Adult Supervision Required

Clay went to help his friend and fellow scout, Grant, today with his Eagle project. They used power tools to make benches!

Grant's dad did a great job of supervising....Clay came home with all fingers intact! (It must have been because he held his mouth just right...like in the picture.)

Speakers, Banquets and Meeting

Yesterday I got up early to get Clay out the door for his trip to Camp Barstow for OA training and for me to leave out for the GFWC-SC (General Federation of Women's Clubs) Winter Board Meeting. The board meeting was very informative --I learned a lot about GFWC-SC and I am so glad that I joined a group affiliated (Junior Woman's Club of Columbia). I met many new women and was able to spend time getting to know Amye and Leslie from JWC better. After the meeting I headed home to rest before Ron's friend, Bill, came over and we all drove out to Barstow for the Order of the Arrow, Muskogee Lodge, Winter Banquet. Not that they all aren't important, but this one was really important because Clay was being installed to the Lodge Council as Vice Chief of Inductions....quite an honor for anyone, but especially at his age. We had a wonderful dinner, a great speaker ---Rudy Mancke, and awards. We were THRILLED that Clay received a certificate for having received his "brotherhood" during 2007. We didn't think he would get one since he did his at Skyuka and then transferred to Muskogee. The very last certificate they gave out was for Clay and I think Ron and I just about jumped out of our seats! The group also held a silet auction. Clay won two patches that he bid on and Ron won a "legend" for the OA sash. He gave it to Clay at the end of the night as a "we're proud of you" gift. It was a fun evening and even though we got home very late, it was well worth it. BubbleShare: Share photos - Safe Toys e

Congratulations, Clay! We Are Proud of You!

Clay just got home from his OA weekend. He is very excited because he got elected "Vice Chief of Inductions". He is on the "executive board" basically for the Muskogee OA Lodge and is the head guy for Ordeal and Brotherhood events. Way to go, Clay!!!

For a lot of people, Eagle is the end. For, Clay, it has merely been the beginning. We're very proud of Clay and all of his accomplishments...scouting and otherwise.

My Boys Are Home

Technically they've been home since Sunday, but I'm just now getting around to posting and they came home really gross so I waited to take the picture on Monday night.

Clay and Ron were both gone all last weekend to Camp Barstow for Order of the Arrow Ordeal Weekend. Ron was tapped out over the summer (you might have read the post about this back in July) and he had to do a service project, spend the night roughing it, eat scant food, couldn't talk and participate in secret ceremonies that I can't know about. Clay got his "brotherhood" back in May so he was there as an OA member and participated in some of the rituals apparently.

All in all, they seemed to have a good weekend with one little (yes, it is physically little, but comfortably and financiall BIG) snafu....Mr. "always follows the directions" (that would be Ron) did what he was told and didn't take a flashlight for his "night". Well, if you know Ron, you know that he has to have his contacts to see. Without them, he's basically blind and because the problem is kerataconous, glasses don't help....it has to be contacts. He did get special permission to take his contact supplies, but had to take them out in the dark. After years of wearing them, Ron is really adept at doing this so it shouldn't be a problem (shouldn't being the key word there). What he didn't count on was the fact that in the dark he wouldn't be able to see in the dark to make sure the contact was in the container. His left one landed on the edge of the container and the lid broke it in half. So, he spent all day Saturday and Sunday with one eye.

Luckily for our bank account, he happened to have a spare left contact that he saved when he ordered his new pair and he's using it right now.

Ron Gets Tapped

Last night we travelled to Camp Bob Hardin for the family night/OA tap-out ceremony for the old troop. Ron was excited to be "tapped" into OA (Order of the Arrow), an organization within scouting.

Clay was tapped last summer, completed his ordeal last August and his brotherhood this past May. He and Ron will travel back to Bob Hardin in August for Ron's ordeal.

Congratulations, Ron!

Camp Hendrix

Clay is off camping with the scouts this weekend at "Camp Hendrix", the house and property of one of the scout families. We went up after lunch today to hang out with them. When we got there they were across the street, at an uncle's house, swimming. It was hot and they were having a BLAST! Ben didn't bring a swimsuit, so he just jumped in wearing his shorts and a tank top.Afterwards everyone headed back over the Hendricks' place for dinner (we left and went out to eat...see the other post!) and camping and outdoor fun!

