100

Alexander came home with his first officially graded this paper over the weekend.

As I expressed my pleasure and pride in his grade, my now nine year old quipped, "Better get used to that feeling."

That's a deal, Alex.

Nine

 I probably won't have a chance to blog about Alex's birthday party for a bit. Between more birthday celebrating today, a Scout event tomorrow night, and then leaving bright and early Wednesday morning for my TDCAA conference in South Padre, its craaaazy time.

So here's a preview of coming attractions...

 Happy 9th birthday, Alex.

Into Every Birthday a Little Rain Must Fall

The weather let us down today, so our big NERF Wars party for Alexander moved indoors.

Still, a good time was had by all, and my house will mostly survive.

Hard to believe I'll be the mother of a nine year old tomorrow!

Den 10

Ryan had his first official Den 10 meeting this week. We've only got six boys in the den so far, but that may change after the round-up next Tuesday. This boy could not have been more excited to put on his OWN Scout uniform, and have his OWN Scout meeting.

This was HIS den, not Big Brother's den.

My pictures didn't come out so well, but I just love the excitement and unadulterated joy you can see on Ryan's face throughout these pictures.

Such a happy boy!

My favorite moment of the night was when Jules (she is co-leading the den with Carl, since they both have 3rd grade dens they also lead for our older boys) asked if anyone knows why the Scouts make what looks like bunny ears, but is really wolf ears (see below). We've known for a few years that its the symbol to be quiet, but this past summer when we were at the Scout Museum in Dallas, this wonderful docent told us a wonderfully detailed story that explained why you make wolf ears - because wolfs can't see very well, but they have excellent listening, so they use their Wolf Ears to be quiet, and listen to their victims or enemies, and then they can sneak up or away from them. Ryan was enthralled with this story, and listened attentively to every word the elder docent shared with us. We haven't discussed it since then, but he remembered every word, and shared it with the group. (Although he didn't use the word 'docent', he just called him 'a grandfather who used to be a Scout but isn't anymore.') Still, my heart grew a few inches with pride as I listened to him recount this tale.

Too much?

In getting my house ready to host a gaggle of third grade boys ready to nerf battle this weekend, I decided it was time to take down my Olympics shrine. *sniff*

But I'm not quite ready to put my Keep Calm signs away.

So with the help of my beloved Keep Calm-o-matic, I'm feeling better about Alex's birthday party.

But will the birthday boy agree?

Where are you, Fall?

I thought you said we were getting a cold front, Mom.

Good thing I've got two hands for water and a Gatorade.

Summer Camps Wrap-Up

Carl suggested I find a way to blog about all the camps we tried out this summer, and not just the more interesting ones.I've already discussed Cub Scout Camp, Art Camp, Soccer Camp, the RRISD Camps, LEGO Camp, and Star Wars Camp.

The most interesting one I haven't blogged about was Magic Camp. We went to a half-day, one week magic camp put on by Round Rock's Parks and Rec, so it wasn't as in-depth as the other big magic camp around Austin. But I think the boys still learned enough fun tricks to make them happy, and hopefully I won't hear pleas to go to magic camp every year in the future. The week of camp ended with a Magic Show put on by the kids.

This was about as much fun to watch as you think it was. And with 25 kids, the show went on for what seemed like forever, but was really only 78 minutes. Of the 35, Ryan was child 22 and Alex was child 24.

I did not particularly appreciate this magic trick that starts out with a rope around your neck.

I don't think anyone should be pretending to pull tight on ropes around (or not around, as it really is) kids necks, and my evaluation form to the City of Round Rock was rather vitriolic about this fact. I've calmed down a bit since I wrote it, but I still think this was an idiotic trick to show kids.

They came home with a big box of magic tricks, so there is hours upon hours of enjoyment waiting for me to 'pick a card, any card, doesn't matter which card you pick, Mommy, as long as you pick a card, any card, doesn't matter which card you pick, Mommy, as long as you pick a card, any card, doesn't matter which card you pick, Mommy, as long as you pick a card, any card..."

Adding to our joy of the Magic Camp Show was the fact that out of a dozen different tricks they could have done, Alex and Ryan picked the exact same two tricks to do.

So we had two chances to watch the boys pick a card, any card, doesn't matter which card you pick as long as you pick a card, any card...

