The Blanding Bugle

Volume 16 Issue 8

August 2007

Scouting News!

It seems like we don't do anything but scouting in the summer, but that isn't true, we spend all year on it and it just gets rewarded during the summer.  But this summer is a bit more special than other summers as we finally have an eagle on Kray's chest!

Yes, we had Kray's Eagle Court of Honor! One down and four to go!

It was a very hot evening as our building was having the wood floors redone so the air conditioning was off. I didn't think that would be a problem because only a few people would come. WRONG! The multipurpose room was packed with people.  I was blown away.  I knew a lot of people had touched Kray's life, but I didn't think they would show up.

The program was lovely and everything was perfect.  Grandpa Blanding, Kray's hero, was the keynote speaker and challenged Kray to continue in service and on the scouting trail.  He already has it mapped out how he can get the Eagle Palms.

Jason is very close to his next rank: Star. All he needs is one more Eagle required merit badge and Mike will be a First Class scout here very soon.  While at scout camp he passed his BSA swimming test.  What is so cool about that is Mike as exercise induced asthma and so he has been working on building his strength up for a year so he could pass the test.  The three weeks prior to scout camp, Mike would go to the swimming pool at the gym and instead of playing with this brothers and sister, he would swim laps for 45 minutes, practicing his strokes and breathing.  Then he went to camp and passed the test in the very cold lake water.

I can't wait until the August Court of Honor! Kray will get four more merit badges, Jason two plus a rank advancement, and Mike will receive three merit badges plus a couple rank advancements. In no time the Eagles nest will be full of Blandings.

Chris and Matt each earned their next rank. Chris is a Wolf and Mat is a Bear.  They also had a blast at cub camp. It was one of the hottest on records, but so much fun!

Mike turns 12

How time flies when you are having children. Mike is now 12 and received the Priesthood on Sunday, July 15!  Grandma and Grandpa Blanding were able to come for the ordination (and stay for Kray's eagle court of honor).  I can't believe I have three young men joining their father as Priesthood holders.  What a special (and handsome) group of boys I have!

Above: Kray

Matt and Chris

Matt with his bull's eye!

Chris with his bull's eye

Getting ready for the horse back ride!

Family Reunion

While Kray, Jason and Mike were at scout camp earning merit badges and having a blast, Matt, Chris, Jessie and Steve headed to Long Beach, WA, for the Blanding Family reunion.  I stayed home to clean house, work and wait for the boys to come home from scout camp.

From the pictures that I saw it looks like they had a blast. They went horseback riding, go kart racing, flew kites on the beach, went on a treasure hunt, played all the silly games the Blandings play at family reunions and had one heck of a time playing with cousins.

Grandpa and Jessie

Water Balloon fight!