Half Over!

I can't believe summer is halfway over! We have hit some pretty big milestones. Last week I actually had Jackson wear shoes to Lagoon instead of his typical flip flops, and he was tall enough to ride the big rides. He went on Wild Mouse with Patrick and I and he loved it. Not scared at all. He then decided Colossus should be next, which I took him on and he was so excited, not scared at all. He then thought Wickid would be next, it got him a little nervous but for the most part he was fine and was so excited about it when he got off. Then he wanted to do Cannibal but found he is 2 inches too short so settled for the white wooden roller coaster and even though it stopped a couple times causing others, far older than he is, to be concerned he was excited. Patrick and I were SO proud of him and how brave, and fearless he is. The kid is incredible. We went to the aquatic center today and to keep up the pride, he went and passed the swim test to be able to ride the slide alone because he's 4 inches short. Passed it with ease without a life vest. He can touch where it is but they require a swim test. He won't take off the ducky wrist band they give shorter kids who pass the test to go on the slide. Patrick has earned his weblos badge and will be getting it this month. He has also earned I believe 9 additional pins, will have another 4 next week, and earn the rest in the book before pack meeting in August. He will get those pins when he gets his arrow of light. We are SO proud of how quickly he's moved through the book, and that he has had the motivation to receive all of the pins you can physically earn. I have been raised around scouting my entire life, and know it's a lot of hard work, but I couldn't have imagined what being the mother of a scout entailed. It is so hard, as well as rewarding. I told him I will push you as much as you want to be pushed. He has full control as to how fast and how much he earns, and being the kid he is,competition is full scale. He has found it is something he loves, he is learning which he loves, and doing new things he didn't know he could do. Taking him just out of his comfort zone enough to find out what he can do. The pride on his face is something you can't describe. It is worth every minute of work. With us having season tickets to ReAL Monarchs, we have been really busy. Between that and making sure they go to ReAL games as well I am surprised we have time for much else. They are getting the opportunity to see world class athletes they wouldn't have seen any other way. On the 4th we went for the game against Orlando where they were able to see Kaka play which is incredible someone of that caliber playing in MLS. Sure he only played for about 36 min before getting his first MLS straight red card and ejected off the field, the opportunity was still there. They also got to go onto the field for fireworks, which they thought was the coolest thing ever, just being allowed onto the field. Tomorrow they get the opportunity to watch Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard play and while at the moment they don't realize how epic it is, one day they won't believe got to actually be there for his first MLS game. They were able to be at other epic MLS moments last year, and I am so happy they are able to have these opportunities. Last Saturday at the Monarchs game we decided to stay after, and got team, coaches, and mascot signatures on their inaugural season t-shirts and immediately after getting home, they told me to put them in the hope chest and to never wash them. That is going to be a cool keepsake to have when they are older. Just before the 4th we went camping with some friends up at pineview. Patrick got to learn how to kayak, and was so proud of both boys. I didn't have to talk to them more than one time to have life jackets on any time they are in the water no matter if it's waist deep or ankle deep. They both swam with us out to the buoys and were so proud of the accomplishment. They didn't mind camping since we don't go much and aren't used to tenting it. They surprise me every single day with the things they do. I have been an incredibly blessed mom having these incredible boys in my life. Not sure I would have been on near the adventures, or been able to come out of my comfort zone as far if they weren't here wanting to go go go all the time. I am so glad I have the opportunities to be with them as much as I am. I know it is beneficial for them to have me as active in their lives as I am able to be. We have truly been blessed the past few years. Ways I am not even sure I can name, there have been so many. We are very fortunate to have the family and friend support that we have. It's been really interesting watching over the years, who sticks around and is there for you no matter what, and who intentionally or unintentionally drifts out of your life. We may not have a lot of friends but the ones we do have would do absolutely anything for us and have proved it over and over. I just hope we have been able to prove our loyalty to them in the same way.