Last week Boo crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. It was bittersweet, not so much in that he is growing up and moving on, but because he did so in a different pack that he started scouting in.  During the slide show of the new Boy Scouts’ years as Cubs, none of the pack’s pictures contained Boo, and all of Boo’s pictures had his friends from D.C.  I was struck by how much I miss that old pack, where everyone knew each other, saw each other almost daily and lived just down the street.  One year, every boy on Boo’s soccer team was also in his Cub Scout pack.  Good times.

But we’ve moved on, both literally and figuratively.

Here’s my Cub Scout, one last time…

Every boy in his den earned the Arrow of Light - the highest achievement in Cub Scouts, and the only award that can be carried over and worn on the Boy Scout uniform.  A tradition in our Colorado pack is that as each Arrow of Light recipient’s name is called, an Eagle Scout  shoots an arrow into a target.

Here goes Boo’s arrow.

The scouts got to keep their arrow.  Boo’s was the only one that hit the bull’s eye.

Another pack tradition is the parents making a shadow box commemorating their son’s Cub Scout years.

Here it is close up.

And finally it was time for the boys to cross the bridge into manhood.  Or Boy Scouthood.  Whichever.

They were greeted at the other end by the boys in their new Boy Scout troop and given their new neckerchiefs and slides.

A new Boy Scout!

Back at home, Bip and Pumpkin Girl put on his new epaulets.

We had one final presentation for him.  The Den Leader from our D.C. pack made all the boys an arrow using rocks, sticks and feathers from their summer camp.  He made sure that Boo got one, too and it arrived right before the Blue and Gold ceremony.

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You know what I’d like?

A Day to Do Nothing.  A day not to have to worry about anyone or anything, no cooking, no cleaning, no teaching.  A day with no agenda.  I’d like a whole day to just do what I want to do, without feeling like I need to get something accomplished with my free time.  I’d like a day without “I really should…” going through my head.  Not the kind of day when you look back and are frustrated because nothing got done, but a day with no guilt.

And you know what else I’d like?

Right after my Do Nothing Day, I’d like a Highly Efficient Day.  Again without the cooking or teaching, but I’d have a long list of to-do’s that I’d accomplish.  All those little things that pile up because other, more important things get in the way.  I’d like to unpack those last two boxes and tidy up the office, move some furniture around, tackle the linen closet and…

Alas, it’s all wishful thinking.

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Well, would you look at that!  Today is both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. Lots of red to go around, firecrackers, hearts, candy and lion dancers.  Party like it’s 1999!

It’s the Year of the Tiger, which is Boo’s year, which means he’s turning 12 this year.  (If that doesn’t strike the fear of God into you, I don’t know what will.) Some of the characteristics of a Tiger are:

Tigers do not find worth in power or money. They will be completely honest about how they feel and expect the same of you. On the other hand, they seek approval from peers and family. Generally, because of their charming personalities Tigers are well liked. Often, failing at a given task or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a depression. Criticism from loved ones can also generate this type of Tiger reaction. Still, like all felines, Tigers always land on their feet, ready for their next act in life, pursuing it with unyielding energy and hunting it infallibly.

Tigers are also incorrigibly competitive - they simply cannot pass up a challenge, especially when honor is at stake, or they are protecting those they love. Tigers are unpredictable and it would be unwise to underestimate their reactions. They may appear cool, but they have the Big Cat’s instincts to pounce at a moment’s warning. Natural leaders, they have a strong sense of their own dignity, and if they find themselves in the ranks, they can be stubborn and obstinate. In positions of power they can be difficult though stimulating bosses. Tigers are intelligent, alert, and farsighted. They have their fingers on the pulse. Good strategists and tacticians, they often have a hidden agenda. As long as they do not risk their luck too often, and keep their restless nature under control, their tactics usually pay off in life.

You can read the rest here: Chinese Horoscopes-The Tiger

We tried to get Chinese food for dinner, but our favorite restaurant had gone out of business and by the time we’d figured it out, it was getting late and we just hauled out the left-overs.  Not exactly festive, ethnic or romantic, but what can you do?

Meanwhile, we’ve been hooked on the Olympics.  I’ve been enjoying the skiing in  particular because I’ve actually skied the slopes of Whistler, where the competition is being held.  Of course, I stayed off the black diamond runs unless I was skiing with my dad.  He had a habit of accidentally stumbling on those expert hills.  Looking back, I wonder how accidental it really was.

I’m by no means an expert skier.  And I hate moguls.  But I actually look amazingly like those mogul skiers, except that they are in perfect control, executing each move with the precision that comes from years of training.  I, on the other hand, am completely out of control and wildly flinging myself down the mountain in an effort to just stay alive long enough to get some hot chocolate.  You know how those racers raise their arms in victory at the end of a successful run?  I look exactly like that too, at the end of a mogul hill.  Except I’m screaming, “aaaaaaaaah!”

I haven’t skied in years.

On another Olympian note, one of our parishioners is at the Olympics as part of the US Hockey team.  I’m not sure if he’s a coach or a player.

After watching coverage of the poor luger from Georgia, I told my children, “Now you know why I won’t let you sled on ice.”  They nodded solemnly and said, “Good point.”

As we were watching the Opening Ceremonies, when the Chinese team marched in Boo said, “Hey, that guy that looks like Daddy!”  I said, “Dude, they ALL look like Daddy.”  To which Pumpkin Girl replied, “It’s like a whole parade of our relatives!”

And totally unrelated to the Olympics, Valentine’s Day or Chinese New Year…

Sometimes I screen my calls, especially during school time or when I’m in the middle of a computer game blogging.  But the other day my caller ID said “St. Francis of Assisi.”  I thought I’d better answer that one.

