Blue and Gold Banquet

Aidan had his last, and I guess our last, Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. The theme was knights, so each den decorated their table with that theme. Though Aidan's den had already had their Arrow of Light ceremony at Camp Strake a month ago, they had another ceremony in front of the pack. They take each Webelos cub's neckerchief to see if he's "worthy". It's soaked in- oh I can't remember what, but basically when they set it on fire it doesn't damage the neckerchief. It makes an impressive flash of fire. Aidan has joined Troop 895 and his brother is the troop guide for the new patrol. Alex has been the den chief for his brother's dens since Aidan started as a Tiger cub.

While it's a little sad that we're done with Cubs, it's also a bit of a relief. Now the two boys have meetings at the same time and place.

>Naomi

The Reason I Should Avoid Going to Sam's with Just the Girls

We come home with four huge stuffed animals. I'm such a pushover. :)








































>Naomi for the Colliers (real and plush)

Kyrie's Silver Award Project

Kyrie, Abigail and several of Kyrie's buddies made felt blankets and chew toys for homeless animals and ear warmers and scarves for homeless people for Kyrie's Girl Scout Silver Award Project.

The items were given to the Conroe Animal Shelter and to Star of Hope Houston.

Aidan's Arrow of Light

Aidan's arrow was found to be worthy at the Boy Scout Arrow of Light ceremony on Friday night. His big brother was part of the OA team that planned and put on the ceremony. It was done along the lake at Camp Strake and the only lighting was the bonfire on Ceremony Island, which is just a short bridge length away from shore. The Cubs enter crossing one bridge and after they receive their arrow, they depart on another- symbolically crossing over to Boy Scouts. It was very nicely done, but no flash photography was allowed and I think non-flash photography wouldn't have caught a thing. I'm including photos of Aidan before and after the ceremony and also with the OA team afterwards. Alex got to experience what celebrities do all the time- lots of flash photography. He had to stand there while individuals and sometimes groups of boys had their pictures taken with them. The groups were harder because then he had a bunch of flashes going off at once and repeatedly. He was a good sport about it, of course.

"I'm a baby, not stupid"

Last night, Alex set Aimee down on my bedroom floor quite a distance from me in the hopes that she'd do some walking practice like she'd done at the library earlier in the day. Instead she sat on her knees, reached for one of the two-way radios plugged in near where she was and started playing with it. Alex called to her to go to Mom, but to no avail. So he took the radio away, moved himself away, and held the radio out like the proverbial carrot. She looked at him, swung her arms around for a moment, then stopped... and reached for the second radio in the charger. For some reason that caught us both completely off guard and we laughed heartily.

While at the library, Aidan and Abigail participated in the Homewood spelling bee. Homewood is the homeschool association we belong to. They didn't win, but they each survived a few rounds, did their best and were very good sports when they finally misspelled a word. It was a good, low-key way for them to be in a competition. I'm proud of them.

Trusting in the Lord this day and every day,
Naomi for the Colliers

Christmas Eve

Singing Christmas carols together
Aimee up close and personal
Kyrie, Kayleigh, and Abigail
Alex & Chihiro
The kids in front of the tree

It's our tradition to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It's usually pjs.
Kayleigh got a reindeer with hers
Abigail seems to like hers

Aidan can hardly wait ... Wii pjs!

The biggest sister (is that a reality show?); Tartan for T. Alex

Christmas Greetings

Make a Smilebox greeting