Taking One for the Team

Look at Peter!

Swamped in the giant puddle on the soccer field.

Thanks, Larry, for the shot!

Happy Feast Day to all you Philips and James' out there.

We're praying for you in a special way today as we remember Sts. Philip and James.

SAT DAY

Drove the shuttle to the SAT exam this morning.
Zac and 2 friends, carpooling to the big event.

We stopped at house #3 to pick up our final passenger, and I commented on how prepared he was with his #2 pencils and his calculator.

Zac jumped in, "Do you have your photo ID and your admission ticket?"
Before #3 could reply, #2 blurted, "PHOTO ID!  Photo ID......"
But it was too close for comfort, there would be no turning around to retrieve the missing item.  We discussed whether or not #2 would be allowed in to the exam without photo ID when #2 admitted, "I forgot my admission ticket."

At which point, said testee determined that this would not be SAT day after all.
Luckily, a previously taken (and good score) SAT will suffice for #2.

Do you remember your SAT day?

I remember a good friend who had stayed up too late the night before (with the help of No Doze) to complete a big homework assignment.  On the day of SAT I ran into her in the bathroom on a break, and she was a wreck.  One of the smartest kids in our class, and a total mess on the morning of her SAT. 

God bless all the SAT takers today!

Flashback Friday

Today we're remembering our family vacation to Montana when Peter was two.

August 2002

Zac, Joseph, Peter and Tim roasted marshmallows at the campsite with our twin cousins, MacKenzie and Brendan, and Uncle Peter.  Our two families camped together, with the cousins in the 5th wheel, and us in the borrowed pop-up (which we found out later did have a heater!).

Mom, Dad, Grandma and Aunt Molly & kids stayed at a nice condo, where we gathered for a few wonderful meals and Zac's birthday celebration.

We celebrated Zachary's birthday, and he was given a scooter and a helmet by Grandma Patty & Grandpa Pete and cousins Niko, Mike, Kati.

Highlights of that trip:  finding a bear den on a day hike; learning how to properly tow a pop-up trailer (after dropping it on the first hill as we departed from home); vacationing with all the cousins & grandparents and great grandma from my side of the family; the big country party for the docs' & families; the pillow flying out of the 5th wheel window on the highway (MacKenzie had opened during her last nap); the visit to Old Faithful & Yellowstone... being all together was the best part of all!

Reaching for Rank {Zac's Eagle Project}

Zachary's quest for Eagle rank is an ongoing concern.

Recently, the survey crew was at the project site, marking the property lines.

Zachary was invited to try out the equipment, and learned how the survey process is done.

Here's the site where Zac hopes to build the rectory carport.

Great homeschool science lesson, and great to have progress on the Eagle project.

RANK AWARD

If I were not a Cub Scout, I wonder what I'd be?

If I were not a Cub Scout...

 A hippie I would be!

Hey man, cool man!  Far out, wow!

Peter's Webelos den performed an old classic at last night's pack meeting, and Peter played the hippie (as you can plainly see).  Standing between the plumber (Aaron) and the farmer (Jonah), Peter shows his dramatic flair.

The anticipation of winning in the pack meeting raffle keeps the Webelos' attention.

(seen here: Enoch, Nicholas, Jonah & Peter)

The skits and songs performed by the other dens keep the Webelos giggling & cheering

throughout the pack meeting.  Rather than following the Cub Scout program 'by the book,' our homeschool pack opts for hosting pack meetings in even months (rather than every month).

Getting the entire pack (siblings, grandparents and all) together for the celebration of awards and the performing of skits, songs, and pack wide games~ is a huge undertaking.  Rather than taxing our leaders and parents with a monthly obligation, we have always opted to have our pack meetings 6x/year.  Yes, the boys have to wait a bit longer for their awards, but the anticipation builds character!

GAMES WITH DAVE!

One of the highlights of every pack meeting is the 'games with Dave' segment.

One of our (great) dads sets up a pack-wide game or adventure, opening up the pack meeting for gross motor madness.  Thanks, Dave!

Pack meetings are family events, and for us it means all 5 are in uniform. 

Last night, Tim and Zac competed against one another in the 'fast hands' competition.

Cubmaster and Webelos Den Leader, Mr. M. awards Peter his Webelos rank award.

Peter worked very hard and quite of his own accord to earn this award by a deadline he set for himself.

It involved more writing than he's probably done in his life.  Peter also had to pass several conferences with his den leaders, who confirmed point by point that Peter knew and understood the Boy Scout oath, law, motto; the outdoor code and more.  Peter also had to make special commitments to his religious/spiritual  growth, and discuss those goals and their fruits with his den leaders.

Earning the rank of Webelos is a huge milestone, and we are so proud of Peter's accomplishment.

Now we have 4 men in our house who have all earned the rank of Webelos.

Peter will be joining the others 4 in earning the highest rank in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light in a few months.  As this is the centennial celebration year for Scouting, Peter's Webelos rank award has a special centennial design.

As a special gift for Peter, we gave him a Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar.

Our traditional celebration of rank usually includes a special dessert or dinner out with grandparents. 

But this centennial gift is a great keep-sake, and we couldn't resist!

Congratulations, Peter!

Mountain Madness

Look at these guys...
Spring skiing at its best... shorts and T-shirts!

Peter and Joseph were thrilled for the opportunity to have another mid-week adventure with Tim.

I heard reports of lots of giggling while skiing, and shenanigans involving spraying wet snow on one another at various hockey-stops along the way.

They did wear sunscreen, but a strange red patch behind Peter's ear leads me to believe they may have missed a few spots!

Mountain closes tomorrow, so the ski gear stowing operation should begin soon.

Another season down.

Saint George, Pray for Us

Patron Saint of Boy Scouts           from http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-george/

Soldier. Martyr. That’s all we know for sure.

     Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away.
     Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Happy Birthday to our dear nephew/cousin, Jacob!