My birthday present...a trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium

Russell asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year. I said I wanted to spend the day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. So that's where we spent the day. The first four pictures were of different aquariums the boys and I thought were really cool. Michael really like the first one because it has lots of fish like Dory from Finding Nemo.

I like this one because it had lots of seahorses.

I think I will make this picture the new desktop on my computer. I just like looking at it. It's relaxing to me.

The boys hanging out. L-R we have Nephi, Michael, Christopher and Donovan.

Russell and the boys watching the seals and sea lions. We had fun here. The animals seemed to know they were being watched.

This is the biggest one we saw. Most of them liked swimming on their backs.

At the end of Passages of the Deep is this huge gigantic shark mouth. Nephi, Michael and Christopher are in it.

At the touching pool. Nephi and Christopher are touching starfish.

A red octopus. The younger boys thought this was really neat.

Inside Passages of the Deep. There are three separate tunnels. We liked this one the best as sharks and rays are swimming all around. We are sitting here watching them. We have L-R Nephi, me, Michael, Christopher and Donovan. D's face is a bit blurry because the flash wasn't on. If you move the slightest it messes up. Oh well.

A tiger shark swimming by.

Russell went to help Nephi tie his shoes and was informed by said son he could do it himself. Which he is now demonstrating.

At the end of the trip. L-R Russell, Nephi, Donovan, Christopher and Michael. You would think with all the myriads of people there - we could have asked someone to take a family picture. Well - we didn't.

29 June 2008

Today is my birthday. I am 37. Russell made me this cake. He did a very good job! For my birthday we are going to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport tomorrow. That's what I wanted. To spend the day there. It's a very relaxing, neat place.

Chris took a picture of me blowing out the candles. There really weren't 37 candles. There wouldn't be a cake left!

Nephi eating one of those sugary birthday labels.

29 June 2008

Okay. I actually have a minute to myself to put up Friday's camp activities! We finished the baskets we had started yesterday. Then we moved on to an Obstacle Course. The boys of course had a grand time. Come with me and enjoy!
First - the station leader gave a run-through on the course itself.

The boys have chosen partners and seeing who is the first to go. We have Nathan, Ben, Tyler and Cayden all wanting to go first.

Here Tyler and Ryan are at the beginning of the course. Each team had a sandbag with about 10-15 lbs of "pirate gold" to haul. The boys had to pretend they were running with the loot.

Next was another rope maze to go under - but the pic didn't turn out. Then they had to "Walk the Plank" here. Nathan and Ben are demonstrating this for us.

Just before the finish line the boys had to go through this teepee thing. The boys thought this was very cool. Here are Ben and Nathan coming through.

Connor was on crutches during camp this year. Chris sat out the race with him after running through once - so Connor wouldn't be too lonely. Here they are holding up crab claws they found at the beach earlier in the day.

The majority of the afternoon was spent making boats for a raingutter regatta. Here - Connor and Chris are working hard.

Here is Chris with his masterpiece. I wonder how it would have raced. He opted not to race. Little stinker!

Cayden (right) and another boy are racing their pirate boats. The boys had a great time at this station racing over and over.

We had a family BBQ and when it was done - each den did a skit. This is our den the Island Hoppers. They sang "Splish Splash." L-R we have Ryan, Chris, Nathan, Ben, Levi, Tyler, Cayden and Cole in the front.

Here the boys are receiving their camp awards at the end of the family BBQ.

Chris and Ben at the end of the day. I stayed to help clean up a bit and we went down to the beach before coming home. I had to clean up the kitchen since I cooked all the hamburgers and hotdogs. I also singed my arm in the process. The pilot light lit on one side of the burners but not the other. I bent over to see what was going on and WHOOSH a bunch of fire shot out from underneath and singed all the hair on my left arm/hand. It burned for a while. Now it just looks funny. Like the other arm should be done too. :) NOT!

26 June 2008

Today was the third of cub scout day camp. We had archery first thing this morning. The boys were definitely more confident in their abilities today. :)

Christopher and Tyler are practicing how far back they can pull the bow before nocking their arrows.

