Father's Day Projects

This weekend we worked on two Father's Day projects for Evan.  Doing these projects was an exercise in patience at times, but more importantly, made me realize how much the kids are growing.  Wow - their hands are nearly the size of ours!  I know I (we) will cherish these for a long time!

Ryan's Baseball Game

Ryan is playing for Soderville U-8 team this year and really isn't 'into' it as much as he has been in the past.  He struggles to stay focused and ends up dancing around while in the field...it is almost comical, if it wasn't my kid! I wish I knew how to motivate him to get through this season!!!  He is good if he tries, trouble is, he isn't really trying when he isn't motivated.  I wish I had something to light a fire under him!

Playing first

Adjusting the hat

Jump, jump, jump, jump around

Hat's now backwards...

You do the hokey pokey and 
you turn yourself around...

Heading to first

Safe!

Gearing up to catch.  
At least this kept him busy! :)

Hand shake with the other team

Was it wrong to breathe a sigh of relief that at least it was over?

Jewelry

It was a productive weekend for jewelry.  Here are some of the orders I completed.  It is always hard to carve out the time to work on jewelry when the weather is nice.  I will be somewhat relieved to close shop this week and enjoy the summer months with my boys.  I hope to return in September with new ideas and new energy...just what I need after a busy spring!


This first one is a new style I was inspired by on Pinterest.  I tweaked it a bit to make it my own, and I love the result:

Splash Zone Ad

I received an email on Friday from Como Town.  Imagine my surprise when I opened it and it was a photo I had taken of RYAN last year!  What a cool feeling to see him in their ad! :)

Playdate

Carter had a playdate with his best buddy, Jacob, on Friday. I picked up Jacob after Carter's swimming lessons and we headed to the park. The kids had a blast. I just love watching them interact - Carter doesn't get to play with his friends as much as his brothers and their friends. It is good for him to have his own friends to hang out with. Unfortunately, Jacob is going to a different school for kindergarten in the fall. Bummer, because they are such good friends!!!

Grad Camp

Ryan graduated from a Tiger Cub to a Wolf Cub tonight at Cub Scout Grad Camp, held at the Kiwanis Cub Scout Camp on Marine on the Saint Croix.  The kids had so much fun!  On the agenda today was geocaching, compass instruction, marshmallow gun fights, archery, b-b gun shooting, slingshot practice, dinner, and the awards ceremony.  The ceremony was cut short due to a major thunderstorm that rolled through camp.  Evan and the boys stayed in a camp.  I came home to sleep.  I hope they stay dry during the storms tonight!!!!!

The Mackey boys' campsite:

Carter in front of the tent:

Marshmallow Gun Instructions:

Having fun with his shooter:

B-b Gun Instructions: 

Getting ready to shoot:

Ryan's first time shooting a b-b gun:

Evan working with Carter, who is right handed, but left eye dominant (unfortunately, he gets that from me).  Makes shooting a gun difficult.

"Mackey" shooting:

Time for the slingshots:

Carter learning the ropes:

Ryan practicing archery:

Prayers before dinner:

Graduating from a Tiger Cub to a Wolf Cub.  The kids went through the "Cub-o-Matic" machine and came out on the other side with their new neckerchief on!


So excited to graduate!

The proud Wolf Scouts (minus 2) and their den leader, Andrea:

Performing their skit (I took this from the other side of the fire, so the smoke blurred the image):

Ryan's First Grade Track and Field Day

Ryan had track and field day yesterday.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day, probably one of the best track and field days I have ever been to.  He was so excited for the day, and so were the rest of the kids!

Ryan is extremely competitive by nature, and track and field day was no exception.  He received five blue ribbons and one red.  He beat himself up over the one red ribbon...in...the shoe kick!  I had to laugh.  He did great at everything...but that is one thing we never work on is the shoe kick! :)  Overall, it was a great day and I am so glad I could be there to see him compete in his events!  It was difficult to tear myself away from the sunshine and fun to head back to the office.  Note to self: next year take the entire day off!!!!

First graders getting their instructions before starting their events:

Long jump:

He had a great jump!

Marking his scorecard:

Proud kiddo:

50 yard dash:

Happy with his run: 

Running it a second time...and a third...fourth...fifth!  They kept running it as many times as they wanted (in their allotted time).  This kid never tires out!

Starting line for the long distance run (once around the track):

Crossing the finish line:

Lining up for the shoe kick:

 

Next was jump rope.  He just learned to jump rope last week.  He was so proud of himself!

His score card:

The final event of the day was the tug of war by classes: