Cub Camp

My main impression of Cub Camp is that it is crazy hot there. 

But the boys survive and they even have a pretty good time.

In fact I'm kind of amazed at the effort that parents and leaders put into helping these guys have a great time and learn a few survival and leadership skills.

I really love that kid. He is a fantastic person.

Ethan attended as a youth staffer and helped at the horseback riding station. Poor, poor Ethan.

T-bones

We have attended the T-bones game for 3 years running.

That makes it a tradition. 

We love it for several reasons....

But mostly because we get in free and we get free treats.

Free is awesome.  

It is humid and sometimes almost unbearable warm, but we stick it out because we love free treats so very very much.  Especially Mat.

Not to mention I am inexplicably motivated by the opportunity to check an item off of our "Summer Bucket List."

Can you believe I maneged to get all 8 of us in this selfie?

Mathew turns 10

By now, I'm starting to realize that having a "friend party year" actually means "we're having two parties". 

I can make it! I can't give up now! Mathew must be given the same amount of love and attention as those that were so lucky as to be born earlier in the year when I had more energy/ideas/money/oh-so-many-things.

The universe was smiling on Mathew this year...not only did he get his Laser Tag Friend party:

Complete with Kit-Kat cake....

And many loud, sugared-up pre-teens.

Mathew doesn't want to decorate his own cake...he wants to light his own cake. It's like one of the gifts.

He also got to go to the T-bones game on his birthday and throw out the first pitch.

It was pretty unforgettable.

By the time we finally made it to the Birthday dinner (spaghetti, of course!)...

I didn't think I could face anymore cake...so we went with....

I could tell he was pretty bummed about it.

And the kid finally got a bb gun.

Not to shabby for 10 years old.

It's been a pretty stellar decade, Maffers. Can't wait to see what the next one brings. I love you MUCHO GRANDE!

Summer adventures of 2013....part 1

Ahh....summer.

It's enough that we don't have to worry about homework. But then there are all the fun things that we do with all of that time off from the scheduling of life.

Basking in the sun...

S mores with the neighbors...

Many, many, many trips to the pool...

The library summer reading program kickoff...

Making our own butter...

Making our own suckers from Jolly Ranchers.

Seriously....the EASIEST activity/treat ever.

A trip to the cupcake shop. We vowed never to come again....because it is nasty and not worth the price.

These cupcakes are lying.

Father's Day 2013

Father's day is fun.

Mark always picks a great meal....the classic roast with mashed potatoes, rolls, carrots and onions, gravy, fresh strawberries (sprinkled with sugar, per tradition), buttery corn...

Chocolate Lover's Favorite Cake. 

And of course, the opening of the gifts. 

Which Mark always manages to make more exciting that the actual gifts might warrant.

For example....

He reads the packing slip.

And then he wears the packing slip...

They like it!

Well, he's just getting warmed up!

What?! There's a sticker on my head?

Where?

Here?

Over there?

This is funny stuff!

Happy Father's Day, Mark!

Thank you for feeding us all...

Sorry we didn't keep a closer eye on your cake :(