Blue and Gold



 

Tonight March 28th was the Blue and Gold dinner.  It started off with pork bbq sandwiches, salads, and chips.  After that, they handed out the awards the cubs have earned the past month.



 

Talmage getting his awards


Talmage getting ready to perform his talent

After the awards, the boys performed or talked about one of their talents.  Talmage really wanted to do a magic trick.  We thought since he hasn't really been practicing too much to perfect a trick he should do something else.  He decided to whistle using an acorn top.  He learned this a little while back and it didn't take him long to perfect it.  He can do it really loud if he wants too.  If I'm lucky, I can make a little sound.  Of course it was a big hit and everyone loved it. 
It was a fun night and the best part was I didn't have to make dinner.

Pinewood Derby

On February 22, Talmage participated in his first Cub Scout pinewood derby.  He had a great time designing his car and then Jon cut it out.  Talmage picked out the colors and dad spray painted it.  He placed a Lego guy to be the driver of his car. 

 

Talmage showing off his car

front view of the car

Lorin and Talmage showing off their cars

side and top view of the car

Talmage and Lorin's first race

Talmage and Lorin racing each other

So Talmage and Lorin's first race was between each other.  Talmage won.  Talmage won all of his races and Lorin won all his except for his first one against Talmage.  Then they had Talmage and Lorin race one last time and this time Lorin won.  Then they raced again and Lorin won again.  So Lorin took 1st place, Talmage took 2nd, and Calvin took 3rd.  All these boys were Wolves and this was all of their first time and it was Calvin's first Cub Scout activity since he just turned 8 3 days before.  Talmage was very happy for his cousin Lorin and told him if I had to loose I am glad it was to you.  Of course, Jon and I gave Talmage the whole speech of just have fun and it doesn't matter if you loose just have a great time.  I as a mom was just hoping he would at least win one race.

The winners Talmage, Lorin, and Calvin

After the race, the Tady's, Bugees, and us went to Dairy Queen to celebrate.  O.K. we really went there because whatever den was in charge of bringing the refreshments for some reason didn't bring them or tell their den scouts to bring them.  It was a fun night.

Two very happy winners Talmage and Lorin at Dairy Queen
 

We have a Bobcat in the house

Talmage got his Bobcat merit badge on January 25th 2012.  When a boy get his bobcat badge, he is flipped upside down while the mom pins the badge on rightside up and when he is turned around his badge is upside down in order to flip it right side up he has to perform an act of service.  I can't remember why Jon wasn't there to flip him upside down, maybe he stayed home with the younger kids.  Talmage loves scouts and is sad on the 2nd Tuesday of the month because there is no scouts that week.

 

 



Talmage about to get flipped upside down

Gretta and Talmage

The Newest Cub Scout

On November 2nd, Talmage got to go to Cub Scouts for the first time.  He has been waiting for this day since May when the first boy in his Primary class turned 8 and got to attend Scouts.  Talmage is the youngest one in his class so he was the last one to get baptized and join Scouts.  They meet 3 times a month the first and third Wednesday's are with his den and the fourth Wednesday is with the whole pack.  I love Cub Scouts.  The boys are young, excited, and enjoy it so much more compared to Boy Scouts.  Probably, because it is much easier to pass off things.  Well, it has been a nice 4 years off (since Brenton was last a Cub Scout), but it is also nice to be back into it. 

Talmage's 1st day of Scouts

Talmage 1st day of Cub Scouts

Happy Birthday Talmage

Today, October 21 was Talmage's 6th birthday. He has wanted to go to Monkey Joe's (an indoor inflatable jumping place) ever since his last birthday. He wanted to go to Chuck E Cheeses last year and Monkey Joe's this year. This of course took the place of a restaurant. He wanted his cousin Lorin to come too. So right when school got out we picked up Lorin and headed over to Monkey Joe's because it closes as 6 pm and it is quite pricey so I wanted to get my moneys worth. Brenton and Connor didn't end up coming because Brenton gets home at 3:50 pm and Connor close to 4:40 pm. We had chicken nuggets and french fries at home for dinner.

Payton

Hayden

Payton and Hayden

Talmage was much to fast for me to get a good picture of him at Monkey Joe's.

Talmage with his presents

Then on Friday, we had the relatives over for presents and cake and ice cream.

Gabbie, Lorin, and Talmage

Talmage with his airport runway cake

Talmage's cake

Jon and I had a fun time with this cake. Talmage wanted us to surprise him with his cake this year. I came up with the idea and Jon added lights and the plane taking off and the star wars runway guy.

Happy Birthday Tally! I hope you had a special fun day Love you lots!!

Pre K Feast

Jon, Hayden, and I went to Talmage's family feast at his school the Friday before Thanksgiving. They first started off by doing a little play. We were there early enough to get a front row seat.

Talmage the Puritan Minister

Talmage was the Puritan Minister. Since when did they start calling Pilgrims Puritans or is it just a southern thing. He did such a great job. All the other kids were in groups of 3 so when their part came they all said their part together. Talmage was the only one with a solo part. I knew he could do it thanks to Primary talks/scripture and prayers/programs. When they were done with their little play, they sang 3 songs.

