Wordless Wednesday

Cub Scout Blue & Gold 2011

This year's Cub Scout Blue & Gold was fairly simple. We decided to have a Chili Cook-Off! It went well and we had TONS of different kinds of chili! Awards were given out for the best and hottest chili. Unfortunately, mine wasn't either. Oh well, I'm not a fan of hot chili so mine wasn't hot! :)

Awards were given to the Dens--Christopher already achieved his rank back in December, so he just got some arrows. He really enjoyed the Order of the Arrow Native American Dancers that came and did some dancing. He was chosen to help them out, and he got an awesome Turkey Feather! He did a great job! Way to go, Christopher!!! He looked unhappy in the pictures, but he was trying to stay serious like the other Boy Scout dancers. Awesome, Christopher!

The Water is 12 feet (3.7 m) Deep and it is Safe to Pass...

The title is a clue to where we went today? Any ideas???

Today was a day off of school so we decided to jump in the van and head into Hartford. Any guesses now? Christopher had a project on Samuel Clements AKA Mark Twain so we headed to the Mark Twain House on Farmington Avenue. The title of this post is what the term "Mark Twain" meant to Riverboatmen. Christopher found that very interesting.

It was a quiet day at the house. Our tour consisted of another couple and the kids and I. It was a great opportunity for Christopher to get all the information he needed about Mark Twain or should I say Samuel Clements...

Anneli was fascinated because Samuel Clements was a Cat lover. He had MANY cats. Their names were such like SOUR MASH, APPOLLINARIS, ZOROASTER, and BLATHERSKITE . They were not named in an unfriendly spirit, but were named such so that his children could practice large and difficult styles of pronunciation.

It was a great day to check out the beautiful house. If you are ever in Hartford and have a few minutes, be sure to check out the Mark Twain House!

Signs of Spring are ALL Around Us!

Seriously, there are signs of Spring ALL around us!!!
How could that be, you ask?

I know when you look around it looks like this...
But, peeking out of the snow....

Are signs of hope, that spring is right around the corner!

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Our Dafodils are also getting ready to bloom soon!

And so are these....

It's so exciting! I LOVE Spring!!!!!

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No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

~Proverb

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No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.

~Hal Borland

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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

~Anne Bradstreet

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Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn

"An Easter Hymn"

UCONN Women's Senior Night at Gampel!

Tonight Christopher, Shaun, and I had the opportunity to head to Storrs for the UCONN Women's Basketball Senior Night Game at Gampel against Syracuse. We had a ticket for Anneli, but she decided that Basketball games are boring and she would stay with Meme and Pepe. That was okay, I think she would have been happy for a few minutes and then she would have been bored.

We really enjoyed the game! Of course the Huskies won--which Christopher loved because he went to the UCONN Men's game on Thursday night at the XL Center and they lost to Marquette! We got to watch the UCONN Women's Basketball Senior Night Ceremony as they honored Lorin Dixon and of course Maya Moore. Christopher was impressed to watch Jonathan, the UCONN mascott, unveil Maya's jersey number in the rafters. Christopher counted 13 women players have banners on the wall!

A Day at Mystic Aquarium!

We woke up this morning thinking of things to do. Christopher and Anneli wanted to go to the Mystic Aquarium. We picked up my parents and headed down to Mystic. The kids always love to go and they love to bring others like my parents so they can show off their vast knowledge of Sea Creatures. Christopher should really work here when he gets old enough! He wouldn't have to learn too much more! :)

Tripping with Pepe!

Today we went to the Science Center with Pepe. Meme was in South Carolina and Pepe had the day off. We called him and asked him if he'd like to go to the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford with us. We have gone many times and even taken Meme, but Pepe has never been. I don't have many pictures, since my camera battery was dying, but we had a great time!