Cub Scout Day Camp

With my calling as 1st counselor in the Primary comes the duty to work with the Cub Scouting program. Sometimes I really hate it and wish I didn't have it to do. I guess I could be like some people and just not fulfill my calling to my fullest, but I am just not that type of person, and sometimes I fill like I do more than I should with this part of my calling. However, sometimes it can be fun and I do enjoy working with the current Den Leaders of the pack. --Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend Day Camp and it was a really fun day, and I really didn't have that much to do for it except make sure we had all of the food ordered and there. The leaders were able to take their children with them, so Hayden got the chance to go to his first Cub Scout Day Camp. He was really excited and enjoyed all the activities. They started the day with a flag raising ceremony, then had the scouts do three "mini-classes":

Enjoying the lesson on water conservation:

Not sure he really enjoyed the lesson, but he did like playing in the water and sand:

Ready to watch the rocket launch: (He thought it was pretty funny when one of the bottles shot up into the air, and ended up landing on the roof of the church)

Getting some help shooting the bow and arrow (from someone other than the "not very good" me):

After the classes, the scouts went on a hike out to Devil's Kitchen where they roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. We didn't go on the hike because (1) I was in charge of getting all the food and drinks down there, and (2) I knew Hayden would be o.k. walking for awhile, but then when he got tired I didn't want to have to carry him!! So, he was able to enjoy throwing some rocks into the water until all the scouts got there:

Hayden enjoying his marshmallows:

We ended the day after the boys got back from the hike with making marshmallow guns:

Hayden had to try pretty hard to get his marshmallow to shoot out:

But now he has it all figured out, and is ready for me to go buy him a "really big bag" of mini-marshmallows. --Of course when we got home, Kayla wanted to try it out, but Hayden has gotten to be such a germ-phobe lately that he didn't want her germs on it, I guess he didn't think I was getting my germs on it when I was showing him how it worked after he had made it. Or could it just be that it's Kayla???? So, Waylen said he would have to get the stuff to make one for Kayla too (or maybe it's more for him) so then they can have a Marshmallow War!! --

All in all, it was a great day. The weather was nice. The scouts were all really good, no accidents or fights or such things that you get when you get 25+ 8-11 year olds together. Hayden had a lot of fun, and it was nice to be able to spend some one on one time with him. So, it's after days like this, that I don't mind having to help out the Cub Scouts.

Another Camping Trip

We were able to enjoy another camping trip this past weekend. We left on Friday afternoon when Waylen got home from work. We went up camping in the mountains again, we had thought about going to the Sand Dunes, but wasn't sure how warm it was going to be on Friday and Saturday. Plus, it is still really windy here, and the sand and wind just don't go together very well, so we decided to just go up to our usual spot in the mountains. Our nephews, Gavin and Ethan, were able to go with us and they and the kids were excited to finally get to the mountains that afternoon. Not long after we got there, we heard the train whistle, so we headed down to see the train pass by. Then, the kids messed around the rest of the afternoon playing and riding the four-wheeler. We went on a few hikes too before dinner that night. Waylen's parents, grandparents, and nieces, Paige and Hailee, came up and had dinner with us, then stayed for awhile visiting, riding the four-wheeler, and eating s'mores. By the time they left to go home, it was getting dark, and the kids were all ready for bed. --The next morning, we had breakfast, the kids rode the four-wheeler some more, and then later we went on a hike down to the stream and then to see the train stop and fill up with water. When we camped there on Memorial Day weekend, the train never did come while we were there, so Hayden and Ethan were excited to be able to see it this time. Although, Kayla did not like it at all. She heard it coming and got all scared, and wouldn't let Waylen put her down. Then when it came by us and stopped, they blew the whistle (which was really loud) and it freaked her out. --After our little hike, we went back and got things packed up to go home, and the boys had to have a few more rides on the four-wheeler!! Just like last time- Hayden was not ready to come home, I think he would live in the mountains in the camper if he could, but Kayla was ready to go "back home" this time. It was a short, but fun, little camping trip, and it's always nice to go and get away from everything else, and just enjoy having time to spend together as a family. **I couldn't decide what pictures to put in the blog, so I just did another slide show.**

K*A*Y*L*A

Just thought I would post a few pictures that we have recently taken of Kayla: our crazy little girl!!

She wanted her picture taken too when I took Hayden's T-ball picture:

She was enjoying cleaning up the handmixer after I made Waylen's cheesecake-birthday cake:

Can you guess what she had enjoyed eating here?
Pudding!!!

After I took her picture, Hayden wanted me to take a silly picture of him, and Kayla joined the fun:

They sure are two crazy, BUT CUTE kids, don't you think?

Time to PLAY BALL!!!

Hayden's T-ball season has offically began, and he had his first game last Wednesday night. He wasn't too sure about playing T-ball this year because according to him those other kids always tag him. We told him that it's o.k. if he gets tagged, but he quickly made it clear that no it wasn't o.k. to get tagged because that means you lose and you don't want to be a loser!! Yikes, and he's only 5!! But I think we finally convinced him that he is just playing T-ball for fun and that no one really wins or loses at his games. So anyway, like I said, he had his first game last week (which he didn't really want to go to because he was in the middle of watching a cartoon).

But he ended up having a great time, and was happy that he "didn't even get tagged once". It's amazing how much better he is this year from when he played last year, and he hasn't even practiced any!! And who knows, in a few years he might surprise us and want to really play baseball and be quite the ball player. You never know!!

Meet Toby....

Hayden and Kayla's New Best Friend!!!

Waylen's mom was in Alamosa yesterday and when she went to Big R there was a lady giving away free puppies. She called Waylen to see if he would want one and, of course, Waylen being the dog-lover that he is said yes. She ended up getting the last one, and now we have a new puppy!! The kids weren't too sure about him at first, but then after playing with him for awhile decided they really liked him, and he is really cute. I don't mind puppies because they are so small and cute, but they are a little mischievous at times, and they always grow up into big slobbery DOGS!! Anyway, the kids stayed busy all afternoon on Wednesday playing with him, and they even ended up in the sandbox with him. Plus, Hayden had to take him for a ride in his truck, but he didn't like it very much. Kayla just kept wanting to hold him and pack him around. Then later in the evening, I saw her sitting beside him while he was eating and she would shove his face in the food, then move it to the water. They both had to tell him good night last night and worried about us leaving him at home while we went to Alamosa today. When we got back into town, I had to take some stuff to Waylen's grandma and when we drove past our street and didn't turn, Kayla said, "No, I go home and play with the doggy!!" And that she did when we got home, I kept checking on her and she would be packing him around, or telling him to get in his box. I think she has enjoyed the puppy more than Hayden, but I'm sure she won't like him as much when he gets bigger. --So who knows how long it will be until the "newness" wears off and the cute little puppy begins to become a nuisance!!