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In January, I declared my birthday a national holiday.  People everywhere slept in and held parades.

My children and their dance group auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” in February.  We never heard back from them.

We got some snow in March.

In April we had one crazy night of Mexican folkdancing.

Pumpkin Girl made her First Communion in May.

We bought a house and Philip had his retirement ceremony in June.

In July,  we moved most of the way across the country and we couldn’t believe all the deer we were seeing!

August brought our first house guests and a big hail storm.

We went on a totally spontaneous trip to Disneyland in September.  Back at home it started snowing on the last day of summer.

It kept snowing in October.

The turkey danced in November and we got more snow, saw more deer and worried about mountain lions.

By December, we stopped keeping track of the snow and deer, we got a new fridge and I got a new haircut.

And a good time was had by all.

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Nine years ago, this sweet little girl came into the world.

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin Girl!

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Six years ago and half a world away, a sweet baby came into this world.   We brought her home from the hospital on Christmas Eve and we all fell in love with her.  God entrusted her to our care for just a short time, but we are so happy that He gave us the chance to love her and be loved by her in return.

Happy Birthday, Rebecca.  Our lives are better for having had you.

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Ah…so we survived Nutcracker Weekend.

Actually, it wasn’t bad at all and was very enjoyable.  Philip ended up taking Pumpkin to Wednesday’s fitting/rehearsal marathon, so I was able to get some preholiday baking done.  The pie, by the way, was delicious.

Friday, Pumpkin Girl and I went out to lunch and then attended the one and only dress rehearsal together.  Funny thing, this particular production of The Nutcracker.  The professional company is from out of state and they provide the grown-up dancers, props and costumes.  All the child dancers are all local.  The children are split into two casts and rehearse sans professionals for weeks before the performance.  On the day of the costume fittings, they rehearse with the professionals when possible, or at the very least they review their blocking on the stage.  The afternoon before the first performance, the orchestra, professional dancers and one cast do one dress rehearsal.  The other cast is invited to watch with one parent.

We had a grand time watching the rehearsal.  It was fascinating to watch the whole process - the ballet mistress stood there making minor adjustments, the dancers didn’t always do all the lifts in each dance, the dancers chatted with each other and occasionally the orchestra needed to make changes to accommodate the dancers.

I’m not sure how the whole thing manages to come together with only one cast doing the full dress rehearsal, but it did.  We took the boys to see Pumpkin’s first performance which was Saturday night (and was also our 17th wedding anniversary).  Pumpkin’s part was brief but sooo cute.  You really have not lived until you see a chorus line of dancing sheep.  Trust me on this, since I don’t have pictures or video.  They probably got the biggest laugh and “ahh”s of the whole ballet. The boys really enjoyed the whole show and Boo even wanted me to find another Nutcracker performance so we could see it again.  I assured him that this was not our last Nutcracker.

Pumpkin tells me that the professional dancers were very nice and some of them helped backstage.  “Herr Drosselmeyer” helped herd the sheep and line them up for the finale. I saw several of the adults helping the children during the rehearsal. The sheep were so well behaved on the first night that they were allowed to watch Act II from the wings.

At the cast party, several of the professional dancers showed up and were very gracious in signing t-shirts and posing for pictures.  The Snow Queen was very nice and asked Pumpkin if she’d had a good time.  We caught Herr Drosselmeyer just as he was leaving and he was very nice, too.  We managed to catch up with the Clara from Pumpkin’s cast and she was just as sweet as could be.

Pumpkin came home from each performance with stars in her eyes and plans to someday play Odette in Swan Lake.

But for now, it’s back to reality.

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I have to say that I think my favorite thing of all on Thanksgiving is when it’s time for Philip to wash and prep the turkey.  Of course he just doesn’t wash, salt, oil and season it.  Oh no…he makes it dance.

Imagine if you will, Philip humming can-can music.

The  children thought it was hysterical.

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My plans for today are:

prepare jello salad.  Why this qualifies as a salad, I have no idea, but my mom’s recipe clearly states that it is a Thanksgiving Jello Salad.  And it’s green, so I guess it qualifies as a salad.  Don’t let it be said that I don’t prepare well rounded meals.

Make pumpkin pie with the children.  Boo, while under the pretense of finding appropriate preschool programing on On Demand for his brother, found a clip for making the Best Pumpkin Pie Ever.  He then told me all about it and requested, nay -demanded that I make this pie.  So we searched for it online and I dutifully wrote down the recipe.  It is suspiciously similar to the recipe I use, but that’s ok.   Let me tell you, baking with 3 children is not for the weak of heart.  Even if it is something as simple as pumpkin pie.  The pie is happily baking in the oven as we speak and Boo is lurking around the corner to supervise the turning down of the oven temp to 350.  Just in case I couldn’t manage.

Sit for hours while Pumpkin Girl gets fitted for her Nutcracker Costume, learns the blocking for her part and rehearses with the orchestra.  She’s a sheep.  No, I didn’t know there were sheep in the Nutcracker, either.  They are part of the Shepherd’s Dance, duh.  Apparently, many of the parts are cast with little eye toward actual dance ability, but rather which costume you’ll fit in to.  Short kids are sheep.  Ba-a-a-h humbug, as it were.  So from 4 PM til, oh, I don’t know…whenever they’re done, I’ll sit and wait while she’s fitted and blocked.  Then we’ll head out for dinner and return for her 8:45 rehearsal.  I’m bringing along some knitting, but really, how long can I keep that up for.

Charge my iPhone.  Sitting for hours will give me a chance to improve my gaming skills with the cools aps I’ve got loaded up.  I can also text all my friends.

Go to the library.  When the knitting and iPhone games get old, I can always read. Old school, I know, but you’ve got to go with what you’ve got.

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