Mt Lemmon EYO Scout Campout

This weekend was the Eleven-Year-Old Scout Camp Out up at the Church Campsite (Camp Zion) on Mt. Lemmon. At 7,000 feet it's quite a bit cooler than the rest of the valley. It was near 80 degrees on the valley floor when we started driving up the mountain and when we reached the campsite it was about 43 degrees. It remained nippy for the rest of the afternoon and then the temperature dropped down in to the 30's once the sun went down (brrrrrrr).

We arrived early enough to get camp set up in the light ... and as you can see below ... David has become a real pro at setting up our tent and personal camp area.

The view from the campsite is just spectacular. The sunset was beautiful and you can also look down on the city lights.

The next morning there were activities planned for all the EYO Scouts from 3 different Stakes. It ranged from service to first aid, orienteering to lashings, archery to BB guns.

This was the first time David had picked up a bow. He learned quickly and did great when he got a chance to shoot arrows. His form and follow-through are "text-book."

It was also David's first time to shoot a BB gun. He was a great student in this environment and I enjoyed watching him absorb all the training and then put it into practice (firearm safety, dominant eye, breathing, slowly squeeze the trigger, etc.). His first shot went high, but then he got settled in and it tightened up a little more. I then coached him a little more on his breathing and the rest of his shots were within the 9 and 10 rings of the target.

This is the 2nd camp out where David has been exposed to orienteering. He is also picking this up quickly and is getting really proficient with a compass. This is the first time that he used a map and oriented himself using declination for the local area.

A few of the activities that had been organized for this camp were service activities. David and the other EYOs carried water around the campsite to put out the fires in preparation for breaking camp. They also helped set up tables, paper bags and napkins for the lunch that was provided that day. The young men were pushed to the limit carrying large buckets of water up and down the hills around camp. A little hard work only builds more character.

David is so excited to be in Scouts and very actively counts down the activities and achievements he needs to get to the next rank advancement. He is currently a Tenderfoot and only has a few more requirements to pass off both Second Class and First Class. By the time he turns 12, he'll either be a Star Scout or pretty close. When the troop has the Court of Honor in July or August he should have 3 merit badges under his belt (Reading, Citizenship in the World, and Swimming) ... if not 1 or 2 more.

On the way up to the camp out he wanted to talk about different Eagle projects and what I did for mine. He is SO competitive when it comes to achievements like this. He wants to be an Eagle at an earlier age than I was. His goal is to have his Eagle before he turns 14. Amy and I are so proud of how he likes good things and wants to do the best he can.

Easter Dinner in Tucson

This Easter we had everyone over to our house for dinner (Mom, Dad, Ali, Jay, Zoe, Noah, Jenn, Alexis, Julee, Garry, Kristy, Stone, Sammy and Tyler ... along with the 6 of us). It was a little chilly outside so we pushed the couch and easy chair out of the way and set up our tables inside. I can't imagine doing this again like we did in our house in California ... no room ... and when we did have a few more people in the house there it was like we were sitting on each others' laps.

We really enjoy living close to family and being able to have them over to the house or going over to do things with them. We can't wait until it gets a bit warmer so that we can do more things out on the patio or in the pool.

Lyssie's New Sandals

Elyssa got some new sandals for the summer this weekend. She is so proud of her new shoes. When she woke up this morning she wanted to get dressed so she could put on her new sandals. When she took her nap today she wanted to wear her sandals when she slept. We took them off and she got really upset ... SO ... being the push over parents that we are ... we put them back on her and then she went to sleep. At least she wears shoes. When David was a little kid it was hard to keep his shoes on him.

Josh and Grandpa

Josh sure loves hanging out with his Grandpa. Josh doesn't say many words ... but "Grandpa" is one of them. Josh and Lyssie always get excited when we go to Grandma's and Grandpa's house.

Our Day at the Ballpark

Today we went to a spring training baseball game at Hi Corbett Field between the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies. The weather was perfect (upper 70's), which made for an awesome spring afternoon in Tucson. We had hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, nachos, brownies, cookies, slushies and churros ... all the junk you normally eat at the ball park out of tradition. The twins were great and lasted alot longer than we expected (8 out of the 9 innings). That was fine since the Rockies scored the runs that won the game in the bottom of the 8th innning. It is so much more fun taking the entire family out to events now that the twins are getting older and can hang with the rest of us.

Elyssa's Stitches

Thursday night little Lyssie was cruising around the house and ran into the kids bathroom ... unfortunately there was some water on the floor by the bathtub and she had a serious "wipe out." She slipped and hit her chin on the side of the bathtub. Amy ended up taking Lyssie into the Emergency Room at University Medical Center around 10:00 that night. She finally got home around 2:00 a.m. and little Lyssie had 2 stitches in her chin and a pretty red crayon bandaid. Amy said that everyone kept coming into the room where they were at to see the "cutest little girl in the ER that night." The staff there was super friendly and Lyssie talked to everyone. They gave her a stuffed duck and a popsicle for being such a little hero when she got her stitches.

A Big Surprise: Joshie's Haircut

Joshie really surprised us this evening. David and I were planning on getting our haircut after dinner and we were talking about it at the dinner table. Joshie chimed in "haircut" and touched his own hair. We asked him if he wanted to get his haircut and he said "yes ... haircut." So we took him with us to Great Clips where he patiently waited his turn to get his haircut. As soon as the chair was empty and the stylist invited him over, he ran up to the chair and climbed right up. He let her put the cape over him, touch the clippers and then cut his hair. Thank goodness I had my cell phone with me and could take this action picture of a happy boy getting his haircut. Amazing!!! Our little guy is growing up.