Shaffers in the woods

The annual family dinner night at Boy Scout camp let us see how Marcus and Cale were doing and let us see Andy, since he had also been at Cub Scout camp the last half of the week before.  It was nice time and I didn't have to cook.  I did bring lots of candy that the kids had gotten at the 4th of July parade the day before.  Gotta share the candy.

Kinley and her friend.  Both these kids have several older sibs that are in scouts and are bound to see each other lots over the coming years.  And, I think they are almost exactly the same age.

Look-it's the scouts giving a wood chopping demo to a captive audience.

Yes!  a picture with most of my kids!

So pretty in the woods.  I don't think any camera could capture this.

Dinner selfie!

Someone brought a toy.  He had to find a cool spot for a pic.  Mission accomplished.  Stuffed animals accompany us everywhere, all the time.

Off to Boy Scout camp

One of the things the boys look forward to each summer is scout camp.  This year was Cale's first year at Boy Scout camp, Marcus's third.  It's just a great time for the boys.  They get to camp and learn and do boy stuff. 

Got a pic of the brothers, ready to go.

And, a pic of the group. I may have forced them to pose for this photo.  But, I wasn't the only mama there taking pictures.

I got to go up to the campgrounds halfway through the week for parents' night.  I think the boys were happy to see me.  I enjoyed seeing them and taking some pictures.

Cale, by his tent.

Marcus, walking in from points unknown.

These three were in charge of cooking hamburgers.

Cale, showing off his rocket stove.  A stove made out of a log.  Cale likes to tinker and his project help the campsite earn some kind of daily award.

Hungry scouts.

Chopping wood.

The campsite sign.

Cale and a walking stick.

It's a miracle-we made it to a Scout meeting

The stars aligned last week and we were able to go to our Cub Scout Pack's Blue and Gold Banquet.  This was an important event to get to, because Cale was crossing over into the Boy Scout Troop.  We have worked hard here on Cale's Webelos requirements and actually finished everything last fall before basketball started to control our lives.  It was nice to be ahead of schedule for 1 thing. 

Also, this night, achievement awards were handed out to the other scouts, too.  Again, we have been mostly working at home to keep Liam and Ewan on track with their dens.  From the awards the other scouts got, I'd say we were on schedule.

Liam was tickled to get to go up on stage and get his belt loops.

Cale, receiving his Arrow of Light award.  It's the only patch from Cub Scouts that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform.

Here's the crossing over ceremony.  The boys take off their Webelo neckerchiefs, walk across the bridge and get presented with their new Boy Scout neckerchiefs.

Um, how about some super-clever-cute table centerpieces.  And, a super-cute Tiger Cub to go with it.

Three of my scouts.  (Ewan had basketball practice.)

I was so happy to be able to get back to scouts.  It's a good group of people to be around and my kids have fun learning scouting stuff.  And, I'm very excited to have Cale move up to a great Boy Scout group.  

Gingers in nature-a visit to Camp Buffalo

It is late.  By the time this posts, we will be on to our next adventure.  Right now, I am multitasking-watching Netflix, updating our Garmin and blogging.

I've got a girl curled up next to me and a dog curled up on my feet.

It's good.

Today (Wednesday) we went up to see Marcus and Andy at Boy Scout camp.  It was family visit day where the scouts and their adults cook a meal for the families at the campsite.  Why not drive an hour and a half in rain to go?  

Worth the trip.  The kids got to explore a little bit of the campground.  We got to eat a great meal partially prepared by Andy.  We got to hang out and just be together with the other scouts and their families.  There were also the hordes of mosquitos, the rain, the mud and Kinley's temper.  But we won't focus on that stuff.  

Gingers in nature are pretty easy to spot most of the time.  Their fair skin and red hair make them easy to find.  

They like trees.

They are not shy when they know the camera around.

They like tents (like Daddy's new one).

Sometimes they try to be fast.

This tree again.

We went to the nature cabin where a couple very nice scout staff showed us their collection of animals.  Some of the stuffed ones they dressed up-like this gopher looking thing with the helmet and bowling pin.

They got out the corn snake named Bill and let all the kids pet him.

These gingers give the photographer a hard time by not looking at the camera all at the same time.

Then, they take off into the forest.

And, find the ropes course.

After that, it was time to corral the littles into Andy's tent.  It's like a pack-n-play with a lid!  The kids were excited because it was new.

Dinner!

Then, Andy got the pleasure of taking the kids back to the ropes course and taking care of Mommy's best friend, Kinley, for a bit.  A nice break for me and probably not one for Andy.

Got my photo with my boy.  Marcus is having a great time at camp.  

Forced the boys to pose for a pic, too.

Off they go....

All clean and ready for an adventure!