The Architect

Cooper spent his last day of scouts building gingerbread houses. Because there were only two boys in his age group, he was able to build an entire kit. Mostly I'm sharing this picture because I think this is a great picture of Cooper.

The End of the Pack

Tonight was our final Cub Scout Pack Meeting. Our Cub Master, who also served as a Webelos leader with me for a long time, pointed out that she and I were called to serve in scouts exactly three years ago today. It's amazing that we've been in a ward long enough to be in one calling for that long.

We celebrated our final day of scouts by doing a service project for a woman in our ward who will be ninety-three on Sunday. This included herding eleven children in and out of her assisted living facility without damaging property or residents. It was tricky, but we did it. And she was thrilled by the decorated Christmas tree they delivered and the Christmas carols they sang.

All the Cub Scout leaders were told tonight that the lot of us are being released and not to worry about implementing the new program that will begin in January. And then there was serious celebrating.

Corny

I'm still serving as a cub scout leader and Saturday was our September pack meeting. We visited a corn maze. I took Cooper, Phoebe, and Sophie and left Topher and Peter at home with Bryan. I had no desire to push a stroller or chase a toddler through a muddy field/maze and Bryan was thankful for a reason to stay home.

I spent my time inside keeping track of children (my own and the scouts) and didn't take pictures. When we were done, the kids posed themselves and asked me to take their picture. Sure, I could handle that.

Cooper Crosses a Bridge

This week Cooper was awarded his Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light. I was his Den Leader while he was a Webelos Scout. It was good for both of us to have that time together each week. And it's amazing how much smoother the process of completing the requirements was for Cooper than for Peter, simply because Cooper had leaders that were organized.

We were all pleased for Cooper and glad that he put in the work to earn these awards.

This is Cooper crossing over the bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

This means that after five years of weekly Den meetings and monthly Pack meetings, we no longer have any Cub Scouts. Sophie was sad when she realized this and asked our Cub Master if she could keep coming to the fun Pack meetings, even without Cooper. It's good to know she's enjoyed the Cub Scout experience as mush as Cooper did.

Well done, Cooper!

The Big Picture

I was playing with Topher yesterday in the playroom and looked up to see this.

Peter spent a few hours yesterday planning out what he must do to complete all the merit badges needed to be an Eagle Scout. Planning is not a strength that he currently has, though I believe he can develop it. After reading through the requirements for one badge he looked at me and said, "So, what happens if I decide not to do this?" I told him it's his choice if he completes it or not. Then he said, more to himself than to me, "But it'll look really good on a college application, won't it?" Then he went back to planning.

Summer of Scouting

During the summer we only meet once a month for cub scouts, plus day camp, so we made the most of our time together. First, in June we had a bike rodeo. Batgirl attended.

Then Cooper attended a week of day camp.

The boys watched skits on the final day.

In July, the big adventure was going to a ropes course.

That's Cooper way up there.

Finally, in August we played a water fight version of capture the flag which basically turned into a huge water fight. Sophie and Phoebe were fierce competitors and everyone was drenched when we finished.

Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda

Peter spent the last week in Palmyra, New York at Boy Scout camp. We were nervous to send him so far away for a whole week, especially since he would need to depend on others for his food. Bryan and Peter spent the two weeks leading up to camp preparing. They made sure he had all the required camping supplies, sprayed all of Peter's clothes and sleeping bag with permethrin, and stocked him up with a week's worth of canned food just in case the food in the cafeteria was not a safe option.

Last Monday, Peter came in during the wee hours of the morning to say goodbye to Topher. I got a hug too.

Then Bryan and Cooper (because he wanted to see Peter off) delivered Peter to our church building at 4:45 in the morning.

Bryan and I worried about Peter and kept telling ourselves that no news was good news. On Wednesday afternoon we got a treat. The boys spent time on their own that day, praying and pondering in the Sacred Grove. Peter specifically asked one of his leaders to send this picture to me.

We missed Peter while he was gone. On Wednesday night Cooper told me that he was having trouble remembering what Peter looked like. I pointed out the many pictures of Peter we have around the house. Then Cooper said he was also starting to forget what Peter sounded like. I certainly felt his absence. Peter has become quite helpful around the house. He's great at cleaning the kitchen, he can hold Topher if I need him to, and he's even started changing wet diapers. I hadn't realized how much I've come to rely on Peter until he wasn't here for a week. I know Bryan missed hanging out with Peter in the evenings after the other kids were in bed.

By Saturday afternoon, we were all eager to have Peter back. Bryan sent me this picture from the pickup.

Peter was exhausted (he took a rare nap after church on Sunday, proof of how tired he was even after a full night's sleep), filthy (two showers were required), and sunburned. What he was not was covered in bug bites. Apparently two of the other boys had fifty bites each. Peter, who is usually a magnet for mosquitoes, had three. The time it took to cover everything in permethrin was well worth it.