The boys spent a week at Vacation Bible School at our church. They loved it, did some fun projects, learned all kinds of songs, and learned at least a bit about God. Sometimes the messages of how their art was tied in to their lessons was lost on my kids. But it was fun, and they had a great time.

We were also treated to an evening concert during the week. Shockingly, both Alex and Ryan not only sang but DANCED up on the stage. Color me speechless.

Alex spent a week back at Camp Doublecreek (aka BB Gun Camp). Ryan didn't want to go this year without a friend, so he went to our YMCA again. Alex loved Doublecreek, and he is all excited about returning next year because he'll get a Four Year Pin. You gotta give Doublecreek props - they know how to ensure the campers want to return. Alex wants to go so long he can be a CIT - Counselor in Training - I just wondered if I had to pay for that, or if he gets paid, or if its pro bono - somehow I suspect I still pay $300 a week for him to work.

This year, Alex came home with a "GaGa for GaGa Ball" ribbon. Not as cool as the BB gun champ ribbon from last year, but the boys love gaga - they play it every. single. day. at recess at school, and its a Big Deal for Alex. So good for him.

And then there were the YMCAs. Ryan had three weeks (Alex two) at the YMCA run out of our school. They would go swimming at the Northwest Austin YMCA twice a week, and on a field trip somewhere else one other day. They had several friends here most of the time, which made this a fun place to be. But I didn't really feel like they were doing anything too exciting - it felt more like, well, like it was just their afterschool program (which it is). I'm glad we didn't do this more than we did. My malaise about the Y camp probably shows in that I have no pictures whatsoever to show for it.

Finally, the last week of summer vacation, we tried out the Camp Twin Lakes YMCA. Its run by the Williamson County Y, as opposed to Austin's Y, and its a lot further away for us, and in the completely wrong direction for traffic purposes. But I've been intrigued enough to try it out, and basically it was one of only two camps I could find with open spots for us that week. Most camps either didn't realize we had an extra week of summer vacation, or didn't care.  I finally gave up on moving beyond spots 34 and 35 on the Austin's Y wait list, and decided now was the time to try the Williamson County Y.

The facility is stunningly gorgeous. Everything you could want in a camp. But it was kind of odd how they just have you drive through their "express lane" to pick up and drop off the kids. The folks we would drop off and pick up from never seemed to know anything about my child, or how his day went. I received absolutely no feedback from any person in authority, and that was very troublesome for me. I'm also a bit irked that Ryan only went to the canteen store once during his week, after I had been assured he would go 2-3 times, and deposited $10 in his account so that he could buy some snacks and a lot of useless cr*p. They don't refund your money, either, so on Friday, I voiced my concerns to the powers that be, and he came home with items certain to be used a lot, like a coozie ("so I can warm up my cold sodas," said Ryan. Like he drinks sodas from a can - ever - or that this is the correct coozie purpose. I digress.)

All this being said, Alex enjoyed this Y. His friend Brittan was there, and that helped a lot. Ryan had no friends, and he came home exhausted every day. He did not enjoy the Y. Since I equate this place as being a lot like Doublecreek, I think I can say that Ryan is probably not an outside-all-day kind of camper. Or else there was something else going on, but who knows, since I never did once get to speak to one of their counselors. I also never got out of the car at the Y, so the only pictures from the week are these, of my children walking away form my car, snapped quickly while the car door opening guys gave me dirty looks for holding up their express line. I'm a fairly relaxed parent, but if I'm troubled by the lack of parental-counselor contact, I can't imagine how the helicopter parents out there could cope.

So there you have it.

Our summer camp wrap-up. Some camps they loved, some they didn't. Some camps they loved, and I didn't. And some camps we all loved.

Weekend Update

Saturday was one one of those 'we're crazy to think we can do all of this' kind of days.

Our soccer season hasn't started yet, but Coach Carl is so freaked out about Alex's team moving to goalies and throw-ins (rather than kick-ins) that we had a scrimmage against an older team. A quick costume change later, and we headed to a birthday party for one of Ryan's friends, Derek.

They swam, jumped, and generally played around like only first grade boys can do. Ryan especially loved these inflatable "punchers" (his word) and he opted to use them rather than a bat for the piata. (Ryan has always called a pinata a "piata." Its one of my favorite words, and so far, he hasn't corrected himself yet. I'll be very sad the day a piata becomes a pinata.)

Then we were off to Anderson's Mill for a Scout meeting for Alex's den, costume changes for the boys in the car. The historian in me was pretty excited about this event.

