il grandit

E was one super Cub Scout for the past three years {unofficially, so was I}. At his last Cub Scout pack meeting he crossed off his Arrow of Light goal and crossed over the bridge to join the Boy Scouts. So now he's one of them {unofficially, so am I}.

So after the meeting I asked him if he had any goals for Boy Scouts. He didn't pause a moment before proclaiming he wanted to receive his Eagle by 13--"'cause that's when Grandpa got his." Like grandfather, like grandson. Upward and onward, E!

onze ans

I know...it's surreal...E is eleven years old. Unfortunately, it means that we're eleven years older, too, but it's been an awesome eleven years with him around. We absolutely love this kid!

After J took Ed and some friends to play lasertag for his birthday party, he came home to find other friends here ready to have a "family" party with him.

Opening tickets to see two piano legends, Billy Joel and Elton John, in concert. I'm going to go with him. Did I mention I am taking piano now, too?

Trying to blow out the candles with his nose. Gotta love 11-year-old boys. TMI?

Happy Birthday, Ed!

sur la touche

Because Ed spent so much time on the field this spring (black jersey and goggles in case you can't tell with all that gear on)...

...we all got to spend a lot of time on the sidelines. Here are some shots of his groupies at his last lacrosse event of the year...an all-day tournament.

Sawyer in a cozy stadium chair

Aunt Joni (and the wee top of Glenn's head)

Roxy, Scout's cousin

Aunt A-dine

Mom, no doubt cheering her boy on

Liam flitting around and not ever sitting still

Dad coming back to the sidelines after giving some fatherly advice to his son

"Grandpa and Grandma with the white hair"

oh la la...crosse

Though I can't say that I've used any trig or calculus since I learned them years ago (as most high school math students accurately predict), I do have occasion to use a little mom math. Let me share one equation with you. Spring rain + a grass field + rowdy boys at a lacrosse game in the Pacific Northwest = ? Stumped? It equals every 10-year old boy's dream--a mud bath. Ethan and his buddies were loving it! Ethan played well and scored at least 2 goals that we saw, but Ethan says it was more like 3 or 4. You may think it odd that Jas and I were both at his game and don't know more about his skills, but with the three other kiddos and the white dog there with us, all of whom we were trying to keep as mud-free as possible (an exercise in futility), it was not like we could kick back, relax, and enjoy the spectacle. And what a spectacle it turned out to be. I'm glad I at least had my cell with me so I could capture the moment.

The boy

His legs (those socks are [were?] white)

His gear

His rear

It's a good thing that he didn't get hurt during the game and have to visit the hospital because his underwear was not up to task. After it was all said and done, I spent over 3 hours scrubbing equipment, doing loads of laundry (multiple washes for the uniform) and then cleaning the laundry room. The cleaning is ongoing: I actually just came across the mud splattered water bottle in the back of the car today. I guessed I missed a spot. The muddy melee may have been every boy's dream, but it certainly didn't end up every mom's...well at least not this mom's.