Chris was so excited he ACTUALLY hit very close to the paper! His arrow that was the cause of much pride is the one just skimming the top of the target sheet.

After each boy shot his quiver of 5 arrows - comes the arduous task of finding all the arrows in the tall, tall grass. This can take awhile much to the dismay of the boys. They aren't allowed any more target time until all the arrows are accounted for. Good for you rangemaster!

Next the boys were instructed by George Beal in knot tying. A very piratey task if you ask me!

George showing Chris how to do a knot. I don't remember which one.

At this same station we also learned flag etiquette - especially proper folding of the flag. We learned it takes at least 3 boys to fold the flag. And an adult.

A couple more boys practicing the fine art of flag folding as George supervises.

Our third station today was Pirate rescue. We made distress signals here and hand signals to spell certain letters. This was a fun station. Chris is looking up in the sky because a coast guard helicopter was flying over.

After lunch today we had a ham radio operator talk to the boys. They learned about different communication techniques in the event of an emergency. Our ham radio operator reached someone on his radio and the boys were very excited as they all yelled "Hello!" This is a portion of the boys. We have about 35 or so this year at camp.

I caught the boys taking a breather during the lunch break. We have L-R Tyler, Cayden, Christopher, Conner, Ryan, Ben, Nathan, Levi and Cole on the end.

The fourth station of the day was a field obstacle course. The boys had a blast! Here they were having a waterballoon relay on spoons. We have Levi, Chris and Cole working together.

Over and under just to spice things up a bit. We have Tyler, Chris and Ben making their way through.

Then they had a relay race from opposite corners. First they were running. This was such a hoot to watch. The boys really loved this game. I will have to remember it for future day camps!

Next was the crab crawl. Here we have Cole, Chris and Tyler.

The fifth station of the day was basketweaving. The boys loved this station. They will finish their baskets tomorrow as getting the bases done took some work. They all did an awesome job!

The last station of the day was BB Guns but the pictures didn't show up as it was too dark under the range station.

25 June 2008

Let's talk about this first picture. Nephi is an interesting boy. He has chosen these items TOGETHER as the footwear of choice. Just thought I would let everyone know. lol
Moving on....This week we have cubscout day camp. The theme this year is pirates. I had to do a station yesterday so wasn't free to run the boys down for pictures. That made me sad. Yesterday we made pirate candles, did a pirate wrap game, made seawolf sandwiches (tuna), the dens made den flags, worked on a den skit and tie-dyed bandanas, made eye-patches and pirate belts at one station as well. They were kept very busy. Today - I got to be with the boys. This is what we did - and thought I would share with those reading my blog.

Just before the morning flag our den is assembled. We have L-R Chris, Cayden, Levi, Cole, Tyler, Nathan, Connor, Ryan and Ben. Our den is called the Island Hoppers.

Our first station of the day is BB Guns. Here Chris is trying to figure out how to hold/use/shoot the darn thing!

Next we made Bloody Pasta. Really the boys cut up green bell peppers and mushrooms, hamburger was added, pirate pasta was added and last spaghetti sauce poured over the top. They seasoned the pasta with some spices and enjoyed their little snack.

Our third station of the day was "Hook and Look." The boys made pirate hooks and little paper fish aquariums. Some of the boys weren't too keen on making these.

A picture of Chris and me during lunch. Notice the bandana he is wearing on his head. He tie-dyed this yesterday at the Pirate gear station. I actually liked his the best of all. The colors are so pretty.

Our after lunch activity today was to go down to the beach. Yesterday we had emergency procedures. Here is Chris on the beach at Camp Clark.

A portion of our den - The Island Hoppers. We have L-R Nathan, Ryan, Chris, Ben and Tyler.

Porthole paintings was the 4th station of the day. All the boys were very creative in drawing what they thought they might find from the window of a pirate ship! Here is Chris hard at work on his.

Scurvy. A disease nobody would ever want. That's what the boys learned about today. They even got to try lemons and limes and eat some oranges. Things that help prevent scurvy.

Our last station of the day today was Archery. The boys were so excited for this station. Here are Chris and Ben preparing to let the arrows fly.