When did this happen?

I was looking through old pictures on the computer today (because I have no photos printed from the past three years. My poor parents and in-laws have to take their own pictures of my children, because I certainly don't send them any. In my defense, it's not like I have any prints either. It's not that I just don't send them, I don't have them. My mom has become quite adept at copying pictures that I post on here and facebook and making her own prints. I give her props for this. I am a horrible daughter/in-law.)

Anyhow, I was looking at old pictures today and it about made me cry. 

How did my sweet, little, LITTLE children

go from this

 

 

 and this

 

 

 

 to this???

I have now got an almost-second grader and an almost-kindergartner.

Excuse their squinty faces. I like to make them stare directly into the sun to when I take their pictures. Anything for the best light, right? No worries, their sun blindness will subside soon.

And how did my sweet, precious, tiny, LITTLE babies 

graduate from this four wheeler, where the only protection needed was a well loved binky, 

 

 

to these, where real protection from real helmets are necessary?

When did this all happen?

I think I must have blinked.

 

It's a grand old flag...

In the spirit of Independence Day, I thought that I would share something pretty cool that I witnessed at Sonny Boy's Crossover ceremony for Scouts.

A Crossover ceremony takes place when the scouts move on to the next level of scout. Sonny Boy was a Tiger Scout and he crossed over to become a Wolf Scout.

Before the crossover, the Scouts got to perform and witness a flag retirement ceremony. Someone gave a flag to the Scouts so that it could have a proper retirement. I believe that it was donated by the VFW and I'm not sure if it is this particular flag that I will show you, but one of them was flown overseas in the middle east. I think they said it was flown in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I can't remember. I could just be making this whole thing up. Anyway, I thought that was pretty neat.

First the Scouts were told the seriousness of the ceremony and instructed to act in accordance. Getting a bunch of elementary aged boys to take anything seriously is difficult, but I thought they did a pretty good job.

Next the flag was presented while the Scouts saluted it.

We then heard a bit of the history of the flag.

The flag was presented

and then it is burned.

Flags that are old, faded, and torn should be replaced.

The flag needs to be burned completely

with nothing left but ashes.

One final salute.

The new flag is presented

and saluted.

I was surprised that I even got a little emotional during this ceremony. I'm getting soft in my old age.  I really felt proud of everything the flag represented and I imagined where that flag had flown.

Then it was time for Crossover.

Sonny Boy tied his name on the bridge, walked across,  and received his new Wolf scarf and hat.

He and the rest of his den are checking out their new stuff.

Introducing the newest Wolf Scout. I suppose I should finally sew the rest of his patches on.

Highlites

My mom came to visit us and stayed for three wonderful weeks, even though it was cloudy the whole time she was here. She left yesterday. Today it is a beautiful sunny day. Go figure. 

Here is the play by play of mom's visit, the condensed version.

Mom arrived and she got lots of hugs from her adoring grandchildren. Especially this from this girl.

Grandma immediately gave gifts to my kids. It never fails. I always tell her she doesn't need to and she always tells me that she doesn't get to spoil them very much so she has to do it all at once. I don't think that I will ever win that argument. It's a grandmother's prerogative to spoil her grandchildren. I may as well get used to it.

My dog acts strangely and cuddles with my mom. Stinky Beagle always betrays me for my mother. 

Judas!

We see  my nephew and my sister daily. He is at a terribly fun age. His father has taught him all sorts of fun tricks. If you ask him "What do you say?" with the hopes of getting him to say "Please" he will only reply "Toot!" 

We went to Colony Days in Palmer. We bought flowers.

We watched the longest small town parade ever. No really, it was. We left after an hour and a half and it was still going strong.

Grandma took a break while we scored lots of candy.

We watched moose poop get thrown at a giant target from the top of a firetruck extension ladder.

We had a lovely picnic.

My boy climbed lots of trees.

My nephew got bowled over by a lamb at the petting zoo while I sat there and took pictures of him. I'm a really good aunt.

Sonny Boy was enthralled with the baby goats. So cute and so tiny! I wouldn't have objected if he had snuck one out of the petting zoo and back to our house.

Princess Blondie showed her cousin a lady bug because they had to entertain themselves while we looked at more flowers to buy.
She loves bugs. I don't really love bugs.

Another greenhouse that we went to to buy flowers.

My mom planted my flowers fro me. I love my mom. She does my dishes and plants my flowers. 

We brought Sonny Boy to Scout Camp. It was fun. Even I had fun the days that I was there to help. I want to be a Boy Scout, I think.

Mom, my sister, and I had a girls' day away and went shopping and took pictures of coffee huts. 

We watched Sonny Boy play baseball.

We went to the hay flats. I think it may be my favorite place on earth.

We watched Stinky Beagle fall through the grate on the bridge to the hay flats. We laughed at her and I took pictures of her. I'm a really good pet owner too.

We went camping near Eklutna. It rained.

We saw the most beautiful lake in the most beautiful setting. You'll just have to take my word for it because it's a little hard to capture on film.

We left early because it was raining and stopped to get ice cream on the way out.

Sonny Boy played on a small piece of the Alaskan Pipeline.

We stopped in Eklutna and looked at the spirit houses over the graves.

Mom took a picture of a  moose eating my herbs.

Mom also took this picture of my girl on the playset in our back yard. I love this picture.

The kids played Farmville (or was it My Town?) with Mom. Princess Blondie was becoming obsessed with it.

We went to Lake Lucille. I tried to point out for my mom which house was Sarah Palin's . Turns out I don't know which one it is. 

My nephew got his rain suit on so he could go for a four wheeler ride in the rain with his cousins.

My mom had to ride back to my house with a piece of Styrofoam on her head.

Mom took a nap with my baby nephew. 

Mom helped me pick out this poppy. We did a LOT of flower shopping, but now our gardens look great!

Goodbye, Mom! My garden thanks you. 

You'll be back next spring to do it all over again, right?