An Arrowman

Last winter, Nolan was "called out" for the Order of the Arrow.  To become a member of the OA, he had to complete an "ordeal."  Nolan did that last weekend.  The ordeal was at Maple Dell on Friday and Saturday.  Friday night, Nolan took his oath of silence (that lasted until the end of the induction ceremony on Saturday evening) and slept out under the stars.  Since the OA is a service-based group, the inductees had to spend most of Saturday engaged in a service project- tearing down and packing away Maple Dell... hauling canoes, dismantling staff tents, taking down pavilions, etc.  I think Maple Dell looked at it as a source of free labor!

We were invited to attend the "Yay!  You're a member of the Order of the Arrow" ceremony, but due to a communication error, we arrived just as the ceremony was concluding.  One good thing about that was I didn't hear the "no pictures" announcement so I was, in ignorance, taking pictures.

Here's the arrowman.

What's next for him in the OA?  No idea...

He's Back!

Jonathan finished his summer job at Maple Dell on Saturday.  Was it a good job?  Well, you decide.  Here's what he posted on Facebook...

"What do Wah-Ka-Rah Ridge, rendezvous, environmental science, lion hunts, "doom on you," paperwork, KYBOs, class B's, armed salutes, a garrison flag, lurps, rhinos and backhoes, pine forest, albino woodchucks, "a song, a song, it's time to sing a song," CITs, azurite, Ivan, and The Companions have in common? 

An amazing summer on the Maple Dell staff teaching merit badges, befriending scouts, and having adventure. I can honestly say I have loved my job there and it's possibly the best job someone my age can hold."

He had a great summer! 

Interesting Concept

Miles and I were at Smiths the other day.  He wanted to check out the "facilities" in Smiths so we headed over to the bathrooms.  While we were "touring" the women's restroom, Miles decided to use it.  We walked into a stall and saw it had a unique feature. 

Yes, an attached-to-the-wall-seat into which the parent/care-giver can strap a toddler to keep him/her corralled while the in-charge person takes care of her business.  Miles was not impressed.

And no, I didn't use the facilities.

Sometimes I Let Miles Have Power...

...and yesterday was one of those times.  I let Miles choose the route we'd take home from the store.  He gave me directions... turn left, straight, "go over there," etc., until we reached his destinations.  No surprises.  Here's what he had to see...

"I has a give 'Bouncy Bounce' a love."

"Oh 'dare it is.. the big chicken"

"Red Bouncy Bounce is all fixed!."

Previous to the "Miles giving directions" adventure, we'd been at Old Navy buying him jeans for school.  At the store, he found himself a girlfriend...

So Glad It's Not My Toe

Nolan has an in-grown toenail issue.  He's had this problem since he was 5 and he dropped "The Big Ben" on his big toe.  "The Big Ben" split his toe open and it's been a difficult toe to deal with ever since.  Nolan has been told and told by his pediatrician how to deal with the ingrown issue... cut the nail straight across instead of curved, let it grow longer than to the attachment point, and if/when it gets infected, soak the toe in hot water with epsom salt.  Nolan ignores all the instructions.  His toe is regularly red, inflamed, and infected.  It's so common now that he rarely informs me about the latest infection.  On Wednesday, I happened to glance down at his toe and comment that I saw it was infected yet again.  Red and sore.  Nolan answered something vague.  That night I took Nolan and Miles to Seven Peaks (okay, I bribed Nolan into going by promising him a Smashburger).  I took Miles off to toddler-world and Nolan went off to go to the crazy slides he likes.  The park closed, and as we met up to leave, I noticed Nolan hobbling.  One look at his toe gave the answers.  Evidently, Nolan snagged/caught his toe on "Jagged Edge".  The nail bent backwards and the toe split open where it was infected.  Blood and pus (I know... gross...sorry) oozed from his toe.  Well, 2 days later, Nolan is soaking his toe in hot water with epsom salt.  He's keeping antibacterial ointment on it, and keeping it covered.  It's quite painful.  I bet he loses the toenail.  Perhaps if he does, that will cure the ingrown toenail plague.  If not, it could be a real nightmare.

This was his toe on Thursday night, 48 hours after the incident.  It's healing, but still... Yuck.  Check out his toe hair.  Yuck again.

Greetings from the Garden

Most of my garden appears to be on steroids.  However, the mystery squash killer is in the garden again this year and I've lost a zucchini and a pumpkin plant.  The tomatoes are thriving this year.  Last year, Bambi found my garden and pulled up most of the tomato plants then ate the tomatoes of those plants that were allowed to grow.  This year, I was prepared- I planted 6 tomato plants and bought netting to protect the.  But Bambi seems to have lost my address as all 6 plants have thrived and starting taking over the yard.  They are too big and heavy for the cages and have flopped to the dirt.  Check out the mass of 2 cherry tomato plants...

Yesterday I went out to pick the daily tomato crop and here's what I brought in.

Not to be outdone by the tomatoes, the Jack-Be-Littles are making their presence know.  Orange mini-pumpkins in August... 

Happy Halloween!

I'm Ready for Pre-School to Start

18 more days is what I keep telling myself.  18 more days of enduring some less than charming behaviors that Miles has recently started.  Okay, down right annoying behaviors.  Miles currently has 2 obsessions- trying to remove my eyeballs from their sockets, and licking me.  What?  I know, weird.  Seriously obnoxious.  I have no tolerance for either of these behaviors.  Is he interested in licking anyone else or in removing anyone else's eyeballs?  Nope, just mine.  The eyeball thing has been going on for about a week, and the licking thing just started.  There's nothing like walking through a store with Miles in the cart and him licking my arm.  Ugh!  I kindly tell him to knock it off- "No touching anyone's eyes.  That can hurt!" and "Do not lick me.  That is gross."  Upon correction, Miles gets his feelings hurt and runs to his room to pout (which is also annoying).  This phase must pass quickly because I can't stand it!