Field Trip to the Kirksville War Memorial

A couple of weeks ago Teagan asked me the question "What is war?" Which I have to admit took me by surprise because it's at times like that that really strike me as to how old they are getting to be. What followed was a great and lengthy discussion that I can't remember all the details of but at some point we talked about what soldiers do and how they are sometimes asked to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Which both of the kids were very awed and saddened by this thought. Which was when I mentioned that we have a memorial in our town to honor the soldiers that came from our area. Which both the kids promptly asked "Can we go see it?" Unfortunately for the past two weeks we just haven't had the time to because I didn't want to just run by and let them take a quick glance and then be off. I wanted to make sure we had the time to fully appreciate what we were looking at. But for that entire two weeks every time we were out and about driving the kids would ask if we could go see it right then and I would have to tell them not yet. So today we had the time to go and it was a really great experience. The first thing the kids noticed was all the names on both the obelisk and the wall surrounding it. So we went through which sections on the wall and obelisk represented different wars. Then the kids started pointing to names and asking me to read them as they just stood there and soaked it all in. It is a very amazing thing to watch them process what the names in front of them represent and watch it become a personal thing to them.

 Arowyn deep in thought

Teagan asking if I thought it still worked

Cub Scouts: January Pack Meeting

Tonight was Teagan's monthly Cub Scouts pack meeting. Teagan likes sitting at the table talking and being silly with the other boys in his pack while we wait for the meeting to start. When it was the Tiger Cubs turn to stand up front Teagan received some orange beads for the recent den activities he's participated in which he was very excited about.

Teagan chatting with one of the boys in his pack

The Tiger Cubs

Teagan's awards and achievments being listed

Teagan getting his beads

The Tiger Cubs doing their cheer

Cub Scouts: Conservation Department Field Trip

Cham, Teagan & Arowyn were back out with the pack tonight on a field trip to our local Conservation Department. They got to hear all about what it takes to become an officer for the conservation department and some of what her job entails.

Cub Scouts: Derby Car Workshop

Chamberlin & Teagan attended the Derby Car Workshop for his cub scouts troop this evening. Arowyn went with them to act as camerman and to chronicle the evening for me. So all these photos were taken by her. They all had fun and Teagan is now excited and anticipating getting to paint, decorate and finish assembling his derby car for the big race next month.

Teagan cutting out the pattern he 

has selected for his car.

 Cham drawing the pattern onto the block of wood for him.

 Getting all safety goggled up.

 Teagan looking awesome in his safety goggles.

 Teagan showing off his block of wood.

Teagan hamming it up for the camera. 

Chamberlin cutting out his car on the jigsaw. 

 Cham cutting out the car while Teagan 

watches, um I not quite sure what.

 Teagan distractadly showing off 

his freshly cut out car.

Teagan sanding the body of his car.

 

Cham inspecting Teagan's work

Teagan applies a little more elbow 

grease to the sanding.

I Know This!

This Christmas morning we all sat down and had a fun time opening presents. After surveying my children's rooms this year I decided to go a different direction with the kids Christmas presents and instead of the traditional toys, toys and more toys we got them mostly educational things that I've been wanting to get to supplement our schooling.  When they opened up the storybook The Knave of Hearts illustrated by Maxfield Parrish the artist we've been studying I was rewarded with a loud "hey I know this" from both Arowyn and Teagan when I asked them what they meant they said "I know who drew this" and when asked who they both said with great big smiles on their faces "Maxfield Parrish!" Ah there's nothing like the feeling of knowing that what your doing is actually being enjoyed and retained.  So they got things like gyroscopes which Daddy & Grandpy had a fun time showing them what they were and how they worked, bug podz which let you create a habitat for creepy crawlies (which I'm sure Arowyn will be getting plenty of use out of come summer), and a basic snap circuit set which I wasn't quite sure if they were ready for but I'm glad I got because it's been the most used item of the day so far. Well other than Chamberlin's shark that is, which was not meant as a learning toy but in the end turned out to be because the kids got to learn about all kinds of things like how helium can make your voice sound higher than it is because the sound waves travel faster through helium,  also how helium contracts and expands depending on the temperature and about buoyancy and counterweighing. So all and all it was a very fun and educational Christmas.