Peter had a wonderful time. He did actually eat some of the food served at camp (breakfast and hot dogs) and also ate almost the entire supply we sent with him. He was able to watch the Hill Cumorah Pagent and have some sweet spiritual experiences. He's convinced that Sophie grew taller during his six day absence, but I think he's the one that grew. He seems older, a little more mature than when he left, more of a young man than a kid.

I suspect that's the true purpose of camp.

Summer Glow

Cops, Not Robbers

Last week for our cub scout pack meeting we took the kids and any siblings that wanted to join to a local police station. The detective showed us how he lifts prints from a crime scene (which everyone thought was cool), how they practice with their tasers (without the actual taser in the pack), and what he carries in his medbag (not an Epipen, in case you were curious).  And of course, as soon as he showed them the holding cell, one of the kids handcuffed himself to the wall.

Zoobies

On Saturday Cooper and I joined some of the Cub Scouts for a trip to the local zoo. As you can see from the pictures, there was still quite a bit of snow left over from the storm that came through last week. We kept moving and stayed warm enough. Also, three hours of walking was a good way to wipe out this pregnant lady for the rest of the day.

We stayed an extra thirty minutes just so we could go into the giraffe enclosure and see those tall creatures up close and in person. The other two scouts were ready to head home earlier but Cooper pushed for us to stay. That activity ended up being a highlight of the visit.

I learned that Cooper really loves zoos. He said they're on his top three list of places to visit.

Off-roading Grandma

Peter went on a Boy Scout campout this weekend to the Priesthood Restoration site. While we were discussing those plans, I realized that the visitor's center was new enough that Grandma hadn't been. So on Saturday morning we drove up. We arrived shortly before the scouts left and said a quick hello to Peter before he carried on with his plans.

There was quite a bit of snow and lots of walking outside, so we were concerned about how Grandma would get around. Thankfully, they had a special off-roading Jazzy, which meant Grandma traveled in style. The helpful senior missionary couple that gave us a tour were thoroughly impressed with Grandma's get-up-and-go.

We had to remind Sophie to give Grandma a wide space to drive so as to avoid any vehicle pedestrian collisions.

The air was cold, but we moved briskly enough that we didn't get too chilly between buildings.

Here's Grandma in Emma Smith's father Isaac Hale's home.

It was a wonderful adventure and just the right length of time. We got back to town a few minutes after the scouts so we were able to retrieve our exhausted Peter from the church.

My favorite part of the day was when the sister missionary asked the kids if they had a favorite scripture from the Book of Mormon. They recited our family scripture, Moroni 7:45, from memory. I hadn't realized they had it all memorized and hearing them made my heart happy.

The Rocket

Cooper earned his Bear in Cub Scouts and joined the Webelos just a bit shy of his birthday. I'm one of the leaders for that group, so it's been fun having him with me for the last few weeks. We've been working on the science pin, so last week we built rockets and this week we launched them.

There are three Webelos and they were joined by parents and siblings for the launch. This is Cooper's second attempt. His first one got pretty high, but the second went so far up that I lost sight of it. When the camera comes down, the siblings are all visible trying to catch the falling rocket in the distance.

Circle of Life

After the races were done at the Pinewood Derby on Wednesday night, the Cubmaster gathered the kids together on a blanket for a discussion to prepare for an Arrow of Light ceremony for one of the boys. This is the exchange that followed.

Leader: What happens to every cub scout eventually?

Phoebe: (after raising her hand and being called on) They grow up.

Leader: That's right! They grow up.

Sophie: (without raising her hand) And then they become mommies and daddies!

Leader: Well, that's true.

Sophie: And then grandmas and grandpas!

Leader: Yes, after a long time.

Sophie: And then they die.

(cue gasps of laughter from most of the adults in the room)

Sophie: And then they're resurrected!

Leader: Well, you've got that whole circle of life down.

I guess all the lessons about the Plan of Salvation have really taken hold.

Cars

Cooper had his third Pinewood Derby last night. He did well, but did not earn one of the top three prizes. He did, however, receive the Most Unique Design Award. He had fun, no matter that he didn't place.

A Study in Sleep Deprivation

For the last few weeks, we've had trouble getting Sophie to wind down to sleep. We suspected that it was because she was so tired that she couldn't settle. The more sleep deprived she is, the harder it is for her to sleep, that's been the way of it since she was tiny. But with early rising for school and sporadic quiet times due to holiday school schedules, we were unsure how to help her.

