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Monday, September 28, 2009

It's official....

....Gaige and Nathan are now Cub Scouts.

We missed the first two meetings, so the night they joined we got a lot of Scout stuff thrust upon us. Every year the Boy Scouts of America sells Trail's End popcorn. It is the only fund-raising event for Scouts, much like Girl Scouts sell cookies. When our boys were in Scouts umpteen years ago, and David was a Scout Leader and I was a Den Mother, the popcorn sales were pretty simple. There was one choice, the kind you put in a pan with oil and popped on the old range. It was really good popcorn...think Orville Redenbacher good. Now, of course, there is microwave popcorn and gift tins filled with popcorn goodies. One really nice feature in the sales, for people who don't care for popcorn but who still want to make a contribution and also help our men and women in the armed services, is the Military Donation program that sends gift tins to our troops.

The other thing that was an immediate rush-to-get-done item was the fall campout happening on Saturday! Four days hence! We decided that the boys would just go for the afternoon and evening, but not spend the night. They were fine with that plan. I think they were a little apprehensive about staying in a tent away from home. And that was really fine with Poppy, because he wasn't relishing spending the night in a tent either.

It had rained the night before and Saturday morning, too, so we weren't sure they were even going, even though there was a "no cancellation, if rain" policy in effect. Luckily, just about the time to leave for the camp, the sun came out and it turned out to be a lovely afternoon.


The guys need to work on their salutes/signs...I'm not sure which one they were going for here, but both of them need work. Gaige seems to have the Scout sign confused with the "peace" sign. Two fingers together, Gaige, and not quite so high in the sky. And, Nathan, the salute is at the right front of your cap brim. Nathan is a Tiger Cub and Gaige is a Wolf Cub.



 
Nathan and another Tiger Cub checking out a daddy long-legs.
















Fishing was the highlight of the day. Poppy said they learned to cast fairly well for first-timers.














Nathan even caught a good-sized bluegill, but Poppy insisted on throwing it back. Nathan was not. too. threw a screaming, crying fit happy. about this turn of events, and that is the reason he is not in the picture.












Gaige got to help cut up peppers for the chili cooking in the Dutch oven.
Nathan cut up apples for a tinfoil dessert that was cooked on the fire.


Sung at the end of Scout meetings.....Taps

"Day is done.
Gone the sun
From the lake,
From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well,
Safely rest.
God is nigh."



37 comments:

Ruth said...

I'm smiling ear to ear, except when I'm laughing. These photos are so sweeeeeet. Boys are just so cute, aren't they? I especially love the one of them looking at the spider.

This post makes me wish I'd been a boyscout. It's so cool that Poppy is helping out and has extra time to spend with Nathan and Gaige.

NKP said...

The boys look so smart in their uniforms!

Elle Bee said...

I love the salute photo! That gave me a good laugh. What sweet boys.
Elle

Char said...

I remember singing taps from summer camp and hummed it in my head as I re-read the words.

looks like a good weekend (except for the toss back)

good luck with the sales

Susan said...

Ruthie, you just can't believe how excited they are about being Scouts! They've already learned about half of the Scout promise and all of the motto, which is only 3 words, "Do your best".

It's always fun seeing things anew through your grandchildren's eyes. It's keeping us young. I'm glad it made you smile. :)

Susan said...

Natashya thank you! They will look even better when I get all the patches sewn on! I didn't have time on Saturday to do it. That's a lot of hand sewing!

Susan said...

Elle, thank you! They are really sweet boys, you know, when they're not being ornery boys! :) Their Poppy said (and this is totally unbiased, of course) that they were the best-behaved ones there.

Susan said...

Char, that's one song you never forget after singing it a hundred times!

Thanks! Not looking forward to the selling part!

Tattered and Lost said...

I remember sitting at an RV campground in San Diego looking out on the bay when a cub scout came by with his dad hawking popcorn. How could I resist? I now keep postcards in the tin and the popcorn I believe is still settled somewhere around my mid-section.

Susan said...

Tattered, you mean the act of chewing popcorn doesn't negate the calories involved? Why those lying.......

CottageGirl said...

Oh, Susan! This post brings back such great memories! I can almost smell that wonderful smell of the fire burning and feel the anticipation of catching that first fish!

What a great age for those boys! So sweet and loving! Preadolescence is still far enough away that you still have some control!

Trails End Popcorn is my most favorite popcorn ever! Only the old-fashioned kind for me! Yum!

Congratulations on two handsome Cubs!

Sandy Nawrot said...

Awww...my son was in the scouts for a couple of years, until the sports got the best of him. His favorite part of the whole thing was camping (which, due to my husband's strange, coincidental "illnesses") was my deal. It was all fun and games until the ticks came out! He also had fun making the racecar with my dad. Good times!

The Bumbles said...

Our nephew just started Tiger Cubs. Already hit me up for some popcorn - but when I found out I could buy choc. covered pretzals instead I was sold.

ds said...

Oh, they're adorable in those uniforms! My brother was so proud when he got to be a cub scout. His favorite activities, as I recall, were the Pinebox Derby and the soup they made while camping--every boy contributed one can. And they ate it!
Poppy is a very good sport (though I suspect he was having fun, too!).