But once we got there, it was a bit of a let down to find out that a) the mill there is just a replica of the mill that once stood, b) they are repairing the replica, and c) no photos were allowed inside the "mill" or the museum. (Which I found out after I snapped the one below, so you can at least see the model  of the original  mill.)

After this event, we headed home for another quick costume change, as we were heading to our first ever UT football game with four other families.

Neither Carl nor I care much for football. But we put on our orange (ish*) and headed out to see if perhaps seeing the sport played live would change things.  (*ish because Alex couldn't find either of his two UT shirts during our few minutes back at the house, and since white isn't a color he really owns, I figured black was the next best option)

Did our twenty minute hike through downtown (each way), our tailgating experience, and the enthusiasm of 100,000 fans change our opinions of football?

No. Even Alex, who was shown some interest in football and possibly wanting to  play it, was bored and kept asking us if it was time to go home.

Give me a soccer game or a basketball game any day of the year over football. Too many long pauses, not enough action, and even if there is some exciting action, its all over in ten seconds for another five minute pause. Photo below taken when there was actual running going on.

This was about as excited as Alex got for the game. His very own fan.

On a plus, we were treated to a beautiful sunset.

 I just wish I'd had the big camera for pictures, rather than just my iPhone.

I suppose the fact that the score was 45-0 (Texas winning) didn't help much.

At least the boys had a chance to hang out with their friends.

But when not even snow cones can bring a smile to your face, its pretty much time to leave.

The 18 mile hike back to our car left every one rather grumpy, so I think I can safely say that this was our first and last UT football game.

And then there was Sunday.

Alex's birthday is next weekend, so we spent the day getting things ready for his party.

Any guess as to the theme he picked?

Legofest 2012

Before we took off for Houston last weekend, we spent Friday afternoon and evening at this year's Legofest.

Team Danger was in absolute awe.

Jango Fett, Boba Fett and Captain Rex (Ryan), all in one place!

Their glee could not be contained.

They even had giant sized models of their latest obsession, Lord of the Rings.

Or as Ryan calls Gandalf, "the guy from your ornament," since all he has ever known before this summer was the Gandalf ornament we hang up every Christmas on the tree. I wasn't kidding when I called him Ryan Radko - the boy knows his Christmas decorations.

Some of my favorites: the ENORMOUS Hogwarts castle, that puts the one in Alex's room to shame...

Captain Jack Sparrow...

And the LEGO vacuum. Clever advertising, and I particularly cracked up at the game they had kids play over who can vacuum the most LEGOs. We didn't win the vacuum, sadly.

But by far, the biggest draw of the fest was the enormous, huge pile of LEGO bricks in the middle of the convention center.

Mind you, they can build these creations any time at home, so I had a hard time understanding their attraction to the giant petri dish of germs.

But there was something about the pile...

Ninjago spinning was a bit of a letdown.

The boys wanted an actual tournament.

Spinning against brother can just be done anytime at home (now, this they understood).

They weren't so sure what to think of the Master Build Academy, either.

 I sort of forced them to attend it, so they could learn from a master. Ryan's current profession of choice is to be a LEGO builder,so I thought this would be a win-win.

Once the "teaching" was over, they enjoyed getting down to more building.

They were all tasked with designing and building a spaceship. Ryan was very proud of his, but was a tad, ahem, concerned he didn't get to take it home with him.

Alex loved 'Creation Nation,' and he designed this tower.

It was placed in Connecticut, Carl's home state.

Texas was already getting a bit full, so New England seemed like a good second choice.

Ryan really loved the blue monochrome build.

What can I say, blue is his color.

Finally, it was time to go.

We went back to visit with some of the giant Ninjagos.

Every one of them. And this is when all h*ll broke loose, and some demon decided to inhabit my youngest son's body. Leave Legofest?? I don't think so, Mom.

More than a few tears were shed. I should note it was past 8:00 p.m., Ryan's normal bedtime, and we hadn't eaten dinner. Bad parental decisions to stay so long to begin with, I know, so I have to accept a good chunk of blame for Demon Ryan.

Not that this phased Alex.

But Ryan was having nothing to do with leaving Legofest peacefully, so crying, screaming, and dragging ensued.

And a few more last shots of my absolute favorite LEGOs, since I'll try to leave this post on a good note and reflect back on the better times to be had at Legofest. Hermione:

 

And the Boy Wizard himself.