Then we headed off to their little cafeteria and ate our Thanksgiving feast. Each parent signed up to bring some of the food. I made 12 lbs of mashed potatoes. It was a yummy feast.

I haven't yet figured out how to add video to my blog. I thought I knew but it took forever to download and then it said I had an error. I will have Jon figure it out and will hopefully post Talmages play on another post since it is too cute. I don't want to wait right now since I have 4 other posts written waiting for this one to be published.

Happy Birthday Talmage

Talmage turned 5 years old on October 21. It is tradition that when it is someones birthday they get to pick a restaurant to go to. Talmage picked Chuck E Cheese. We had to go a day before his real birthday because Jon had Scout pack meeting, Brenton had scouts, and Payton had activity day girls on Tuesday. We did make him wait until the next day to open his presents.

Hayden

Talmage

Hayden

Connor

He opened his presents the next day when all the kids were home from school.

Talmage

On Sunday, we invited the Grandparents, Aunt's, Uncle's, and Cousins over for some cake and ice cream. When I asked Talmage what kind of cake he wanted, he said he wanted sugar cookies. So I made 2 sugar cookie cakes. He wanted Indiana Jones cake so Jon printed out 2 pictures.

My mom took him to build a bear for his birthday and let him pick out an animal and some clothes for it. He picked out the dog.

Goodbye Child Time

A month after school started I found out that Talmage's school was shutting down for good. He is in the state lottery funded pre-k program. Which is free or so they say. If you don't go to an elementary school that offers pre-k (the one elementary school by our house that offered it no longer does because they needed the 2 extra class rooms for other grades) the daycare centers charge $20.00 a week (some even charge more) for food (breakfast, lunch, and snack) which you have to eat there food unless you have a Dr.s note because you have allergies. Talmage went to the same pre-k that Kennedy went to. It was at a day care center less than 5 minutes from my house. I was so sad when I got the news. That day care center has been there as long as my parents have been here (15 years). They are renting the building and the owners wanted then to sign a 10 year contract which they weren't willing to do. Not sure why since they have been there for at least 15 maybe during that 10 years they can raise the rent to whatever they want and with the economy the way it is that can be scary.
So now the race and stress was on I had to search for a new school (which these free pre-k classes are very popular and to find one a month after they all started yikes!!) and find a spot fast because all the other 20 kids had to find a new school as well. One day care started another class but I didn't really want to go to that one because it was a little further than I wanted to travel and a few people that I have talked to didn't really care for the staff there. So I started calling ones around my house. When I got one that said they just opened up a space because the kid wasn't showing up for class I jumped in the car and headed over there and got all the paper work to fill out. Once I found out there class started at 7:30 am (no way I could get the other kids on the bus and drive him there and Brenton bus comes 12 minutes after that) I got on the phone and started my search again. I finally found another that was about 8 minutes from my house that just got an opening same deal as the other school kid not showing up (this time I asked what time there school started so I would make that same mistake). So once I dropped Talmage off to school on Friday, I went over to the other school and signed him up. Talmages school wasn't set to close for another 2 weeks but he had to start at his new school that next Monday. So Thursday and Friday I was so sad about the whole situation. All the great staff having to either transfer to the other daycare center quite a ways away or having to find a new job all together. All the parents finding another place for their babies, toddlers, preschoolers. Talmage had such great teachers which made it harder for me. When Kennedy was at that school, it seemed like every month there was a new main teacher or teaching assistant in there class room, but they finally got some great teachers and then this.

Talmage has been at his new school for a month now (yes I am still a month behind) and he loves it and I do too. Luckily, Talmage is one who doesn't mind change (unlike some of my other kids) he was happy to be going to a new school and didn't seem to mind. He makes friends very easily and isn't shy he will talk and talk and talk your ear off to anyone.

SporTykes

Talmage had his last day of SporTykes on May 21. Of course, they had to make it during the last week of school so I had to miss Kennedy's and Payton's field days. At least I was able to make it to their class parties the next day. Anyway, Talmage has been taking this sports class for 2 years now. He started out when he was 2 (almost 3). Sportykes is a 9 week class that meets once a week for 45 minutes. The class does 3 weeks of basketball, 3 weeks of t-ball/baseball, and 3 weeks of soccer. He was able to take this class with his cousin Lorin. He had the same teacher, couch Laura for all 2 years. Couch Laura is so amazing with these kids. She really loves her job and spending time with them. On the last day of the 9 weeks the parents get to go in and watch them. They start the class by warming up and then they go into their game. At the end of class they all sit in a circle and she gives them a sticker (either a basketball, baseball, or soccerball), then they get a stamp (of a person playing whatever sport they are doing that week), and then they get a sucker. On the last class they get to choose whatever stamp they want and the kids usually want them all so both arms are covered with these stamps. Here are a few pictures of the last class.

Lorin, Coach Laura, and Talmage

Talmage, and Hayden being goalies, and Coach Laura

Talmage playing soccer

Talmage giving me a thumbs up

all the kids stamp and sticker time