The Blanding Bugle

Volume 18 Issue 4

April 2009

Scouting!

A month doesn't go by that the Blandings aren't doing something for scouting.  In March the boys went to Merit Badge weekend, well all except Jason and Chris.  Kray earned the Electronics merit badge, Mike almost go the Aviation (finished it up in April) and Matt got his first one: Coin Collecting.  Camping also helped Matt finish up his Second Class requirements.  Matt only needs a few more scout activities to get his First Class.

Jason is finishing his paper work for his Eagle project.  Not an easy job since there are dates that have gone missing, blue cards that were never turned in and have gone missing as well.  We have been recreating much of 2008 for Jason. 

Mike is in search of a worth Eagle project at this time. 

Matt continues to be jazzed about scouting and plugs along at requirements and is trying his hand at a few other merit badges.

Chris is well on his way to the WEBELOS badge and should have it here in just a month or two. But he did win his pinewood derby race--his very last race.

Chris won 1st place

Jessie's "Love" car & Chris' "FBI" car

Nice Smile Kray

After just under two years of braces, Kray has a perfect smile.  Of course we have to give a huge thanks to Uncle Scott of the tender care he took with Kray's smile. Without him Kray would still have huge gaps between his teeth. 

Next up is Jason and maybe Mike.

While in Richland, they stopped to see Grandma Ostler's new head stone and leave a flower or two.  They also placed stones on her headstone because they had learned that ancient cultures left stones because the stones last longer than flowers. We are sure that the grounds keepers are not pleased with us, but we left small stones and the kids really thought it would be a great gesture since the flowers I left would be dead in a day or two.  We will go back before Mother's Day to leave some fresh flowers again (and probably a small stone or two).

Nellie Nadine Ostler's head stone
Notice the stones.

SNOW!

Last year we had snow in April (damaged our beautiful cherry tree) and this year we had it in March.  This is what the kids did in the snow!

Matt in red with a huge snowball.
Chris & Jessie in the hot tub with a small snowball.

Soccer!

We play it, we watch it, we coach it and now we support it!  The Seattle Sounders FC are the new team on the block for professional soccer in America and Steve and Doreen were able to go to the second home game of the season.  We witnessed a beautiful game and can't wait to watch more!  GO SOUNDERS FC. 

Sounders FC 2
Real Salt Lake 0
Steve & Doreen ONE GREAT TIME!

Dinner Above the City!

Steve's parents came up to spend part of a weekend with us. What a treat!  They took Steve and Doreen with Rob and Angela to dinner in the Space Needle.  The last time Steve and Doreen were in the space needle the food wasn't that good, but this time they were pleasantly surprised. 

Steve P & Doreen

Doreen & Steve M.