Things are MUCH clearer....

About 3 weeks ago Michael informed me he couldn't see the time on the clock from the family room any more. So....I told him I would make an appointment to get his eyes checked when spring break got here. Last week his school teacher called to tell me she had noticed for the past few weeks Michael couldn't see things across the classroom anymore. She noticed he couldn't see what she was writing on the board so he was moved to the front. She said that still wasn't helping. I told her he already had an eye appointment scheduled. She was relieved to hear that. Today - the glasses came in! Michael was so excited to be able to SEE!
One eye is 20/40. The other is 20/50. He has astigmatism in his right eye as well.

We take something as simple as eyesight for granted sometimes. I know I have been known to do that. When things start looking blurry - glasses are a godsend. It's so nice to be able to see what 's around us and be thankful for the fact we can see.

A perfect day for a beach trip to Pacific City!

Today was the first day of our Spring Break! Can't you tell...the weather was gorgeous! Beautiful blue skies and warm weather. Am I really at the Oregon coast? I took the boys on an adventure today. We went down to Pacific City since we've never been. We had a blast!

There is a gigantic sand dune there. Donovan informed us all about it. He has been here before with a school outing. He told the younger boys it would take them hours and hours to get to the top. They believed him.

The white dots are Donovan and Chris. Michael is in red and Nephi in blue.

The dots...um....I mean boys...are at the top or almost there now! I zoomed in so I could see the boys.

Running down. See the two kids crawling up? That's what Nephi did the whole way. It's a really steep sand dune.

Here they come! I do believe Michael is carrying a stick. Just what I don't want to see. A boy of mine running pell mell down a sand dune. I can just see the impaling of the stick into his body. Can you? Once he reached me I took it away.

Here comes Donovan!

Nephi taking his sweet time. I think he is coming down with something. Hasn't been feeling well the past couple days.

Michael pelting down the hill again! Without the beforementioned stick.

Nephi is getting closer!

Checking out one of many tide pools. This beach is really cool! It's only 25 minutes or so from our house!

So far...sand dunes, tide pools and now this! Check out the wonderful colors on these rocks! WOW! Boys and rocks go great together.

Nephi and his climbing skills.

Donovan.

I asked someone to take a family picture. I am OCD about stuff like that. I want to be able to look back at the fun times we had with ME in the picture!

Checking out the rocks and tide pools. The water was off limits. Too cold.

And the tide was coming in.

Nephi's face says how he is feeling.

Yay! More rocks to climb!

Hello Michael and Donovan! You can come down now....the way you went up would be preferrable.

There was even this rock. It had little grooves in it for climbing I am guessing. That's what my boys used it for anyway. This beach had everything beachy!

FOS BSA 100th Anniversary District-wide Breakfast

This morning our scouting district within the Cascade Pacific Council had a Friends of Scouting district wide breakfast. The boy scouts and cub scouts were asked to participate by serving breakfast to those in attendance and be in a skit. We had 3 of our boys helping with this event.
Donovan came to show me his "Man Skirt."

Chris' face says all that is on his mind at this point. He was not happy to be there.

Our cub scouts from our den. Only 3 showed up.

Michael is part of the Boy Scout Promise skit.

There is my smiling boy Chris. I do believe he had 2 helpings of breakfast. Serving is hard work you know. I know a little food always puts a smile on my face as well!

Our pack 687's display.

The majority of the scouts who helped set up/clean up/serve, etc. Some had already left before the picture was taken.

Hoquarton Slough Cub Scout Outing

On 12 March 2010 I went on my last cub scout outing as an official cub scout den leader. :( It was a cold, blustery day. A day to match my mixed emotions of stepping down from an organization I love so much so others could step up with fresh ideas and learn to love what I came to love.

We were helping our Bear with one of the requirements he chose. So...we piled in a couple cars and headed to Hoquarton Slough in the middle of town. It's a place where the boys learned about the habitat surrounding where we live and how we can affect the waterways around us - for good or bad. We learned some history of the town as well. The slough park is fairly new and a lot of hard work has gone into making it look really neat. One of my favorite parts was the cement side walk. They made different prints of animals, birds and humans in various spots. Loved it!

One of my favorite animal prints.

Our small cub scout den with their new leaders. The Hoquarton Slough is just behind them.

Reading about the slough and trying not to turn into popsicles.

Another reading spot. The boys really enjoyed the various stations.

Crazy busy!

The past couple of weeks have gone by really fast. Michael and I had a crazy day loading the Goodwill truck with other cub scouts 2 Saturdays ago. Then we had to leave early so Russell and I could go to the Temple. We had a really nice time there with other members of our ward and stake. The following Sunday was our Young Women's New Beginnings and the girls received the bracelets I worked so hard on. I don't know for sure - but think they like them. Have only seen 1 or 2 girls wearing theirs. While we were cleaning up after everyone left I took the trash out to the dumpster. The dumpster and I are not friends right now. While trying to close it....I re-tore my healing stomach muscles. Nothing feels as wonderful as a searing pain accompanied by tearing where there shouldn't be tearing! So....I gingerly made my way back into the building to get the YW Prez and had her help me close the dumpster. I think the combination of packing up the super swap the previous Friday, loading the Goodwill truck Saturday and setting up/cleaning up for the YW night made my body hold up several white surrender flags. No fear though. I've just been released from being a Cub Scout den leader so don't need to worry about that any more. I will miss it. Been doing it for the past 3 1/2 years. I am excited for an upcoming combined activity. The Mia Maids (my girls) are in charge. They wanted to do a scavenger hunt. They wanted to drive all over town. Um...not a good idea with the limited time and large group. So we told them they could have it at the church. We invited them to meet us this past Friday at the church to help locate hiding spots and come up with clues. No one showed but myself and our prez. So....I am gleefully happy they didn't. This will be a surprise for them. Which is what I want. I labeled the scavenger hunt by calling it "Where are your Treasures?" If you are in YW (Becky) and are interested for your activities - I will send you an email. I guess I should look at my YW lessons as well as I teach for the next 2 Sundays.
Let's see....what else. Oh - this weekend is another crazy busy one. Thursday night our district is having a dress rehearsal for a 100th Anniversary BSA breakfast. Then the boys have to return to said building by 7 a.m. Friday morning for the actual event. 3 of our boys are to be busy serving/whatever else needs help. N gets to be with me. I am really bummed Russell can't come but his school district doesn't start spring break until the following Monday. Then the real icing on the cake is the YW truck wash at PUD. We told the YM they could come and if they did - we would split the money earned for our various summer camps. I have strict orders from my wonderful hubby to NOT wash any trucks. I am allowed to man the hose and paperwork and that is IT! I hope there are a lot of little worker bees showing up cuz if not - we will be there all day. And I still have a cough. Not near as frequent but still deep. I have to double over when I do cough as I can feel the stomach muscles not liking the strain. I am now allergic to all narcotics and the one medicine I can take I can only take at night as it makes me sleepy.