Silly's Landmark Summer

We timed our trip so Cakes and Silly wouldn't miss their fun events the last week of school. Silly had Field Day and a Class party on the same day. Scott and I were both there for field day, but then I had to go to Cakes' Fifth Grade Luncheon, so Scott and Bubba stuck around for the party.

Be careful!

Not sure if he was having fun or not...

Can you tell it was a really hot day?

With his best friend - they were lucky enough to be in the same class for two years

Waiting to get wet

His teacher had an owl theme all year, so each of the kids decorated one of these masks. Silly went with Darth Vader; Scott stapled a straw from their smoothies for a light saber.

Bubba thinks it's pretty awesome

Turning 8 is a big deal when you belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Silly hit that milestone back in May. Scott was supposed to be going out on sea trials at some point, and then we had our Disney trip, so all of Silly's birthday festivities were delayed for a while. Thankfully, we have an awesome, and understanding Bishop who was willing to let us schedule a baptism whenever we could make it work. 

But first! A birthday party! He's been wanting a Lego party for a long time, so that's what we did.

Scott enjoyed LEGO Bingo as much as the kids

LEGO cake

Presents!

Scott's party contribution was drawing LEGO faces on all of the cups. The kids thought they were pretty cool.

Then the big day - baptism! Silly asked Papop to be the speaker, and of course he did a great job. He talked about covenants and said something I'd never thought of before, God never asks us to make a covenant without also giving us a way to renew it. Love that man! Then Silly was baptized by Scott. Silly was so adorable; as soon as he came up out of the water he looked right at Scott and flashed him this great big happy grin then went right back to his poker face. After he was confirmed a member of The Church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Bishop Dudley asked me to bear my testimony. I told him there are pictures I keep in my head of the significant events in my life, and that smile he flashed his dad will be the image I keep of his baptism.

A few pictures of the crowd: nobody had any surprise announcements this time.

The family

And more of the family

And one last one

After all of those adventures, he jumped right into Cub Scout Day Camp. He had an awesome time and caught the fishing bug. He was one of only a few boys who caught a fish and he's been bugging us about going fishing again ever since!

This happened a few times after day camp

There was a Pack Meeting the week after camp so the boys could get their patches and belt loops. Silly earned his Bobcat and belt loops for fishing, hiking and flag football.

Getting pinned - I am an official Scout mom now!

His crowning achievement this summer was fishing in the Chesapeake Bay with Papop, 2 uncles and 3 cousins. And he was the only one who caught anything! Dad sent me this picture of his catch. :-) My Albanian BIL told me he was very impressed with Silly, and that says a lot because that man loves to fish.

He definitely started 3rd grade with a lot of stories to tell!