...that took DAYS to get off. Seriously, the next morning at church, I was just certain someone was going to accuse us of abuse! Half the paint was still on and the rest of his face was red from me scrubbing it! HA! Oh well, he loved it and that's what counts.

Trailblazer days was a great bonding experience for Paco and Cole, and they have both formed some new friendships with other Scouts and Dads in our pack. It's been such a great experience for them. Cole wears his uniform with pride and is so proud of all his patches that he's earned so far. He is wrapping up his popcorn sales, and has sold over $1500.00 in Scout popcorn! He's also raised over $100.00 in donations for our troops. Go Cole! He's already earned his way to camp next summer and will be getting some SWEET prizes! Thanks to everyone who has supported him!

While Dad and Son were out bonding, the Sutton girls were doing some bonding of our own. We started out the day with a little retail therapy, buying new shoes and makeup. After that we went out for lunch, coffee, and then off to meet friends at Polka Dot Pottery for an afternoon of painting!!!

In other news, here is an adorable picture of my favorite Daisy Girl Scout...

Her troop will be earning their daisy center and petals together, working on different life principles, etc. Right now they are working on courage. She has to learn the Girl Scout promise to get the center of her daisy. We are so grateful to Grammy (Paco's Mom), for taking on the job of official patch sewer for both Cole and Gracie's scout uniforms! Thank you, Thank you! Notice how she put Gracie's patches on in the shape of a flower? Cute!

Have fun, Gracie!

WATERFALLS, PATCHES, AND BOY FREEDOM

Today the kids and I were out and about running errands, and drove by the waterfall at Centerpoint. We thought it would be fun to hop out and explore a bit, and, being the shutterbug that I am, had my camera in the car for just such an occassion.
photo by Gracie...she's got the photography bug I tell ya!and Cole didn't do too shabby himself...Afterwards we ran a few errands to both the boy AND girl scout offices to pick up one patch for Cole, and Gracie's Daisy Scout uniform and patches. Thank goodness we have Grammy who loves to sew patches on. I don't have the patience! We also stopped by a playground at a new park so the kids could run off some pent-up energy. It was COLD! How did we go from summer to winter? Lets just say the visit didn't last long because Mom was freezing! Hmmm...maybe a few trips across the monkey bars would have done me good.
Yeah, right.
Tomorrow Cole and Paco will be heading out bright and early for Trailblazer Days at Diamond Lake for Cub Scouts. I think they are equally excited! Meanwhile, Gracie and I will be celebrating our boy-freedom by shopping for new shoes, drinking coffee, painting pottery and going out to lunch with friends. Yes, it may not be as fun as shooting a BB gun, tying knots and learning a bow and arrow, but we will try to make the best of it.
Cause we're sweet like that.

CUB SCOUT POPCORN

Paco and Cole have been busy selling popcorn for Cub Scouts! They set up a table Saturday and Sunday at Paco's store, and got to work. Cole was an amazing salesman....he is such a people person and totally gets into this sort of thing. He had a BLAST!! getting some sales tips from Dad...Paco worked hard on this sign for the front of their table...
So far, Cole has raised $1300.00!!! He has already earned some great prizes and has raised more than enough to go to camp!! You guys rock! To those of you who have supported him in this, we can't thank you enough. 7o% of popcorn sales go back to local Scouts. How can you not love that?

BOBCAT BADGE

A few nights ago, Cole earned his Bobcat badge in Cub Scouts. To do this, he had to meet some requirements:

1. Learn and say the cub scout promise

2. Say the law of the pack

3. Tell what "Webelos" means (WE'll BE LOyal Scouts)

4. Show the cub scout sign

5. Show the cub scout handshake

6. Say the cub scout motto "Do your best"

7. Give the cub scout salute

8. Complete excercises in the "preventing your child from child abuse" parent guide.

Unfortunately, I was not at this meeting (I didn't realize he was getting a badge or that there was a "ceremony"). Bad Mommy! Another dad took some pictures, but most of them didn't turn out. Here's a few....

Paco showing Cole where his new badge will go....Getting a bobcat footprint painting on his forehead by Dad...This has really been a great experience for Paco and Cole. They are having so much fun! This weekend kicks off the popcorn drive, and the two of them will be selling popcorn at Rosauers at the Y from 12-2 Saturday and Sunday. Next weekend they go to Trailblazer "camp" while Gracie and I do something "girly-ish" as she put it. Fun times!