Dashing/Cutie Patootie's

PROM MAY 15, 2010

JOSHUA and ANDREA NELSON
(a classmate and friend)

CHRISTOPHER and CHLOE WILLIAMS

(girlfriend)

Welcome to the Family

Benjamin and Nicholas have had a "wish list" for a very long time.
Number one on that list....A PET!!!
Oh yes.
If any of you know me, as well as you think you do, know
I am NOT a pet person.
Oh ya they are cute and cuddly.
BUT... they are another responsibility.
So one day they came to me again asking.
I was having a good day, so I said sure...........BUT!!!
I made a deal with them.
The deal was, THEY needed to show ME some responsibility.
I told them that for 1 week they had to keep their things picked up.
The living room floor was to be clean every night before bed,
dishes were to be put in the sink after they were done,
clothes put in the laundry room after taking then off.
This was from a Sunday to a Sunday.
If they could show me I would do my part too, keep my promise.
They did pretty good.
The first couple days were amazing.
I didnt even have to remind them.
After a few days I had to give a reminder.
But for the most part they did good.
So when the weekend came, it was the discussion of
WHAT pet it would be.
Ben: A German Shepard
Nic: A Bearded Dragon(lizard)
THAT was NOT the kind of pet I was thinking,
altho I knew that was what they would have expected.

SOOOOOO, after a much awaited arrival, here is our new PET!!!

There are actually 4 of them.
"Tiger" "Mantis" "Fred" and "George".
If you could not tell from the pictures they are
Praying Mantises.
They are 6 days old today, and about the length
of your thumb nail.
We have only had them 16 hours, but so far so good.
We will see how this all goes as time passes.
I will keep you posted.

Benjamin the "BOBCAT"

Benjamin turned 8 years old back in August,
and has been faithfully attending scouts since then.
He has successfully accomplished all the requirements to receive
the first rank of the Scouting Program, which is the BOBCAT.
Last night, at the award ceremony, Benjamin received the badge.
Part of the process in receiving the badge,
(they don't just hand it to you)
is DAD turning his son upside down while MOM pins the badge on.
Ben thought that was so funny.
The rule with the badge is, it is pinned on upside down.
When Benjamin does a good deed for mom,
she turns the badge right side up.
(I will be anxiously awaiting that good deed).
Another part of receiving a new rank is a pin, for MOM.
I was privileged to have Ben pin my "mom's pin" on me.
That was awesome.
Benjamin is well on his way to receive the rank of "EAGLE SCOUT".

Festival of the Nativities.

A tradition our family has enjoyed while living here in
Vancouver is going to the Festival of the Nativities.
This event takes place the first weekend of December, and is in one of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints meeting houses.
A variety of nativities are "borrowed" from ward members
with-in the Vancouver West Stake. The cultural hall, relief society,
and primary rooms are used for the display of over
700 very different and unique nativities.

I took a few photos this year, to show myself, and others what an
amazing experience it is to see. Nativities from so many different
nations like Mexico, South America, Peru, Japan, Israel, Russia, etc.
Materials that were used from iron, wood, glass, cloth, porcelain etc.
I was amazed by the variety of sizes and colors also.

Here are just a few of the ones that were there this year.

Jerusalem

The Stable

Counted Cross Stitch

Sugar Cookie

Native America
(Notice the Animals)

Alaska
(Notice the animals)

Made with Raffia

The box is the size of a Match Box

(Not sure what it is made of, but VERY TINY)

The primary room was all hands on.
Nativities that were "touchable".
A dress up area for the children to be characters like
Angels, Kings, Shepards and animals.
(This was the first place the boys wanted to go, and stay).

Shepard

King

Bringing Silver and Gold

Eagle Scout Joshua Timothy Howard

Eagle Scout Joshua Timothy Howard

Eagle Scout Award, Medal, and Pins. A pin for Dad, a pin for Mom,
and a Pin for Mentor.

Tim receiving his Dad's Pin.

Big Hug

Josh presenting me with my Mom's Pin.

Big Hug

Bro. Kearl presenting Josh with his Eagle Medal.

The Vancouver Washington West Stake has come up with
a special badge, starting back in the 1980's,
to be presented to all those young men
who receive their Eagle Award.
Each badge is numbered according to the next in line of earning their Eagle Award.
Josh received number 312.


Joshua had the privilege of receiving his Eagle Award on the day as 3 of his Friends and fellow troop members. This was quite an accomplishment for all of them, and not an every day occurrence that 4 young men receive their Eagles at he same time, from the same troop. It was a great ceremony for the 4 young men, their families and those who attended.

All those, in attendance, who have received their Eagle Award,
giving the Eagle Pledge.

Josh behind his "brag table".
This was a display of who Josh is, what he has done
and accomplished.

The Cake

New Eagle Scout. Soon to be Eagle Scout.

Joshua and one of his leaders, Brother Astle.

Leaders and friends. Kevin Astle, Bro. Palmer,
Bro. Gassaway, Bro. Kearl, Bishop Ricks,
Bro. Nelson, Bro. Astle, Bro. Gamble,
Nate Schollars, Andrew Prince, Josh, and Gabe Brower.

Andrew, Nate, Bro. Kearl, Gabe, and Josh.

Nate, Andrew, Bishop Ricks, Josh, and Gabe.

Nate, Andrew, Bro. Astle, Josh, and Gabe.

Nathan Schollars, Andrew Prince, Gabriel Brower, Joshua Howard.

The guest signing table.

Benjamin's Baptism

The "Veggies" of our Labors

We had the great experience to plant a garden together as a family.
What a great inspiration form our Prophet.
Our garden was planted along our back fence.
We had previously laid weed block and bark down, so that did have to be removed.
The spot was just the right size tho.
The family was able to work together to cultivate the ground, plant the seeds,
watch the sprouts grow, pull weeds, water, and then eat the veggies.
Peas, Cucumbers, Green Beans, and Carrots.
Each one of us in the family got to choose a veggie to plant, and that they would eat,
when it was ready to harvest.
Ben and Nic chose cucumbers. Josh and Chris chose green beans.
Tim chose carrots. I chose peas.
Our little garden has been perfect. Just the right size.
Everyone has enjoyed eating the veggies.
It is so cute to see the boys go out and come running in to tell me, or show me,
how something has grown since the last time they saw it.
We are looking forward to planting again next year.
Maybe expand on our variety to include tomatoes, potatoes.
(onions and peppers have been suggested, we will see)
Enjoy the pictures!!

Ben shoveling the bark that was laid down.

Nic moving the wheel barrel to the next stop for transporting the bark away.

Josh mixing the good dirt in with the bad dirt, clay.

Chris planting some pea seeds.

CUCUMBERS

GREEN BEANS

CARROTS

PEAS
(I didn't take any pictures of the peas when they were done.
Wish I had tho, we had TONS)