New Bobcat in the house

The pack did a very cool Bobcat ceremony for all the boys who earned the Bobcat rank. The first rank in Cub Scouts is the Bobcat, all new scouts have to earn it to proceed in their current rank. Nicholas is in first grade so he is working towards his Tiger rank and Henry is working towards Bear. 

Stage setting: Curtain opens up, native american music/spirit/wind blowing/flute type music is playing, a tee-pee with a faux-campfire and the Cubmaster dressed in traditional NA dress. 

 The Cubmaster gives the background on the Bobcat and why it is important. Calls the new Bobcats forwards, she proceeds to tell us/them what the colours signify and the den leaders paint the scouts faces. Then the boys are presented to their parents. 

Happy Halloween

New belts

The boys earned Yellow belt last week, the testing was an hour long with lots of questions and showing of technique. They had to know 4 'moves' all said in Japanese and do them without help/reminders.



Nicholas showing a self defense move - breakaway with a gr0in kick.

Henry fending off a punch and throwing a solar plexus punch.

Rollersplat

The school PTA had a rollerskating party last week, so the boys wanted to go and skate. They were hysterical to watch - up, down, grabbing the wall, holding on to each other and laughing.

First Day

Boys were somewhat excited to get back into school. They could not stand still for a picture, all kicks, jumps, spins & jiggles.

The crazies are ready to head to school with an attitude that needs fixin'.

We got a stripe

The boys earned a stripe in class last night. They were excited to see that they are advancing in Isshinryu. They might be eligible to test for yellow at the end of September.

Pink is in

Henry had to fight off a girl to wear the pink mitts. Soooo when we have to get him a full sparring gear do we go with his fave colour (pink) or blue/red/black/white.. ughh

Karate ka

I signed the boys up for karate a few weeks ago finally after all their begging (boys & joe). They are having lots of fun and will actually 'practice' karate outside the dojo...that's joe job.

Henry charging the makiwara at the end of the obstacle course. He thinks he needs to finish off with a flourish.
Nico showing his Mae Geri (front kick).
The boys working punches.
The dreaded kicking exercise, multiple kicks over and over to strengthen & practice moves.

Schools out for Summer...well 10 days

School let out at 11.30am today and the kids did not want to leave school until they said good-bye to every teacher they had over their young school life.

Henry earned Most Improved Panther award, Citizenship ribbon (no Ns on report card), a free Chili's meal, a Wendy's meal ticket & a Good reader award. The award that is the most special to him is the Proud Panther pin that is a paw print made of glass by his teacher Mrs. B.

Nicholas earned the Citizenship ribbon & a wendy's meal. Both boys missed school a few days over the school year so neither of them earned the "Perfect Attendance" award...whoopdeedoo.

The big flower was made by the 5th graders, they handed them out to the kinder classes.

Bear cub

Henry moved up to bear from wolf cub last night. He is excited for the bear activities to start, especially the knife whittling and fire building achievements.

He also decorated a cake for the pack meeting.

5K walk

Weight Watchers had a 5k walk this morning at trail that Chaya & I walk every other day. There were lots of WW participants and a few from our Thursday meeting. We had our picture with Marie, our leader. The walk started at 8am and it was over by 9am, a short & fun walk.

More about the trip

Hitting the links in St. Augustine, lots of golf balls lost in the ponds.





Henry watching the African Stork wait for its meal next to the "dead zebra".
The Swamp filled with varieties of alligators, crocodiles & asst birds.

Alligator looking for some lovin', you can see the water vibrating from the grunts/bellows he's making.

Nico & his sticker collection of the day.


Villa Zorayda, Henry wanted me to take a picture of the place where "a deadly rug is hung on the wall so no one can walk on it and die", folklore about a rug that killed everyone who has walked on it.

testing..testing...

So is this email blogger finally working...

It's working again....Sweet Augustine

The boys and I spent a week in St. Augustine doing touristy things..trolley rides, Alligator Farm, Lighthouse, Old city walks, camping at the Anastasia State Park, walking along the beach, fishing, chocolate tour, winery visit and Ripley's.

We really enjoyed ourselves...well maybe not Nico and Ripley's.

Whetstone Chocolate factory tour...nico was watching the spinning machine rotate in circles & twists. Showing how they make hollowed shapes like bunnies & stuff.

The boys watching the machine fill candy molds and then they ate them.

Heading down the spiral staircase at St. Augustine Lighthouse - 219 steps to the top, the boys ran all the way and all the way down.
The last two flights are narrow.
The view from the top...check out mr. bunny hiding in Henry's pocket.

Report cards

Both boys came home with excellent report cards - ribbons & certificates too! I am so proud of them, especially H. He deserves all the kudos he gets.

First Game

The kids waiting for the refs to show up so the game can begin.




The holding pen....aka waiting your turn tent. Nico and another boy were bored so they started to wrestle.
Nico is called into the game, he was excited.
Nico's turn to be goalie, he stopped the ball and kicked it back into play.

Nico has the ball.....
BAM! He gets kicked in the shin, thankfully he wears full leg protection and the game continued.
Game Over and congrats for everyone.