I'm sure you've seen those girls who walk around with duct tape purses.
How about a duct tape tie!
Seriously, when you need a Slytherin tie in time for Halloween, duct tape decorated with colored electric tape strategically placed in a symetrical pattern will do the trick! Just think of the possibilities!
Course, I'm going to leave it to Jaren to actually tie it.
1. Though Robyn has learned the phrase "Don't push me" (usually directed at Hunter) I have to remember that in most cases his pushing is like saying "let's go Robyn" or "it'll be fun" or "come with me" or "go this way"...all with a smile on his face. Hardly ever does it actually mean "You're moving too slow, get out of my way!" 2. We also must mention his creativity. I love it when he goes off into his own world and creates something out of nothing--no matter what it is. He's the one that can play by himself rather willingly.
3. He's the one who lets me know when we've been somewhere too long and when it's time to go home. He's my clock whether I like it or not!
4. His grandpa says he's a natural at casting! Though, he has yet to catch a fish! For the longest time I don't even think Hunter knew why he was gracefully throwing fishing line out into the water...he just did it.
5. He appreciates gourmet foods! He may shy away from canned green beans and boxed mac n' cheese...or anything else that's totally canned or boxed but I LOVE cooking for him! What's on the menu tonight for his birthday dinner?! Creamy Dill Salmon(yes, Grandma Fort, your recipe).
6. He will ask the most complicated questions...literally. Many of them leave me speechless.
7. He's so well-rounded that I couldn't tell you what he's "into". He likes just about everything. Yes, it makes it hard when it comes to giving gifts but at the same time it's easy because he'll appreciate anything.
8. When he has an opinion, he'll let you know it--rather honestly and openly. This can be good and bad. He's not meaning to be rude--he just wants his opinion known.
9. Hunter is unusually sensitive--physically, mentally and spiritually. He's been that way since he was born. His sensitivity requires a bit of extra (creative) effort to calm him, motivate him and accommodate his needs so that he can be successful. I will tell you that he is a spiritual giant!
10. He loves to sing! Don't confuse this with the idea that he'll sing whenever asked (see #9) because he won't. He must know and love the songs that he's singing. That can be a challenge sometimes.
I had planned to do some serious birthday shopping for a certain boy in the family. I was going to be at it all morning and into the afternoon... I was preparing for a long (possibly frustrating) day shopping for the perfect gifts. Who knows if I would have been able to find what I was looking for.
Instead, I dropped it all and went for a nice long walk with a friend!
It made my day. It made my week!
Thanks friend! I sure needed it. I'll go out tomorrow or Monday...or Tuesday...
Sam Houston Area Council here in Houston, TX hosted the LARGEST event, 2nd to National Jamboree, to help celebrate 100 Years of Scouting!
We headed up to the Texas World Speedway to participate in Cub Scout activities that took up space 1/4 mile long. Needless to say, we didn't get to it all. However, here's a few major highlights:
Getting to enter through a tunnel! Making Samurai Hats
World Record Rocket Launch
When you see this in the Guiness Book of World Records in 2012, know that my two boys made rockets that went off in this launch! I think there were something like 3200 rockets in all!
The boys (with their cousins) LOVED the race cars on display...there were much more than I have room for pictures! Aidan was all over the GIANT Twister Game (sorry, no pictures of that). And the magician/juggler was certainly appropriate for Cub Scouts!
How about those push carts?! Aidan is at the top of the screen pushing his little cousin--they won that heat! Hunter is 2nd from the bottom pushing his cousin. He got a bit frustrated at the end when he had trouble steering and she fell out. But, she was fine and they finished the race!
Getting to take home a 7ft. Live Oak Tree :
A mighty oak, grown from a small acorn, has become a symbol of the growth and strength that a young person gains from Scouting. 5,000 trees that were planted from an acorn at the BSA 75th anniversary in 1985 were donated to SHAC Jam. The oak trees are small enough for a Cub to carry, but large enough to have a head-start on growth. By the time the Cub earns his Eagle rank, the tree will be taller and stronger – and so will the Cub-now-Eagle.
Jaren spent a few hours helping the kiddos make First Aid Kits. While I didn't volunteer AT SHAC Jam I did help my sisters put together the "This Is Cub Scouting" tent for use at the event. Let's just say I now have a very close relationship with vinyl, paint and modge podge! Some things included"fishing" for belt loop requirements and playing ring toss to learn what we had to do to earn the Texas badge! We ended the afternoon with a Cub Scout Closing Ceremony and me catching up with my Wood Badge Troop Guide (hadn't seen him since Wood Badge) who was on staff for the event.(Notice how Robyn just "cozied" right up to him. She knows a grandpa when she sees one)
We left more sunburned and tired (and dusty) than when we came! What we participated in as a Cub Scout Family is only a small fraction of all that went on...what we didn't see was what the Boy Scouts were up to. They took up the rest of the place and the other two days of the event.
