We arrived Friday evening around 5:30pm. It had rained on us pretty much the entire time, but by the time we got there, it was reduced to a slight drizzle. It was pretty chilly, however, which was a pleasant change from the unseasonably warm October we've had thus far.
Pop and I put the tent up while the boys kept warm and dry in the car. Once the tent was up, we let the boys run around inside the tent before we started piling things in. A concrete picnic table get up would become our kitchen and around this we erected dad's canopy to keep the kitchen as dry and inviting as possible. As with kitchens in many homes, this was going to be the heart of our campsite and provide a place for great times and great conversations. As with the Spring Campout Pop was our chef extrordinaire cooking fried fish, shrimp and of course his famous french fries on Friday night. There weren't nearly the amount if kids around this time due to the weather, but all who ate were satisfied! Pop cooked all of our meals including eggs, bacon and sausage for breakfast both mornings, hot dogs for lunch on Saturday and Aunt Bessie's Chicken Jambalaya for dinner on Saturday night. It was fantastic! Gone are the days of Chef Boy-Yar-D Ravioli out of the can!
--Pop's Kitchen
One great thing about having Pop there is that he lives up to the Eagle Scout billing. Ever true to the motto of "Be Prepared," Pop had a backup plan for anything that could have (and did) go wrong! The inverter that he brought to give light to the campsite smoked, snapped, crackled and popped as soon as it was hooked up to the battery. Not to worry, Pop brought his $1 garage sale Coleman Lantern just to test it out. It turns out that it was a dollar well spent, as it was our only means of light on the outside! The lack of an inverter also meant no electricity to blow up our air mattresses (hey, I never said we were roughing it!) but Pop had brought a hand pump. Luckily it never came to that because our tent neighbors graciously let us borrow thiers. Also, we were supposed to have a Pack dinner on Saturday night, but Pop decided to bring the stuff to make Jambalaya anyways and again that proved to be a brilliant move because our Pack Dinner cooks backed out due to the weather. So we were covered everytime something didn't turn out exactly as planned thanks to Pop! Thank You Pop! This makes me even more sure that keeping the boys engaged in Scouting is the right thing to do.
Saturday began with den time and pumpkin carving and after lunch the boys learned about alligators and even got to pet a baby alligator. Evan hiked back to the camp, but after last year's hike Elliot and Drew were more than happy to take Pop's truck back to the camp.
--Evan entertains a Big Daddy Long Legs spider
--Elliot and his Tiger Den
--I love this picture...so joyful!
--The Webelos lead a flag quiz
--Talk about bed head!
--Elliot and Kai.
--Elliot and the Tiger Den wait for the Alligator Lady
--Everyone waits patiently
--Elliot had a great time meeting new friends
--It takes all of Evan's energy to not make a silly face!
Evan's Pumpkin: Paul Stanley of KISS
--Drew's pumpkin: Scary face with a scar on his eye
--Elliot's pumpkin: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!
--Camp neighbors enjoy the fire
As darkness fell, we moved to the bonfire where each pack performed a skit and told jokes and stories. After this, they gave some awards out. Elliot recieved his Bobcat badge and Evan received his Light of Christ medal and badge that he worked so hard to get. I was so proud! Elliot was so excited to get his badge, you should have seen the joy beaming from his face. My little boy is so grown up now. Also, I was very impressed with Evan on this trip. He really came out of his shell getting up and telling two jokes around the campfire and really getting into his skit. It was really neat seeing him and all of the Webelos leading the younger boys in some of the activities. Again, I'm reminded more and more of how Scouting is such a good character builder.
--Evan receives his Light of Christ medal and badge
--Evan telling jokes
--And another joke!
We were wiped out after such a long day and slept very well Saturday night. Sunday morning after breakfast we began breaking camp and saying our goodbyes to our tent neighbors. (Drew has a new best friend in Matthew Farace.)
--Drew and his new best friend, Matthew Farace
On the way home we drove by the giant statue of Sam Houston which was just minutes from the park. We really enjoyed that. After seeing this huge statue I asked Evan who Sam Houston was and he said he didn't know. I mentioned that for someone to have such a big statue, wouldn't that mean he was pretty important?! Hmmm, I think I have an idea for their next "Mission Impossible Homeschool Task!"
--Elliot kept calling Sam Houston Abraham Lincolon
--After taking these pics I thought one looked like a Beatles album cover...
--The gang stops to pose with Sam (and in Elliot's case...to pick his nose...)
See all of the pictures from the weekend here.
1 comment:
love the Beatles pict.
Okay, when I camp, I use a mattress, but we pack BATTERIES(!) for the pump.
Whent he boys go, they truly "rough it"!
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