You're an Eagle!

I'm so proud of my youngest brother, Clay for earning his Eagle Scout award.  Scouting has been a large part of our lives growing up, as my mom and dad have both been diligent scout leaders in both the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs.  All three of my brothers are Eagle Scouts...very neat!

We had the privilege of attending his Court of honor in a quick trip down and back to my parent's house.

A few pictures from his Court of Honor:

Waiting for the ceremony to begin...I can't believe he's so grown up!

The AWESOME troop neckerchiefs my mom and sister made and embroidered...for the entire troop.

Receiving his Eagle pin.

 Awarding his mentors:  Dave Richardson (leader on the left), our brothers Keith and Reed, and Ryan (quite a surprise for my sweet husband..also an Eagle Scout...very neat!)

Singing "You're an Eagle" as part of the program.  Stephanie is at the piano behind us all.  We have sung this at each of the Courts of Honor in our family, and this go around was quite humorous...I wish I could have recorded it.  It's too high for the guys to sing, and too low for the girls, but we made do...even with the funny memories of practicing...it was a challenge to keep a straight face!

Hmmm...Where to pin the award...so many patches!  Guess this'll do!

My sweet parents (Dad has been Clay's leader since he entered the troop, and Mom was his leader in Cub Scouts prior to that).   

 Funny story about the grass behind them...there were mice EVERYWHERE at the church...they had trails, intersections, and pretty much freeways and highways all over the grass...it was comical (and quite gross) to watch them scurry everywhere...little fiends!

So, little brother, Congratulations!  You're a wonderful example to us all.  We love you!!!

__________

A VERY neat article I found in the Deseret News about the Stadium of Fire in Provo, where OVER 100 Eagle Scouts were recognized, my brother as one of them.  Check it out!!!  Click HERE.   

Clay is the second Eagle from the right, on the bottom row. 

(Picture from Deseret News Article)

Are you kidding me?

Do I seriously only have 15 days left till I have this baby?  I am so not ready. 

I have way too much to do. 

My list keeps getting longer, as I'm finding more 'projects' that have been waiting for TWO YEARS for me to do.

I am really enjoying playing with my boys, now that I'm not working, and we've been painting rocks for ...oh... three hours now.

Still can't decide what I want for dinner...  ...what's easy to fix?  I'd be content with a bowl of cold cereal, with all this heat...

Phew!  Maybe I'll get some procrastinated cleaning done this evening...

...then again, maybe not. 

Krupp Scout Hollow Day Camp

I am exhausted; but I have a really good reason!

Today I and three other fearless leaders took all the cub scouts in our ward (12 total) to a Day Camp at Krupp Scout Hollow.  The downer of the day was finding out that us Webelos were at the Bear and Wolf Camp, but I think you'll see the fun the boys had out-weighed my disappointment in paying for the WRONG CAMP! 

We had all sorts of fun!!!  Check it out:

Opening Ceremonies...

Watching the skits done by staff members...

One of the activities:  Using a Compass and Maps

19 more days till my due date...sitting makes me look huge!!!

Playing with a GIANT parachute during our lunch break...

My dad has some AWESOME knot boards, and this doesn't even come close to how cool his are...but the boys thought it was kinda neat...little do they know, that there are HUNDREDS of more knots to learn.  :)  We just worked on tying a Square Knot... rest assured, they all know how to tie a granny knot.  :) 

One of the square knots  (sadly, there weren't very many that could tie one on the first try...guess I need to do a better job.)

Shooting BB Guns (they were sorely disappointed that I didn't sign them up for archery...who knew?)

One of our fearless leaders & photographer...multitasking for her Stake Young Women's Calling (see the phone?  LOL!), photoshooting AND helping with BB Guns. 

All the boys in the fort.  Why is it when we say "Make a funny face!" they all do the bunny ears thing?  Oh yeah - they're pre-teen boys. 

At our last station, we played games...this one is called STICKS.  Everyone stands in a circle with a stick (or broom handle) and someone yells left or right.  You must leave your stick to grab the appropriate one to your left or right, and if it falls, you're out.  When you get to two players, you stand across from each other and each time both players catches their stick, both take a step backwards...its a riot to see who can get to their sticks the fastest.  The boys loved this game! 

So now it's off to Pack Meeting tomorrow, and back to regular weekly meetings.  The fun never ends!!! 

Just Fabulous...and I'm serious.

Today.  *sigh*  I woke up this morning thinking I could really use another few hours of sleep...but alas, I put on my makeup (mascara; read why at that link)  and went to work. 

I was privileged to help four of the quietest and on-task pre-teens work on their sweatshirt project for 4-H, and I loved it.  For the most part, they did pretty well (still trying to teach one of them NOT to hold onto their fabric and play tug-o-war with the machine).  There was no talk of Lady Gaga, or of blood and guts, and Chris someone as there was in other groups...just steady sewing and patient waiting for those in our group.  It was fabulous. 

