Making lemonade

No I didn't just suddenly get some photography skills.  All the photos in this post were taken by Aunna.  By the way, if you ever want to embark on anything daunting, get Aunna and the rest of these women on your side.

When Braeden was a cub scout we went to Cub Scout Day Camp.  It was exhausting but fun.  Emma and Mark went as "tag-alongs."  It wasn't the highlight of my summer but it felt like time well spent.  Then Mark went to Cub Scout Day Camp.  Different people were in charge and it was TER-RI-BLE.  No fun.  Disorganized.  Still exhausting.

We decided surely the second year will be better.  It was worse.  Mark got hives and couldn't go after the second day and neither of us were a bit sorry.  It's the first time I've ever welcomed hives.  Because they meant no Day Camp!

A few of the mothers and I talked about it.  We all agreed that we could do a better job.  So we did.

Life handed us Cub Scout Day Camp lemons and we made our own  lemonade.  We very carefully called it a summer pack meeting because it was more laid back than a typical day camp.

Here's what I learned.  If you're going to make your own lemonade, get some amazing men and women to help you.

We had two dads lead hikes.  One mom provided snacks and taught the scouts funny songs.

I love seeing their cute joyful faces.  These are my primary kids.  Aren't they the best looking primary kids ever?

One mom provided the lunch and helped them each paint their own roasting stick.

Mark's expression:  apparently a genetic trait he and Braeden share

One mom taught them how to make survival bracelets out of paracord--which the boys thought was awesome.

Another mom took care of the little ones--including face paint.

A grandpa taught archery and a grandma and another few mothers and older sisters were there helping every step of the way.

Adam taught the older boys to tie knots (then we had a tug of war:  moms vs. scouts. The moms kicked their trash).  Adam taught the younger boys knife safety and delighted them by teaching them about the "blood circle."  Stephanie, who didn't even have a son there, came to teach a ropes course and did team building and cooperative activities.

The other mothers and I congratulated ourselves on a job well done, and a Cub Scout Day Camp avoided.

"Aren't we smart?"  "Why, yes we are."  Actually I think we were talking about hair...I love these women, as well as those not pictured.

The boys were what made it great though.  Our culminating activity was playing on a slip and slide.

The highlight of my day was at the end.  I told them they could each have one more run.  Once the boys went down, they stayed at the bottom and gave high fives to everyone else that went down the slip and slide.  These boys are friends.  In the eight hours we were together, there was no bickering, no teasing, no complaining.  They were enthusiastic and kind and respectful all. day. long.

Some of them wanted to do it again the next day.  And I would.

But I'm tired.