Updates

WOW its been a while. I said I wouldn't do that - I will try harder.

Nothing overly special going on but there has been LOTS going on. The office has been busy. Its that time of year though. Soon we will have annual conference so there are lots of meetings going and lots of budget meetings soon to come. Today is the last picture day for the directory - ours are first gotta look pretty and get there by 10am I think we can do it. I have a couple things to do while there then off to see grandma. I think we will take the uno game today - she seems to like that one.

Last weekend we had our annual leaders meeting for scouts. The prep for that kept me pretty busy the week before and since. I think we have the coolest schedule ever. Next month is our only trip until the end of the year - we are going to the Cheyenne Bottoms which is the wet lands up by Great Bend for Camporee. They usually have fall and spring camporrees but we are only planning on attending the fall one - unless the spring one can be added later when we dont have something else going on - keep reading you will see what I mean. In november we will camp out at the local lake. I think it will be cold and they dont have real bathrooms but we will make it. We are taking the whole month of december off except our quartery recylcing community service the first saturday morning and then we are having a "camp out" hopefully at the local armory if not at the cabin for New Years. It will be a night of movies and snacks and games. In January we have Trappers which is always super cold - this is the only camping activity - well actually the only activity I am not going to. I have went out the next day several times - my body just cant take the cold like that and I hurt too bad to move. Feb will be Camp Alaska which is the scout skills event of the year they have to go all over camp Kanza to find whatever thing they have hidden or complete whatever task they have at each of the 8 stations and whoever with the best time wins. March there really isnt anything other than quarterly recycling. April starts the fun stuff. This year we are going to go to Boy Scout Weekend at Silver Dollar City. We have never went on a trip like this before. The letters sent to parents were received Thursday or yesterday depending on if they are in town or rural. I have already had a kid text me and say No Way! I hope that this trip will be cool. In May we are going to Diamond Head Resort at Tahlequah, Ok to go Kyacking and then we leave May 31st to go to Camp Hale at Talihina, Ok to spend a week in the wilderness at Summer Camp. This place is new for us. Has a big thing called the blog to jump on in the lake and a climbing wall. A real pool, horses, a radio station, an auto machanics shop, and so much more. You can literally earn every badge offered by scouts here - even the snow sports one - they have a fake ski slope - made outta fine sand of course. Then its firework stand time and then 81 speedway in August - then we would be back to now.

I hope the kids have a great time this year. We also have two meetings a month (except december) and I am teaching two of the 4 badges this year one guy says I am going to assist on his too. I am going to miss two meetings this year though. There are fun meetings and learning meetings not just one or the other. I think this is our best schedule yet. I cant think of the last time I personally have left the state but to have scheduled that we are leaving 3 times I think that is super. I honestly think we have a few kids who never have left KS. I know the Silver Dollar City trip will be a huge deal - they do have a few have-tos to be able to go like they have to attend 1/2 the meetings/ activities (thats 6 outta 12) between now and the 2nd january meeting and they have to pay $50 by the same meeting. I think those are minor though compared to the big picture and will keep their participation up too. For the kayaking trip they have to be a "Blue Swimmer" and Im sure there will be a small fee there too. Camp requirments already have been done by working at the fireworks tent. They will also have to pay a fuel fee (last year it was $25) and they pay any fees for badges the take. There are lots of free badges and we already pay to go to camp so they have always had to pay if there was a fee for the badges. Overall yes there is money to pay in scouts but its not much and I try to make sure that they know at least a month or 6 weeks in advance that there is money needed and how much. The SDC trip is lots of money compared to normal thats why they had 5 months notice. Anyway I think its going to be super.

This weekend seems rather quiet. Going for pictures and to see grandma. If pictures take too long then we will see grandma tomorrow afternoon. I also need to take some stuff outta the garage. My dad finally bought his new pickup this week (this thing is SO pretty Dark Cherry 08 Chev Silverado has a black grill and bumper and chrome steps and wheels its got the two hidden doors for the back - even the back doors have electric windows and the seats are SO comfortable) so his old pickup is comming to our house. This is just so my dad but its still a lot even though I should be used to it. After the first of the year (when I can afford it) it will get switched over to my name. My expenses are really high right now so I asked to wait until then. his old pu is a teal 97 f150 with only 45K and a 6 disk changer and 3 doors. There were a couple recalls he had never gotten fixed so he put it in the shop to get those things done and the oil changed. We will go pick it up later in the week. Eventually Im sure this will be Alex's school car until then there are lots of times it will be nice to have to have a pu. Even though he hasnt ever really garaged it - I do have a two car garage so it will be garaged at my house. The other side is just storage now so I have some things to take to the basement and the lawn mowers will need to be in the middle rather than the side that sort of thing - shouldnt take more than an hour total out there. Then tomorrow will be church and youth group. On an up note I am definelty going to stay with these new meds. I feel SO much better and my sugars and bp are finally where they want them. After like 2 years its such a releif. Actually my sugars are even better than before all that. Of course they are expensive. I think I am going to change over to the conference group plan for the first of the year and take advantage of the copays of that policy rather than the policy I have now. My meds are why we are not switching the pickup over now but I think they are worth it. My dad even has commented about how diffrent I act and how its such a good thing to see. That comment made me feel good.

Better get busy or the whole day will get away from me. Hope all is well your way!