Boy Scouts Pack meeting 1

last night Austin had his first Boy Scout pack meeting. The meeting entailed getting his first badge and it was also their pinewood derby. The car was not well cut (thanks, David) and I am not very artistic, but, nevertheless Austin had fun decorating it.

Austin putting on the first coat of paint. It didn't turn out to be exactly aqua, but I think it worked.

There were several heats of races. This was one that Austin lost, but it was cute how all of the boys watched so intently.

The competition cars

This was the campfire (cute, huh?) all the boys added their sticks to the pile to fuel the flame.

This was taken after the race when the boys were having fun playing around.

Austin and his friend Sam eating cake after the ceremony.

All of the boys got a certificate for something. Austin won for most colorful car.

Mom's shirt

I wore one of my mother's shirts to work yesterday. I had worn it before but never got any compliments. Yesterday at least five people must have come up to me to compliment it. One lady said it looked like a painting that people would pay $1 million for. One little girl said I looked very beautiful. And of course there always has to be a nay-sayer. The little boy I was testing thought I had blood on my shirt because there were blotches of red.

Valentine's through a child's eyes

Austin's Valentine's Day party at school is tomorrow. So, this evening we sat down to write out his Valentines. I did not realize this would be such a difficult project. First, we had to sort all of the cards and decide who would get what based on how much he liked them and if it was a boy or a girl. Then he addressed them, putting hearts on the four girls that he liked best. Three hearts for Jennifer, two for Elke and one for Alaina and Alyssa. (I was actually very impressed how good his hearts looked). Anyway, we bought a variety of candy to put on each. We had Kitkats and M&Ms which tie for his favorite. Twix is a middle ground and Snickers which he does not care for at all. It was quickly decided that Henry and Latham should get the Snickers because they are so mean. The others were handed out accordingly, with the red Twix not being quite as good as the gold Twix because gold is his favorite color. Then we came to Jennifer where he could not decide which to give her -the Kitkat or the M&Ms. finally he decided on both and said, "Now she'll know how much I really like her". It was soo sweet.

The Bug

We were infected this week, not by the flu bug but by strep. I was just saying last week how I hated to get strep because it makes me so miserable. I am finally feeling a bit better, actually much better than I was. That happened pretty quickly once the fever left. My poor boy has it too. Actually he was the one who probably gave it to me. Anyway, I remember having a lot to make up in school when out due to illness, but Austin has to make up a science test, a spelling test, a memory verse, and his valentine's progect with all of the work he already has to complete for next week which includes two more tests and a math folder. Goodness gracious! I don't remember second grade being this much work. Whew!

The Outbreak

Trinity's second graders have had a recent outbreak of strep throat. At least 9 of the kids in the class have had it over the last few weeks. I am amazed that Austin hasn't contracted it yet. He has been sick with congestion but luckily has stayed away from the strep. Today David called and said Austin had to leave basketball practice because he felt sick. I hope he is not getting strep.

All about Austin

I know, I know, almost all of my posts are about Austin. He's just so dang cute. Tonight we had the following conversation:

A: Hey mom
M: yes?
A: I have a joke that's funny
M: OK
A: Why did the children cross the playground?
M: To play on the swingset
A: No! To get to the slide
M: oohh that's funny (sarcastic)
wait a few moments
A: You see, it's funny because you think I'm going to say side, but it's "slide"another pause"that's why it's funny"
M: OK
A: Do you understand the joke
M: Yes Austin I do
A: I have another joke...

While I love my boy his joke telling abilities could use some improvement. They are better than they use to be. Earlier in second grade he came home with homework that had a joke. "Where does Santa swim?" The answer "in the North Pool". Austin goes to repeat the joke to dad and says, "Hey Papa! Where does Santa sleep...in the North Pool, hahahaha"

Anyway, last night my dad took Austin to the lady Cougars basketball game since Austin loves to go so much. He got two Cougar towels, caught the attention of the camera man and was on the big screen many times throughout the evening and got chosen to play the half time game in which he won two gift cards (even though he didn't get any baskets.) What a good night for him.

This morning he finally agreed to swallow his pill whole instead of having to open the capsule. He got it down on the first try without so much as a cough. What a trooper.

Also, we went to the Collinsville homeshow because I thought Austin would enjoy it. It was much smaller than the St. Louis one last year so he didn't have as much fun, but he did sit down to the demonstrations. at one of the cooking demonstrations, he went right up to the front row and sat down even after the show had started. He was slightly reluctant to leave, but I did manage to get him up. The audience seemed to enjoy his curiosity. At this one, he only asked for a steam cleaner for the floor. I told him that we would consider buying one at the St. Louis show, but I think I will just borrow mom's instead (wink)

Snow Day

On the first week of returning to school from winter break, I am now on my second snow day in a row (yeah!) Today I am just going to relax. I have been clearning for about a week and a half because my house is being appraised today. Hopefully, I will get what I need to refinance. For those of you who don't know, on one of those cleaning days, my mom dropped a metal bar (to a storage shelf) on my foot. Because it was swelling, painful and bruised I eventually went to the urgent care center. They x-rayed it and found no fractures, just a contusion (bruise). It was way better, but after returning to work and walking on it more, it has started swelling pretty bad again and it burns again. Its a bit bruised still, but that is going away. Besides dropping the beam on my foot, I really appreciate all of the help my mom gave me. I would never have finished without her help.

I know I have talked to some people about this already, but I remember when the snow seemed to be way higher when I was little (or maybe it just looked higher because I was shorter). Anyway, I saw a little blurb on the news website that St. Louis did, in fact, have almost double the snowfall in the 70s and each decade has since produced significantly less. The most snow on record since 1970 fell in 1977 (the year I was born) and 1978 (the year Krista was born). Just some uselfess info for all of you.

Also, Austin got a new DSi because his old DS stopped working. He had $79 from Christmas that he used and I supplied the rest. (What a good mom I am to get that from him right after Christmas).