Court of Honor and Campfire

This weekend’s Boy Scout Camping Trip culminated in a Court of Honor outdoors, then a campfire with songs and skits.  It was the coolest one I have ever been to and I was really proud of my boys and how awesome they did.

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CW received merit badges, his Scout AND Tenderfoot Rank, and he built and lit the fire for the Campfire, in order to get his “Fireman’s Chit”.  Such amazing progress for his FIRST Court of Honor.

B10 received merit badges, his Second Class Rank (which came with the joke that he didn’t even need to sew it on, since he completed his First Class Requirements and was ready for his Board of Review) and was awarded a special award – the World Conservation Award.  What is awesome about that is that it replaces his standard purple fleur-de-lis, and shows how much he loves wildlife/nature.

Both boys did stuff during the Campfire, but they also opened it up to the Girls – so Princess, OPM and CAM sang a song that was the hit of the night (at least with the parents)!

Lots of fun and enjoyment.  I hope we all can go and camp next year!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

TBall Game 2

Me and my girly.

GO’s Twin Cousin, Sister Sheep, also plays for the Red-Hots, so for today’s game we had lots of family fans watching.  It was fun to see so many people come out and support the girls (and Brother Sheep, who plays for the Green Team in the 5/6 Year Old League).

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Assistant Coach Papa is enjoying himself, too!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Family Camping with Boy Scouts

Happy Girl

This weekend is the annual Family Camping Weekend with the Boy Scouts.  B10 and CW shared tents with friends/fellow scouts, but GO, Went and I were in a cabin (along with the Royal Family).  Quilting Bee and her Husband, Army Bee, and Twins, Girl Bee and Boy Bee, slept in a tent they pitched.

The bed I shared with Went

GO’s bed

The Bee Hive

The Caterpillars and I got there early and helped the Bees put up the tents and get dinner started.  B10 did an outstanding job watching his little sister and the Twin Bees.

The Roux (base) for the Gumbo

Quilting Bee cooking away!

Cajun Gumbo

Blueberry Cobbler (NOT Dump Cake!)

Dinner on Friday night was Dutch Oven Cajun Gumbo – it was delicious (as is almost anything Queen Bee cooks), and really cool to watch her cook on her new Dutch Oven Table.

Went sleeping in the Cabin

Breakfast – Dutch Oven Casserole and Cinnamon/Orange Rolls, plus fresh fruit

Love camping with my family and friends!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

TBall Has Begun

GO’s first season of TBall has begun at a local church.  She is on the “red” team, aptly named the “Red-Hots”.

Coach helping her set up.

It is hilarious.  3 and 4 year olds playing TBall is like a herd of cats playing TBall.  Except the cats might be better coordinated.

CONTACT!

Needless to say, we adore it.  There are usually two innings, which is about 7 innings too little for one-third of the team and half an inning to much for the rest of the team.

SWING!

Dropping the bat.

And yes, GO is wearing a skirt.  We had the “arguement” in the beginning, where I realized the only baseball girls she had ever seen were on the movie “A League of Their Own”.  She *insisted* that girls wore dresses when playing baseball.  Historically, she was accurate, so I chose not to fight this battle.  I get points for matching the skirt to the pants.   (And yes, it’s a cute as you can imagine when she runs the bases.)

Love this shot of her.

Running to first!

I’m so proud of my little Red-Hot!

Guess who got the First Game Ball????

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Sometimes Children Say All the Right Things

Today, I was standing in my bathroom, brushing my hair – and made a face in the mirror.  CW was sitting on the bed, and asked me what was wrong.

I did that typical female thing, where I dislike so much about myself, and it spills out into how I talk about myself to my Caterpillars.  Without even really thinking, I said how I was debating colouring my hair, since I have a huge white patch.

CW didn’t miss a beat, scrunching up his face and saying: “Please don’t, Mum, that makes you look just like Rouge.  It’s cool.”

Okay, so I’m ALMOST a superhero.

Huh.  How about that.  I’m spending my time staring in the mirror and hating what I see, and my kid thinks I look like a super hero.

Made. My. Day.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

New Vehicle!

So, my truck had the transmission basically fall out.  :(  I love my truck, but it couldn’t hold everyone in the family and Otto and I had been expecting this to happen (every day we got was a day to be thankful for!).

We purchased a van.  I’m still not thrilled with it in general, but everyone fits well, there is good trunk space AND it came with a DVD player.  You can’t beat that with a stick!

I think it looks like a giant Easter Egg.  Otto is just excited that it’s the “Swagger Wagon” (go to www.youtube.com and look up “Swagger Wagon”).  We’ve named her: Swee (Swagger Wagon Easter Egg).

SWEE!

GO says she misses “Girlfriend” (that is what we called the truck).  I miss her, too, but this is a good purchase for us!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

6 Months

Sitting up by himself (almost…)

Six Months!  Time to start planning his first birthday party!

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6 Month Milestones

Nursing on demand every 2.5-4 hours during the day.  Sleeping very well at night (only wakes up to nurse!).  His bedtime is normally around 11pm (which is normally also our bedtime, so it works).  Sleeps until we wake him up in the morning.

Stays up a bit later – doesn’t like to go to bed until Mummy and Papa do!  Sleeps in his Moses Basket for the first few hours.  He has started sleeping until 3am or so, but then is back in bed with us for the rest of the night.

During the day he likes to sleep in his car seat or in someone’s arms.  But he’s not enjoying daytime naps NEAR as much as he use too!

Wears size 2 diapers and 6-9 month clothes.  Diapers fit very well, and he still can wear some of his 3-6 month clothes.

Lots of reddish-blond hair and his eyes are still deep blue!  :D

Loves to be held and cuddled.  He likes to snuggle on Mummy’s shoulder to snooze.  He likes to be bounced by Brother B10′s leg to fall asleep, and wants Papa to walk with him (while he is facing outwards).

Is trying to figure out how to suck his thumb and fingers.  Not sure what to do with them, but he is at the “putting everything in his mouth” stage.

LOVES bathtime!  He enjoys having his hair washed and being held in the water so his hands can start to “splash” in it.  He has taken baths with sister, GO, and likes to watch her.  He likes his bath chair and he’s liking the freedom to kick and splash.  He doesn’t cry as much when getting out of the bath, and likes to giggle at Papa when getting dressed.

Smiles when happy, which is most of the time!  He giggles at us a bunch, and loves to watch his older siblings and giggle at them!  He has a beautiful smile and likes when we “gobble” his neck.  He just laughs and laughs.

Favorite toys are his Raccoon (Raccoony), his Satin Sock Monkey Toy, and his new “monster” toy from New York City.

Does NOT like to be wet or dirty – he will cry as soon as he dirties his diaper and keep going until he gets changed.  Means we use a lot of diapers, but that’s okay.  He loves to be in his excersaucer, and poops there every day!

Starting to struggle with the carseat.  He’ll still fall asleep IF he is full, dry diaper, and tired.  Otherwise he can SCREAM for hours!

Rolls over from front to back pretty regularly.  Still gets stuck on the shoulder, and can’t make it all the way around.

Recognizes his Mummy and Papa and smiles when he hears us!  He’ll turn his head to find us, if we aren’t in his line of vision.  Also recognizes his big brothers and sisters (especially GO).

He goes to nursery every Sunday and has a great time with his loving teachers.  No crying (unless he is hungry) and he falls asleep in the church swing for the second hour, usually.

Sits up as a supported sitter.

This month he tried bananas, avocados, and carrots (all homemade)!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(