CT Music program 2012

Another school year means another music program for Tyson.  This year was all about music around the world.  It was super cute and Tyson had another speaking part.

The cute blond in every picture is Addy.  She was Tyson's dance partner so by default she made every picture.  Buddy did great, he spoke very clear into the microphone, remembered all his lines and all of the song lyrics but when it came to the dancing part he failed to "let loose and shake it."

"Family" Boy Scout Campout

When Tyson signed up for Boy Scouts back in September he could hardly wait for the family campout.  And by "family" I mean me too.  Truth be told I'm not really much of an outdoor kinda mom.  I like the park and hanging out outside but sleeping outside AND eating all of your meals outside..........not so much.   Tyson really wanted us all there so "we" decided to all go.  This would be Emmy's first time to camp and she actually did great!

 I love this man!  He can set up a tent like no one else can.

 

Our pretty view during dinner

 Pack Dinner

 My Emmy!  She can make friends anywhere she goes......even a Boy Scout campout!

 Some of the boys from Den 5

Possibly my most favorite picture of them!

 Em and her new 5th grade fun friend skipping stones in the lake.

 Time to make our bottle rockets

Ta Da!  Ready to hang up to dry until launch time tomorrow  after breakfast.

 Songs and skits around the  Pack campfire

 Tyson was so proud of his "solo" tent...........this would prove to not a be the best decision later into the night, say around 1:30 am.

 Tyson and Jack reading about Bigfoot before they go on the hunt with their flashlights.

 The next morning it was time to launch the bottle rockets.

It was a pretty fun weekend and the weather was beautiful!  The Lucas family had fun and I think I see more family campouts in our future.

Ready. Set. SWIM!

Tyson is swimming for EAT this year, Extreme Aquatic Team.  He swims two nights a week for one hour and that one hour completely exhausts me.  He must swim over 500 meters.  Which for an 8 year old boy is A LOT.  The first time he practiced he could barely make it down and back once.  Now he has become quite good at it.  He is working on his freestyle form, backstroke and breast stroke.  I couldn't be more proud of him.  This is definitely not an easy sport. 

 Waiting to warm up......

 His pal Avery

The warm up consists of 100 jumping jacks, 25 push-ups and something called stream line superman (which looks kinda like a long extended crunch) then they hop into the pool for 100-200 meters of freestyle swim.  THEN they start they start their drills.  And I wonder why Tyson is so hungry all the time.  The jeans I bought him at the beginning of the school year a a little big in the waste now.  He burns some serious calories.  First meet is next week. 

The 2 Newest Family Members

For the last few months Tyson has been on this "guinea pig" kick.  We honestly thought he'd forget about it.  No such luck.  He told us he really wanted a guinea pig but through all of his research we discovered that "guinea pigs are social animals and do better in pairs or with other guinea pigs."  Of course they do do, I'd expect nothing less.  I've got to hand it to Tyson, he really did do his homework.  We told Tyson he needed to learn about guinea pigs first and find out about their needs.  So he did just that.  Week after week he would check out another guinea pig book from his school library.  He actually checked out so many that our librarian asked Tyson, "if his mom let him get one yet?"  Then he asked us to take him to PetCo so he could research them more and talk to an employee.  We left there and he knew exactly what he needed to purchase for his guinea pigs.  It was then he realized he was going to need a little monetary assistance.  This is when the grandparents came in to play.  Tyson sat down and wrote letters to his his Aunt Jenna, and both sets of grandparents explaining his predicament (aka asking for some donations).  Fast forward a week and it was time for the big purchase.

 Meet "Hamilton" as in Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.  He is very sweet and likes to be held.

 Looks like Josh Hamilton to me.

This is "Hardin" as in James Hardin of the Oklahoma City Thunder  and he is a little more difficult to photograph, but he too will get used to having a lens in his face........it's just goes with the territory when you're part of this family.

The guineas are sweet and so far Tyson takes really good care of them.  We are in the process of moving them upstairs.  That will become the Lucas Zoo.  Franklin the tortoise and Shiny, Stoops, Tiny the crab have also relocated upstairs.

This is their split level gp condo.  Pretty nice digs.

It's the uniform......

Tyson joined Cub Scouts this year and is LOVING it!  He's attended the first couple Den and Pack meetings.  He's really looking forward to the family camp out next month.  This is something Tyson and Paul can do together.  I don't know too much about it yet, but for now all I know is that Buddy is a Bear in Den 5, Pack 90 and he looks SUPER CUTE in his uniform!!!