Fishing

The twins are working on achievements to finish up their Bear badge for Cub Scouts. 

After school on Friday they headed over to the local fishing hole and had lots of fun. Andy got to go too as I had to hang back and send Ellie off camping with the Girl Scouts.

Danny trying to bait the line on his own. They used bread mashed into a ball.

The staff were very helpful and actually hooked the fish and let the boys reel them in.

I was late getting there but arrived just in time to see Andy catch his first fish.

He was done after that saying "I only wanted to catch one".

They had snacks and hung out when they got bored.

watching the big guys place checkers with bottle caps

Just as we were about to leave, Benny was able to reel one in.

Danny REALLY wanted to catch a fish but after an hour in the heat and humidity he decided he was ready to give up and go home.

A Derby called Pinewood

Last weekend we had our Pinewood Derby event with the Cub Scouts. The boys "helped" Daddy build their cars and were excited to race.

There was a delayed start. The pit crew was out cleaning oil off of the track...

 Jokes were told while everyone waited for the green flag...

"What do you call a Cow with no legs? .....Ground Beef"

 The races were finally underway and excitement was high.

 Brothers even acted Brotherly to their brothers.:)

Our boys were not the fastest but still did OK.

Daddy consoling Andy after his car finished last.

Trophies were handed out.

 

 

Benny got 3rd place for his Den.

Andy got a trophy for "Best Paint Job"

Danny didn't place (AGAIN, 3rd year in a row) and got a medal. He was not excited and didn't want his picture taken.

Overall it was a fun day at the races with friends.

Tigers!

Bears!

A party 7 years in the waiting...

Andy's birthday came and went over the Christmas break. I never got around to planning anything to celebrate his birthday until after the break. He and Ellie have always had a combined party in early December (except for last year when neither of them had a party at all). He was always too young to care. This year I was able to convince Ellie to just take a few friends to the movies and pizza and we would let Andy have a party of his own for the first time ever. What a great big sister.

So almost a whole month after his actual birthday, we had Andy's birthday party. I kinda feel really quilty that he never had his own party so I stressed out a great deal and kinda went overboard with the decor but I didn't mind any minute of it. I loved it!

Since he is such an avid train lover and it is technically still "winter" time we decided on a Polar Express theme for the party. Andy invited his classmates and Cub Scout buddies and they took in the movie "Polar Express" while snacking on popcorn and hot chocolate. I think their favorite part was the 15-20 minutes at the end of the party when I had nothing else planned and they all ran upstairs and made a GINORMOUS mess with the Nerf guns and Barbies, etc.

Here is how it went:

 

Decorating train cookies

time for presents

I think it was a great party. I will definitely do more "movie" parties in the future. The kids were SOOO quiet through most of the movie. It was AWESOME!