As I was in the line at the grocery store, I couldn't help but chuckle at the lady behind me, her kids acting JUST like mine.  I know she wanted to die, just by the things she was saying, so I tried to ease her stress just a bit and let her know that my kids were JUST the same...and did the same things in line.  We got to talking, and she was just so sweet.  She even asked when I was due (which is expected at this point) and when I told her  I had about four weeks left, she said I looked GREAT!  and that she would have guessed I easily was only 7 months along...so I guess my size isn't too alarming anymore.  :)  It was so nice to hear I didn't look as big as I felt!!! 

While at work back at the office in the afternoon, I received a most welcoming email.  If you hadn't heard, I applied for a teaching position, part time, at a local jr. high  teaching foods and nutrition...not my first choice, but it was a job option, and I'm trying to keep my feet in some doors...just in case... 

Well, the welcoming email was in fact a rejection email.  And it was JUST FABULOUS!  To me it means that prayers are being answered.  The school district filled the position, and I feel like I can breathe.  I've been holding my breath and so stressed out the last month that they were waiting on my application (because both FCS teachers and the principal asked that I apply...so after much thought and prayer, I did...just in case...).  While I really enjoy teaching, I have a VERY flexible job right now...and teaching isn't so flexible.  It was more of a commitment than I was wanting to make with a newborn and young children, but it would have been income...

Also, thank you to those who called and/or offered suggestions on possible job openings...it is VERY appreciated!  So, keep em' coming.  Yesterday a dear friend called to give me some info on an opening here locally, and so I quickly took notes, opened up internet browsers and began searching for the job as she was talking to me.  I was so excited when I got off the phone, I told Ryan and his reply was, "That's the fifth person who's called about that particular job" and we both started laughing.  So, see?  Prayers are answered...thank you for your prayers...and if it's not too much trouble, keep em' coming. 

On top of all that fabulousness, I am LOVING this weather that everyone keeps cursing.  It's been the nicest, coolest summer to be pregnant...and while I'm sure I'll be pasty white by the end of the summer (because lets face it...there are no swimsuit futures here, at least this year) I'll take the pastiness over the heat rashes.  So I'm sorry (kinda) if you're freezing, and you're cold and tired of the wind and grey clouds and rain...but it has been a huge blessing!  (We've also not had to run the AC, which has been nice on the checkbook, if you know what I mean.)

So yes.  I am just fabulous...and I'm serious.  There is no sarcasm in that statement; pure joy.

The ♥ of a Child

After family home evening last night, we read stories (so we can get our free weekly prize from the library for the summer reading program) and I fell asleep.  So did Ryan.  The boys played pretty well for a few minutes, although I'm wondering how long we were actually asleep...

As we were getting ready for bed shortly after our power-nap, we knelt as a family for family prayer.  We almost always end up saying two family prayers, since the boys love saying prayers and fight over who gets to say it...they haven't quite grasped the concept that after we have family prayers, we go and say individual prayers...I guess too many prayers never hurt anyone, right?!

When it came time for Tanner's turn, he asked for help.  You might know how the drill goes:

Tanner:  "Dear Heavenly Father, we thankful for this day."  Looks at me...
Me:  "We're thankful for ... "  and he copies everything I say, usually word-for-word.
Me:  "We ask thee to bless daddy to find a job that will provide for our family."
Tanner: "We ask thee to bless daddy to find a job that will provide for our family so mommy can stay home with us all day and play and be happy."
Me:  choking back torrents of tears, "We say these things..."
Tanner:  "In thenameofJesusChristAmen!"  (I don't know about your kids, but we strugle getting that last phrase out reverently, and enunciating all the different words...the boys say it so fast that it sounds like one giant mumble!)

Um, how did he know to add all of that about me being able to stay home?  You can't tell me that he doesn't know what's going on.  :) 

By the way, we're still looking for a Human Resource job...anywhere...and in all honesty, I am pretty sure we'd take anything, anywhere at this point.  So, if you know of any job openings, let Ryan or I know!!!  I am excited but scared as all get-up that my last day before maternity leave is June 25th...this ought to be interesting....

Ahhh...the {heart} of a child.  I love my little Tanner Boy.  He probably knows far too much for a four-year-old, but is so sweet and eager to learn. 

As Ryan and I were discussiong our monthly budget earlier in the day, we mentioned something about our Chase credit card, and Tanner pipped up, "Yeah!  Dad!  Like Cyberchase!!!"  Cyberchase is a show on pbskids.org that he loves to watch.  He apparently inherited my big ears, and was listening to every word...in his own context. 

Tanner - you bring such joy to our family.  We love you so much! 

Family & Friends

Ryan's side of the family held their annual EAPFR and we had a blast!  Seriously, that's what it's called.  It stands for "Earl A. (I always thought the A was for his grandma, Annetta, but it's not) Poulsen Family Reunion"...and it's only taken me six years of marriage to say the letters in the correct order!  Sweet Grandma Poulsen passed away last February, and it wasn't exactly the same without her there, but still nice to get to visit and laugh with relatives. 

We usually hold it at a park, but because of inclement weather, we held it at the church house next to his grandma's house.  I'll be honest...I complained loudly about going, but once there, it was so much fun.  Even for gigantic, pregnant, and critical me.

Here's a sampling of what kept the boys busy:  the craft tables on the stage were fab.u.lous!