Last night was Pack Meeting. It always begins at 7pm, which is also the girls' bedtime. By the time we were home, it was after 9pm. Sophie was flying, almost literally. She was zooming around the house on a riding toy, totally oblivious to our calls to put on pajamas and brush teeth. After much wrastling and pleading and commanding, she finally knocked out, but it was late.

Today, well, it was rough. Peter didn't tantrum, but it was tricky business keeping him on-track with homework. The other three? There were several meltdowns that took place, some motivated by refusals to do homework, some because I asked for a chore to be performed, at least one because I watched a child swing (and miss) at another sibling and get called out for it. Sophie was hysterical throughout the day, including first-thing in the morning when I told her she couldn't go outside in freezing temperatures in her thin nightgown and bare feet to take the kids to the bus.

Bryan and I agreed that bedtime needed to come early.

We were reasonable, no one went to sleep before the sun went down. But the girls were both tucked into their beds by 6:45. There was fussing and complaining and a small but active fit took place because I'd asked Sophie to lie in her bed the regular way instead of "like a nest" as she wanted.

But guess what? The girls were solidly asleep by 7pm. It's the first time that's happened in ages. They were so tired from the late night cub scouting and the many nights of troubled sleep, they needed it.

Now we just have to wait and see if they wake up at 5am...

Big Wheels

We found out that a skating rink in the area offers a discount to scouts on Wednesday nights. Guess whose cub scout troop meets on Wednesdays? It was Cooper's first time in roller skates, and you could tell. He slipped and slid and ended up using a walker (roller?) made of PVC pipes, duct tape,  and wheels to keep himself steady. I tried to take several pictures, this is the least blurry. Cooper is right in the center of the shot.

On the bright side, he had a lot of fun and improved some by the time we needed to leave.

A Boy and his Bow

Peter spent the last two days at a Boy Scout camp meant just for eleven-year-old scouts. He swam and lashed and played. He did not sleep over, but he did stay late and arrive early. And he got to participate in one of his favorite activities: archery.

Go, Speed Racer

A member of our ward hooked the cub scouts up with an awesome activity for our May Pack Meeting. We gathered at a local hobby shop and trouped to the big back room. Three of these huge tracks were setup, ready for slot racing cars. We stuck to the green track, which was perfect for novices.

The scouts had a grand time remotely driving the cars around and around and around the track. The adults stood at the corners and spent most of the half hour quickly grabbing cars that had spun off their own slot before another car struck the disabled vehicle or the hand of the previously mentioned adult, then placing the car back on its line, ready to speed off again.

It was kind of harrowing for the grownups.

Luckily, no serious injuries were sustained during the races, at least not to the people. Those poor cars took quite a beating though.

The Doctor Is In

I sometimes marvel at all the events that never make it onto the blog. For instance, I've never written about Cooper's tics. I first noticed them when he was three, I saw little movements that appeared involuntary. I finally mentioned them to his pediatrician at his five-year checkup. She dismissed my concern without much investigation. Bryan and I continued to watch as Cooper would shrug or scrunch his face or clear his throat over and over and over. At times they seemed to disappear, while at others they were very strong.

When we moved to New Jersey, I pointed out the tics again. This time he happened to be in a heavy tic season, so the nurse and doctor were able to observe him and agreed that they did look like tics. We talked about the possibility that it could be Tourette Syndrome. The doctor also mentioned that sometimes, if a person has too much strep in their system, it manifests as tics.

We ran a blood test and found that Cooper had more than four times the safe level of strep in his bloodstream. The doctor recommended an extended regimen of antibiotics. For the next three-months Cooper took medicine everyday. And you know what? The tics disappeared.

I shared this story with one of the moms that hiked with us on Saturday. We had stopped for lunch and the boys were skipping stones in the river nearby. Peter was sitting on a log retaining wall, eating and listening to us talk. As I explained the symptoms, Peter would add details. I was just about to say that we wondered if Cooper might have Tourette Syndrome, when Peter piped up.

"Yeah, we think he might have meningitis."

All three moms burst out laughing. Warning: when seeking medical advice, don't ask your eleven-year-old.

By the way, those tics have come back.

Hiked

We took the cub scouts on a three-mile hike on Saturday. This fulfilled a requirement for the Webelos, but all the Cubs were included. Peter tagged along to fulfill another need: an activity with the Boy Scouts. Since there was also a Temple trip for the youth that morning, Peter was the only Boy Scout available. The weather and the trail were really beautiful. There was a chance of rain and a projected 80 degree high, but neither of those happened.

I only took the last picture, so thanks go to the other leaders and parents who hiked with us for the other photos.

We don't do much hiking, and I was worried that the length would be too hard for my boys. They were pretty worn out by the end, but they made it. And thanks to my migraine-required daily exercise, I wasn't sore at all afterward.