Susan said...

CG, hey maybe you will get a chance to do scouting again with your grandkids! There's no better smell than an open fire...it's the best thing about camping, IMO.

I hope we can keep them going until they get their Eagle Scout rank, but it will probably be up to Grammy and Poppy to stoke that fire, but that's a whole 'nother subject.

I don't think they even sell the regular popcorn anymore. It's all microwave and gift tins. I haven't had a chance to look at the info yet. But, regardless, you know we'll be buying a bunch of it!

Susan said...

Oh yes, Sandy, I know those strange illnesses brought on by the idea of tent camping with a bunch of 6, 7 and 8-year-olds. We had tons of those incidents when we were involved in Scouting before!

Susan said...

Mmmmmm, chocolate covered pretzels sounds really good right now, Molly. I think I know where I can get some! That's great that your nephew is a Tiger Cub! Maybe you'll get to see him in action at the Pinewood Derby!

Susan said...

Thanks, ds, they do look pretty cute, don't they?! They are so proud of those uniforms. I can remember our boys, with their dad's help, working and working on those Pinewood Derby cars, getting them just right for the race. They got so excited!

Oh, I didn't know about the soup thing! I don't recall doing that. I'm not sure I could handle that many different soups all mixed together. It would be interesting, for sure!

California Girl said...

Are they cute or what?

Trail's End Popcorn...bought more of that than I care to remember; Girl Scout cookies too.

Susan said...

Now come on, Cali Girl! You know popcorn is a healthy treat! Find a Scout and do your civic duty! :)

Memories Of Mine said...

I love their salutes, the are unique and original and fun.
I had to laugh at the part of the story where you said Nathan wasn't in the photo as he was not impressed with throwing his fish back. It reminded me of something my own son would do.

Susan said...

Hi Liss! Yeah, my hubby said it was quite the scene and he ended up in timeout. He does take things very dramatically sometimes. Heck, sometimes I feel like doing the very same thing, just not over a fish! :)

Cindy said...

oh, and they do look very official! I wouldn't have known those salutes were not some authentic scout code. Right now boys look a bit easier than my girl. Lots of analyzing and even more social drama going on around here these days.

Susan said...

Oh, Cindy, I do feel for you....all that pre-teen angst and hormonal voo-doo going on! That's not fun! It'll keep you awake nights, that's for sure!

missysue said...

Oh, this brings back the memories for me! I was a girl scout and remember camping trips, crafts and cookies! Boy Scouts doesn't look much different!

love + luck + bliss,
missysue xox

Susan said...

Hi Missy, thanks for visiting! Oh, I did Girl Scouts for a couple of years with my daughter, too. It was worth it for the many boxes of Thin Mints!

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

Lucky for your husband he didn't have to stay the night! I'm sure he wouldn't get a good night's sleep there.

Susan said...

Karen, you are so right! He has a hard time getting a good night's sleep in our comfy bed, so probably not so much in a tent on an air mattress! He's willing to give it a go though!

Thanks for visiting!

judy in ky said...

Your boys are adorable. It looks like they are having so much fun. My husband and I have our tin of Trails End popcorn. I should say we HAD our tin of popcorn... we finished it all in two nights of T.V. watching. I am keeping the tin for craft supplies.

JackeeG4glamorous said...

The popcorn tin of delights is too rich for me!
Cub Scout/Boy Scouts is such a wonderful past time for boys. My son was one, although not for very long. I don't know if he or I enjoyed it more!

Susan said...

Judy, they had a blast and can't wait to do it again! I think the next campout is going to be at the zoo, inside somewhere, so that will be a fun one, too. They spent the night with us last night along with sister Kaitlyn and we had popcorn and a movie. Takes me back to when their mommy was little.

Susan said...

Jackee, Scouting really is a wonderful organization for boys who need focus in their lives. Our grandkids are pretty well-balanced, but it will be a great experience for them learning to do things they might not do at home.

GailO said...

How cute those grandsons are! Love the salutes...especially the peace sign salute:) Poppy must have been having a blast...having lived in a household of girls I never had the cubscout experience...I loved Girl Scouts when I was young and spent many years with them but my girls just weren't that into it...I blame myself for not spending enough time with the troup myself... Now that I have a grandson hopefully I will have cubscouts in the future!....I'll buy LOTS of popcorn:)

Anil P said...

How excited they must be to put on the uniforms and learn things new. Happy pictures, and serene surroundinngs.

Susan said...

Thanks, Oliag! Their Poppy really did enjoy taking them and kind of regretted that they didn't get to spend the night. He'll have more time to prepare next time.

I didn't do much with Girl Scouts either when my daughter joined. She probably would have stuck with it a little longer, if I had.

I'm sure we'll be buying LOTS of popcorn, too!

Susan said...

Thanks for visiting, Anil! They are beyond excited! My husband dug out some old rods and reels, cleaned and repaired them, and the boys were practicing their casting skills on Saturday when they were here for a visit. They're actually getting pretty good at it.

Tipper said...

Looks like 2 sweet happy boys!