Qualm

I normally love projects, but Patrick had to make a costume for the Vocabulary Parade for this Friday. REALLY? And we have a seriously silly word.
 
Qualm

Main Entry: qualm
Pronunciation: \ˈkwäm also ˈkwȯm or ˈkwälm\
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1530
1 : a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea
2 : a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear)
3 : a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety


I am so ready for summer......

This  is what we came up with.

Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony

Alison moved up in Girl Scouts today. She is no longer a Daisy, she is now a full fledged Brownie Scout. I am proud of all of our girls, they are growing up.

Crossing the bridge into Brownies.

Mustang Magic Magazine

Patrick had a poem published in this years Mustang Magic Magazine. Way to Go Patrick!

Spring

By Patrick Bell

Spring is here for now.

But how long is spring this year?

Who knows? I like spring.

I Guess He Is Feeling Better

We have been fighting Patrick's asthma since we came home early from camping last Sunday. Today we ended up at the doctor. He has now added oral steroids to the breathing treatments we have to do every 2 - 4 hours.

The steroids make him feel better and quite a bit  goofy. Patrick will be able to return to school on Monday, until then we have to keep him calm. I am not sure that this will be an easy task.

Cub Scout Camping - Loyd Park

Weekend three of camping was definitely interesting. Craig flew to New York for a job interview on Thursday morning, so I did all of the packing and planning. Friday I packed what I could in the car and then took the kids to school and went to work at the church. At lunch I ran home to pack the ice chest and load the bikes. After school I ran to pick up the dog and kids. I have to say I enjoy dropping the kids off at school and heading out to camp first thing in the morning to this, but you do what you have to do.

Craig landed at DFW around 4, and met up with us at camp about 20 minutes after we got there.
There were great scout activities and tons of friends around for both Alison and Patrick. Craig was excited from his interview but quickly became tired and gave in to the cold he has been fighting off. Saturday morning I sent Craig and Roxie home to rest. After the weather change and the afternoon with the boys trying to start a campfire it became evident that Patrick was going to have issues with his asthma.

We made it through the night, but I was up at 6 on Sunday to pack up and head home. We are staying close to the nebulizer and exhausted. All around it was a great weekend.

Sunrise, Saturday morning.

Getting ready for a hike, lead by the Webelos.

Patrick's group.

Kickball, Patrick's favorite.

Yes, that is the beloved helmet that Patrick won at the bike rodeo.

Learning to strike matches for the camp fire.

Bike Rodeo

The school had a Bike Rodeo this evening. I was tempted to just skip it. Craig is in New York interviewing. I am packing and getting ready for weekend number 3 of camping, but it is always fun to get out and hang with my girlfriends. The fact that it was at the school and the school was providing the entertainment was bonus.

They had the fire department there along with a few police cruisers. A bike shop was there to provide free tune ups on the kids bikes and they had two people there to check the fit on the kids helmets. There was also an obstacle course and a hand signals/bike safety class.

The highlight of the evening was the DJ, hula hoop contest and the drawings. Each student got 2 raffle tickets one for water bottles, bike locks and new helmets. The other was color coordinated for a boy bike and girl bike grades 3-5, boy and girl bike K-2 and then the big hit with all of the kids the Crazy Cruiser. The Cruiser is a three wheeled swing scooter according to the manual I am looking at right now.

Patrick won the first drawing of the night for a new bike helmet, he picked green of course the evening ended with Alison winning the Scooter. Her smile was huge as she walked up to claim it. She had kids of all ages telling her how lucky she was. It was dark when we got home. I only got one picture of the scooter, after Alison had already put her pajamas on. I am not worried though. IO am sure that it will be photographed quite a bit this summer.

Dalton trying to nap through the festivities.

Dancing with Caleb.

 A very excited Alison.

Alison was worried about leaving the scooter in the garage. She wanted to keep it beside her bed.

Girl Scout Camping - Loyd Park

We are back from another great weekend of camping. There was a bit of rain over night, but other than that the weather was great. This time we had sites right on the water. Camping with the girl scouts is quite a bit different than with the cub scouts. Our group is smaller, we only had 7 girls and a few of the siblings. The girls all got on great and Patrick had a few of the brothers to play with.

Our site for this weekend.

Not too wet, but just enough to write in the sand.

A little overcast, but very nice and calm.

This mama duck brought her babies right up to the camp site.

My kids with their cameras. I am very proud.

Saturday morning visitor, right outside of our tents.

Ready for our scavenger hunt.

Ali and her ladybugs.

The girls had fun swimming.

Patrick spent the time throwing mud with the boys.

Like father, like son.

Alison and the caterpillar.