 Arowyn & Teagan opening their storybook 

The Knave of Hearts

Grammy, Arowyn & Mommy assembling 

Leonardo da Vinci's Aerial Screw model that 

the kids got from Grammy Jules

Cub Scouts: December Pack Meeting

Today was Teagan's December pack meeting for his Cub Scouts troop. I got to be there since Chamberlin was working so the good news is that I have pictures of this to post today, the bad news is I'm still getting used to my new camera that by the time I had dialed in my settings Teagan was the first to get his award and I missed it. Oh well, hopefully I'll have better luck at the next pack meeting.

Teagan standing up with his pack
holding his latest awards

 Teagan watching the wolf cubs getting their awards

The Pack Leader handing out Christmas
presents to all the boys

Teagan holding his present

Teagan in line getting his snacks

Teagan with his plate
full of cookies

Cub Scouts: Field Trip to KTVO

Teagan and his Cub Scout troop had a field trip to the KTVO news station here in Kirksville this evening. They got to be in the room with the news anchors and sit there and watch as they broadcast the evening news in Spanish. Then after the broadcast they got to talk with the news anchors and got to ask them questions and see how the green screen works.

Teagan's Cub Scout Troop at the news desk 

with Vanessa Alonso & Nancy Cruz

 Vanessa showing them how the green screen works

 Vanessa showing them why you don't want to wear 

this shade of green on the green screen or you disappear!

 Teagan asking Vanessa a question 

about doing the weather

 Teagan telling Vanessa a story

 The Cub Scout troop and siblings with Vanessa

Behind the scenes in the news office

Cub Scouts: November Pack Meeting

Teagan was made an official member of his cub scout pack today and earned his bobcat badge. For earning his badge he got his face painted during a special ceremony. Which I missed because I sent him with daddy and of course he didn't take a camera with him. But I snapped these when he came home.

 If you look under his right eye you can see a 

red scratch and the beginning of a shiner from 

where he got elbowed in the eye by another 

boy in the rush to the cookie table after the 

ceremony. Who knew trying to get a snack 

could be so rough, he was quite proud of 

his black eye of course :)

Teagan with his face paint

 He was told that when he got home he was to kiss 

mommy so I could enjoy wearing face paint to.

He might of smeared me with face paint but I got him back!

Cub Scouts: Flag Ceremony

We were a little late getting Teagan signed up but we just found out about the Cub Scout pack here and were very excited for Teagan to get to join the den. He’ll be following in his Grandpy’s footstep who was a Boy Scout who went all the way to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout when he was a kid. The first thing Teagan got to attend with his pack was a flag ceremony that the pack leads at the start of the city council meeting. Teagan’s been working very hard on his tiger cub handbook and memorizing all the things he needs to memorize like the Cub Scout promise and he especially enjoyed learning the Cub Scout sign, handshake and salute. The den mother told the boys in the pack that Teagan would be joining their pack at the last meeting which Teagan missed because of being sick with the croup, so when we walked into the lobby at City Hall all the boys ran up to Teagan and said hi and just started chatting away like they knew him and like it was a given that they were already friends. It was very heartwarming to see. Even though Teagan is such an outgoing and friendly little guy who is quite the ladies’ man at times he’s always struggled with feeling like he doesn’t have any friends.  And for all those boys to be so warm and friendly right off the bat put such a smile on my face. Teagan was very proud to be wearing his new uniform and had fun showing them that he knew the Cub Scout handshake. We’re very excited to start out on this new adventure with Teagan and we’re looking forward to see where this will take him.

 Teagan demonstrating the 

Cub Scout sign

Teagan demonstrating the 

Cub Scout salute

 Teagan looking oh so handsome 

in his Cub Scout uniform

Teagan with his pack getting 

ready for the flag ceremony