Taylor beading...he loved it for about 10 minutes...then he started dropping beads by the handful...

Tanner was incredibly proud of his beaded necklace...he's still wearing it!  Both boys had beads with letter that spelled out their names. 

Each boy got to make pet rocks...I think they're still in the trunk of the car, as we already are growing a rock garden on both front and back porches.

And each of them also made fun foam visors...Tanner was in heaven!  This is only part-way through his visor decorating time...he had so much glitter glue when he finished, I think it's STILL trying to dry. 

We left after a delicious lunch (with too much of Grandma's fudge in my system) and right before the auction, where items are donated and then purchased with proceeds going towards the next year's reunion.

While Ryan stayed to go shooting with a bunch of cousins, I headed out of town for a little get-together with an old high school friend. She was coming out from Virginia for a wedding and reunion, and so we planned a bbq at my parent's house.  Unfortunately the other girls we invited had things come up at the last minute, and the weather was yucky, but we still had some fun.

Never in a million years would I want to go back and re-do my high school years.  I've spent the last 8 years blocking them from my memory.  However, I wish I would have been better friends with many people...and less self-concious about what they thought about me.  That wasted so much time and energy!

I also wish I would have gotten a picture of the two of us and all of our kiddos together, buy we were too busy playing.  Here's what I did get pictures of though...

We braved the mud and gloomy skies to go feed the chickens our swill from dinner...aka, all the watermelon rinds, hot-dog buns, and scraps...

From L to R:  Jacob, my cousin who is staying with my parents for a while, Parker, Taylor and Tanner.  We couldn't get Preston or Paisley to leave their mama's side.

Jacob and Tanner have become 'best friends' as Tanner tells me repeatedly, every day.  This teeter-totter is actually a toy my dad made for us growing up.  Instead of going up and down, you pump or pull with your arms and legs to make it go around, and around, and around, till you are so dizzy you want to puke.  We spent many hours on this as kids...  Tanner and Jacob loved it...I had to literally pry them off when it was time to go inside!  At one point I thought I was off the hook, as they were going so fast I thought they'd FLY off!

Sunday we went to church with my parents, where the boys were fairly decent...and Tanner once again spent his Primary time in Relief Society with me...little turkey.  I have to give it to him though, he was VERY reverent in R. S.  So...why does he struggle in Primary?!?!  

After church, my mom took Katelyn down to BYU Music Camp, Jacob back to his house, and Reed to visit his friend (I am not sure on the relationship status there!) Amy, so it was just me and my boys, my dad, and Deseret.  

Anybody remember this old thing???

Tanner played with Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen's Lite Brite last week, and I was pretty sure my mom kept mine from the 80's, so I used this as bribery for being good in church and eating dinner...

Guess what a little boy THOROUGHLY enjoyed doing after his nap?

I apparently enjoyed it too, because there was an entire package of the black paper refills.

Two is company, but three is a crowd, so I got Taylor playing with Deseret's cash register...

I'm not sure why, but both boys LOVE to play with coins.  Every time you insert a plastic coin in the register's coin slot, it would tell you what it was.  Taylor repeated it...and could probably tell you what all for coins were that he as using.  Little smarty pants of mine! 

We ate a quick bowl of cold cereal for dinner and headed back home, where daddy awaited us.

The only downer of the entire weekend (you know by now that there HAS to be a disaster when I go to my parent's house, right???) was that in my thurough packing of weekend stuff back into the trunk, I forgot my makeup bag...with deoderant, toothbrushes, all makeup, makeup-remover, straightening hair products, bobbypins, EVERYTHING in my toiletry bag...was left on my sister's bathroom counter.  Uggh!

__________

Monday morning I ran to WalMart and got some mascara and deodorant, and that will have to do until someone comes my way to bring my bag to me!!!  Super awesome that I get to teach sewing classes ALL WEEK, EVERY MORNING.  Oh well.  I'm hoping this will be a great time for my pregnancy induced acne to clear up...HOPING.

Carrom

...have you ever heard of it?

While looking for the huge bin of Logo's from his growing up years (Ryan was the Lego KING!), my husband found this awesome game his parents had...

His mom found the instruction booklet which had about 68 different games in it, and most the pieces...She bought it for $7.97 back in the day...(I have no idea what year, but wish I did!)

...Ahhhhh...easy Sunday afternoons at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Bonding...with MUD

Our ward had its annual Father & Sons outing, in which I shoved Ryan and Tanner out the door to Friday evening.  I think that Ryan was secretly excited...he had a cooler packed with food, the trunk with firewood, and his and Tanner's bags packed before my mom and I even returned to make their tinfoil dinner...of which they did without and ate hot dogs. 

With our AWESOME Idaho weather; rain, cold, and more rain, Ryan went expecting MUD.  And mud he got. 

Our little silver Plymouth Neon is now the BUSH MASTER. 

And while Taylor didn't get left out, because we got to spend some fun one-on-one time together, reading, playing and talking, he didn't go with Ryan and Tanner.  I thought that sending one child was enough of a handful.  However, Taylor didn't want to be left out from our "Father & Sons" picture. 

I love my sweet boys, husband included!