Eagle Project Work Days

We are almost at the end of this long scouting tunnel, and while it has been some great times, I am feeling, and seeing in Davis, that it is time to get things wrapped up and moving forward with the next adventure.   He has completed all the required merit badges, and the required recommendation letters are coming in.   The only thing left is finishing an Eagle Project.   Davis selected to help Grace Klein like Sam did, and from the list they sent him, decided to make some benches for them, and put together a Little Library for their "House on the Hill" location.   This will be nice, as Sam's trail is at the backyard of that home, so both of their Eagle Projects will be at the same location.   

And it was a joy as a dad to see Davis and Sam plan a work day basically on their own, and drive up to Granddads on a day before school started to knock out the project.   While I cringe and periodically pee a little into my pants when power tools get near me, the boys don't have that same fear.   They were taught well by their Granddad and other men in our congregation to do this type of work with wood, and basically put together the three benches on their own, with a little help from Wyatt.   

For the more complex Little Library, they had Granddad to help with some design and of course any and every tool they needed.   While the project was not complete on that day, Davis and I drove up the following Saturday to finish the Little Library.   And after a morning of unsuccessful collection of the RV from Priceville, we finally got started that afternoon.   Again, I just tried to stay out of the way, but Davis was kind enough to take my picture to show that I contributed.   

So where are we now?   The benches have been delivered to Grace Klein.  Scout Workday is scheduled for 9/28 to install the Little Library, and then Davis will be done.   He will sit for one final Board of Review, and given a few answers about his experiences, will be given the left handed shake into a relatively small group of Eagle Scouts.   Until that time, he has painted and waterproofed the library, we have the plaque coming in the mail, and he continues to help the younger scouts at the weekly meetings.  I recently had to write a letter of recommendation for him to reach the highest rank of Eagle, and I will share a few of those words.

"I have been with Davis 3 miles deep into a cave, I have been with Davis for 20 miles on a canoe, and I have sat around a fire with Davis as the temperature dropped into the teens.   Cheerful is difficult in all of these situations, but I did not hear him complain.   Bravery is difficult to maintain in all of these situations, but he was always up front in a crowd of boys leading the way forward.   When those temperatures were in the teens, he volunteered to take the KP duty washing our dishes in ice cold water.   This attitude of service is just a part of who he is, always looking to help others around him. 

Davis has been a great example of a loyal and trustworthy person.   Not only a scout that the leaders could count on, but also one that all of the boys knew they could count on.   I am confident that Davis possesses the necessary skills, qualities, and values to successfully complete the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout.   He has shown a deep commitment to the ideals of scouting and exemplifies the scout oath and law in his daily life.  

I am excited to recommend my boy Davis for the rank of Eagle Scout.   I have no doubt that he will continue to make a positive impact on his community."  

 

AHG - Recruiting and Relaxing

Two big days for AHG over the last month.   One was a very successful recruiting event at Forest Oaks.  I think the troop has almost 20 tenderheart girls after this event.   I mean, if you saw these two girls at the table below, why would you not want to be a part of that group.   

The troop also went to Oak Mountain State Park to play in the lake and on the slippery blow-ups.   Glad that Sam could join them and still has so much fun with the little sisters.   We do have a funny video somewhere of him slipping and hitting the mat hard.  We have two new camping areas to try out this year, so I am sure it will be another fun year.   

 

Back to School

And off they go to another year of school...Davis begins his Senior Year, and this year driving Anabelle to school each day, as she is now also at Chelsea High School.   Ruby is in her last year of Forest Oaks Elementary School, and next year will NOT be in Junior High, as old people like me and mom say, but instead in Middle School.   Middle School just does not roll off the tongue for me, as I was trying to get it right with her the other day and asking Ruby if she was ready for Middle Class.   So that is why she looked so confused.   Another word that I get different from what they call it is the Annual.   Apparently, that is not a cool word to say, as Davis seems to think that everything that begins with the same letters as anus is just weird.   So instead, the correct term is Yearbook, which makes sense, but again does not roll off the tongue for me.   

Ruby has three teachers this year, Mrs. Cooley, Mrs, Baker, and Mr. Scott.   Mr. Scott is very confusing because that is my name everywhere with other kids.   And guess what Mr. Scott's first name is...Sam.   So even more confusing for Ruby.   But she told me today that while she does not have a favorite subject, she does like Mr. Scott the best.   Ruby is in the same class with Oliva (Not Alicia that I seem to always want to use) and Taylor Grace (Com'n parents!  Stop it with the multiple names and expecting us to always use them!) and Harper who has been in the same class with her since 1st grade.   

Anabelle is in show choir, chamber choir, some other choir, theater, and probably something else, but seems to be loving every moment of this first month of school.   She has very long hours of Choreo, which is the cool shortened version of choreography.   She does not often get a ride home in the afternoon, as Davis just drives straight home after CTech.   

Davis is loving CTech, and even got to change his own brakes the other day at class.   Then realized Amazon had shipped him the wrong pads, so him and his buddies had to redo everything quickly so he was able to leave school on time.   I think he is loving this last year of school, and since Chelsea moved back down to 6A level, their football team is currently 3-0, so they are having fun with that.   Belle goes to the games with him, and we get to hear Davis give us the recap of the game, then Belle excited talks about how Chelsea "just got two points to go ahead, I don't even know how that worked!".   

Sam...well he was just enjoying a few more days before heading back to Tuscaloosa, and Magan was soaking in any time she could get.   

There are videos of them each year after the first day telling Magan about their day.   And while this last story did not make it on that video, Magan told me it did belong in the blog.   Belle said that she had to hold all her gas in during Choreo practice because lunch was so bad.   Ruby said "I know that!  It's like you have toots inside your stomach, and I wonder 'Do these smell bad', I hope not"