Ryan and Clay serve up spaghetti for the scouts and Venturers

Ben decided to finish the fire circle and began moving rocks down the slope. This one proved too heavy to pick up and he decided to push it down the hill.

Ron and Clay (notice Clay is as tall as Ron these days!)

Camp Hendrix....the house is beautiful and they have a wonderful piece of property with this cute little waterfall.

Ryan's Eagle Ceremony

Today we celebrated the Eagle Ceremony of one of Clay's best friends, Ryan. We were thrilled to be a part of this special day and of his scouting life. Clay and Ryan have had many fun adventures together in and out of scouting and Ryan has very much become like our "other" son. Ron took Ryan under his wing and has worked with him over the last couple of years on merit badges, advancements and just growing up.

Ryan with his parents, Cathy and John. We've gotten to be friends with them both and have thoroughly enjoyed being around them. John has been instrumental in helping Clay and Ryan (and other interested scouts) with a mutlitude of merit badges.

Ryan served as Clay's Honor Escort at his ceremony a few short months ago and today Clay served as Ryan's Honor Escort. Ryan and his mom, Cathy, asked if I would read a mother's recognition and then, to Ron's surprise, Ryan gave him the Eagle Scout "mentor" pin in a very touching and tear-filled part of the ceremony. It is rare in 13 year olds to see emotion, but Ryan led the entire group in needing Kleenex when he choked up as he gave Ron the pin and explained how he had made a difference in his life, scouting and life in general. Needless to say, Ron was very honored.

It was a beautiful ceremony! Cathy and John did a terrific job and we are thrilled to have been a part!

Cam, Clay, Ryan and Hunter

New Brotherhood Boys

Clay and Ryan couldn't wait to go to Scouts on Monday night to show off their new OA Brotherhood sashes!

Afterwards Clay said good-bye to his friend, Pace. Pace is moving to Maine for the summer, possibly for the next year.

Birthday Surprise for Clay

Clay went to his OA Fellowship this weekend just for the fun of it. Big surprise when he got there......they let him go ahead and do his "Brotherhood"! So, he is not longer "Ordeal" and now he is "Brotherhood". He couldn't wait to show us his new sash when he got home!

Congratulations, Clay!

The Condo

I forgot to post pictures of our tent site from last weekend. We got a new tent and everyone got a kick out of us putting it together and how big it was.......

Maggie loved cuddling up on my sleeping bag!

King's Mountain Camping

We spent last weekend camping at King's Mountain with the scout troop.

We arrived on Friday night, set up camp (the condo for us!), enjoyed Ron's dutch oven dinner and then headed off to sleep in the wild.

Me and Wendy with the Venturers ( a segement of scouting for girls and guys)

Friday night dinner: Ron fixed brats and saurkraut in the dutch oven

One of those cool, watching-the-night-sky-enjoying nature shots!

Clay taught the "totin chip" on Saturday morning and Ben was able to participate. With Clay's help he practiced sawing, chopping with an ax and whittling. He thought he was such a big boy!

The boys and Maggie after breakfast.

After breakfast and a shower on Saturday, we hiked a little over 2 miles to the KM Visitor Center, where we watched a movie about the Battle of King's Mountain, saw a demonstration about Germans in the Revolution, and had a picnic.

Wendy and I took a little break on the trail. The sad part was that this area was severely burnt out. The funny part, all of the "hot chick" jokes the guys wanted to make!

Instead of hiking the historical trail, Ron and I hiked back to camp (saw a copperhead on the way!), prepped the steaks for dinner and napped. It was the best nap!

Who would have thought that $2 worth of plastic Revolutionary War solidiers could make one kids SO HAPPY?!? Ben LOVES his soldiers!

Maggie loved looking out the window after we napped.

And then, to her delight, she got to run around the campsite leashless while we snacked.

Clay tries to burn the string in the fire building competition.

Clay and Ron grilled awesome steaks for supper. Clay is just like his dad....a wonderful cook.

The cook finally gets to eat and has to share with his favorite little begger dog.

That evening we ate, watched the boys perform skits and had a wonderful time hanging out with our scout friends.

Ron and I are ready for the scout skits around the fire.