Scout Camp...Adam's home.

Adam has been at Scout Camp all week and came home yesterday. Hooray! We missed him while he was gone. When Brian picked him up from his Scout Master's house he said, "Mom's got to get a picture of you!" Having sent many boys off to scout camp and seen what they look like when they come home, I wasn't surprised when I saw Adam. He was wearing his week of camp ALL over him from head to toe. I love that he is still such a boy. I keep telling him not to grow up. 
First of all, his uniform is a little embarrassing for me as a mother and fills me with guilt. It's most likely NOT his shirt, but a hand me down from one of his brothers and I'm sure the rank patch isn't right AND notice the "chalk outline" of what was once a patch above his left pocket. It looks like it was "glued" on. It's not the only patch I have glued over the years. Eeek! BUT...he has a smile on his face and doesn't care about his uniform. I might get that right one of these days.

Aside from all of that, let's move in for a closer look....

What I'd like to point out here is the mustache. His fellow scouter and friend, John, told Brian that Adam had a mustache the entire week. I thought he took soap with him. Maybe it wasn't on the list.

The dirty, untucked, half unbuttoned shirt. The t-shirt underneath doesn't 

look much better.

The shorts had to match the shirt. I asked him if he showered and he said, "No, but I jumped in the lake a couple of times, but that doesn't count." At least he changed his underwear.

He said he was the only one who got this many mosquito bites. Hmm...I guess we forgot the bug spray along with the soap. But seriously, with legs that cute, what bug wouldn't want to take a little bite?!

He came home with his watch, which I was very happy about since I borrow it 

every other day.

They were up in Flagstaff at Camp Raymond, but fortunately not near the big fire.

Just stuff he came home with. I am kind of wondering about the two belts, since he was wearing one. I guess we have 3 scout belts now? Anybody missing one??

Basket Weaving and Woodcarving merit badges. Is it only a mom who would get all mushy looking at these little handiworks? I guess I just picture him sitting up there at camp, with his half buttoned, dirty shirt, mustached face and his grubby hands deep in concentration working on his little baskets and remembering the same boy at the age of 3 sitting on the floor of his grandma's house in his p.j. shirt and little boy underwear, deep in concentration with his coloring book and wonder where the time has gone. I guess he's not listening to me growing up anyhow. 

Children + Water= Cool Fun

This was a really fun shoot. Carrie had all four of her grandkids here and wanted to get some pictures. I did her little granddaughter, Starla last year. Carrie suggested the water park and I thought it was a great idea. I didn't mind in the least running around in the water. Getting splashed was ideal. So Starla and her cousins, Ryan, Jacob and Ethan and their mom's and Grandma headed over to the park.

I fell in love with Starla the first time we met. She is such a no nonsense girl. I enjoyed getting to know the boys, too. In fact I was trying to get a feel for Jacob (the middle guy...he's 4) I was asking him who his favorite super hero is. I was expecting to hear Superman, Spiderman, etc. He thought for a minute and said, "Spencer!" Spencer is his uncle who was coming home from a 2 year mission to Mexico that evening. I wonder if Spencer realizes that his nephews look up to him in that "superhero" way. That's Jacob in the upper right, below.

This is Jacob telling me how old he is.

Having 4 boys myself, I just have a soft spot in my heart for their little boy limbs that are kind of pale and skinny and their bellies that either pooch out or are as flat as a board and blend right into their hips, and then those hips that can't quite hold up a pair of pants or in this case swim trunks.

I can just picture these cousins having tons of fun in years to come.

Oh, cutie-pie Starla.

"Thanks, Ryan for the hug."

Big Brother Ethan.

Oops. Gravity finally won out over Ryan's swim trunks. Mom to the rescue.

Pure exuberance!

Summer means Kino Swim Team

Well, we went to the final swim meet of the summer last night. When you have kids who are 8 and 12 participating, you are there for quite a while. It is H-O-T!! (And that is an understatement, especially since I just got back from UT yesterday where I wore a sweater and socks to bed. I know...very whimpy, but once my feet are cold...well, that's it. Where they go, the rest of the bod tends to follow.) BUT, heat or not, it is totally worth it to sit and watch my kids swim. I didn't have my camera with me tonight. I couldn't have taken pics anyways...I finally volunteered to be a timer and they(the solicitors of timers) were right: they were the best seats in the house AND they brought us ice cold water and snacks on top of it. Next season, I am NOT going to wait to the last meet to volunteer! Here are just a few images from this year...

Along with great exercise, the kids always make new friends. Glad it's part of our summers.