Jenna's Photography

The first installment of our county fair projects:

State Fair

Blue Ribbon

Nick's Eagle Project

I thought I better post a little about Nick's Eagle Scout project. For those of you that do not know what an Eagle Scout project is here is a little background.

In the Boy Scout program there are several ranks ranging from "Boy Scout" to "Eagle Scout". Each rank has a number of requirements including a number of merit badges that have to be accomplished before the Scout can move on to the next rank. Eagle rank is actually not the highest rank but is considered the most significant. To achieve your Eagle rank a community service project entailing at least 100 hours of service is required along with a list of merit badges.

To organize and execute a community service project of 100 hours is not a small task. Nick had to first draft the plan out, then present it to the counsel advancement chair. The plan had to include everything from a draft of the project, a list of materials and tools, as well as step by step instructions for the tasks that were required to complete the project. Once he had the signature of the advancement chair, Nick was authorized to start his project.

Nick chose to build a handicap ramp into barn at a local Historical Farm right outside Central City. Nick, I and the other boys went out last Friday to stake out the ramp and get ready for Saturday. Come Saturday morning at least 10 scouts and their parents showed up to help with the project. Ex-Scout Master and contractor Don Hogan was there first thing to get the post holes dug and get us started. Don had to leave around 11 but was a tremendous help getting this project off on the right direction. The whole crew was amazing, from the time people got there until we quit at 5pm everyone worked and worked hard. I can not express my gratitude for all that helped. I was just amazed at how everyone pushed themselves all day long. This is also an testament to Nick and how organized he had the project. Nick knew what had to be done next so as one task was winding down we started the next and kept the work going.

Any how, we just have a little clean up left, here are a couple of photo's of the project. I will be posting a photo album with more pictures if you want to check back there will be a link in the next couple of days.

The Crew

Framed Ramp

Setting the first platform

Setting the posts

Baby Elizabeth

FYI this is dad typing (not Lauren)

Today that little baby that has been growing for 9 months in mommy's tummy has joined her family.

Elizabeth Anne Wade

Born: June 28th 2009

Time: 8:06am

Weight: 6lbs 14oz

Length: 20"

Hair Dark

Here are just a couple of photos, God bless and I hope to blog more tomorrow.

Day 248....

..and Mom's dilated and has started nesting, which in our case can fast turn into spring cleaning. So, we now have a clean laundry room, clean kitchen, and clean bathrooms. We'll see what else she tackles (or has us tackle) in the course of the week.

We want all of you to guess what day the baby will be born and whether it will be a boy or a girl. Leave a comment and let us know what you think. Here, we'll go first:

Dad: Thinks it will be born on Tuesday (the 23) and that it will be a boy.

Mom: Won't say what day and feels like it's a boy

Lauren : I say it will be born on June 21.... in other words the sooner the better! Besides, what better day to be born on then Father's Day? Secondly, I say it will be a boy. Because....well okay, maybe just because I don't want to take the chance of jinxing it. : )

Nick: - says it will be born on June 27- the day of his eagle scout project (more on that later) and it's a boy.

Jenna: June 24...um...just because. A girl so that it will be even.

CJ: He thinks it will be a week from today because Mom started nesting today. He hopes it will be a girl so that Coletta will have a play mate.

Nathaniel: He wants it to be born on July 4th so that it will share a birthday with Louis Armstrong, and he wants it to be a boy so that we can name it Louis Armstrong (just for the record that name isn't on the list.)

Patrick: Patrick thinks it will be born tomorrow because it's Father's Day and he wants it to be a boy.

Coletta: Wednesday, so that it will be a girl (I didn't bother to ask how the day of the week affects the gender I'm just repeating what she told me.)

A huge sorry to everyone out there who keep checking and checking and never seeing anything new. Between lack of time and computers deciding to not cooperate I haven't been able to get anything up. I'm hoping that within the next week I can start posting our project write-ups for 4-H so everyone can see what we are taking to fair, so stick with us!

And this would be why...

...Coletta wanted to go with on the camping trip.

So my question is this: Did she learn it from the dog, or did she teach it to the dog? Then again maybe she learned it from one of the residence vultures...they're not nearly as cute though.

What we all wish we've been doing...