Growing Up Too Fast

I've been watching my babies grow up all week!

Sarah started her classes at Northland Pioneer College on Monday. She is taking a full load: Intermediate Algebra; History of the Western World; Principles of Economics; and Effective Writing. Sounds delightful!

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This is Sarah on Tuesday at the NPC campus, ready to take on the world!

Also on Tuesday Dylan attended his final Cub Scout pack meeting. Now that he is 11, he is officially a Boy Scout.

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At this pack meeting he received his Webelos badge and several awards he has earned over the past few months. He also earned his Arrow of Light, which he is holding in the picture at right. That's a big accomplishment!
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As part of the ceremony, his mom and his brother Jacob and several of his leaders spoke about the qualities he has developed during his Cub Scout years. He was a little embarrassed when his mom began to cry, making everyone else start choking up! What can I say, he's my baby boy!
After watching the new Bobcats get turned upside down while their moms pinned their awards on their collars, an honored tradition in these parts (the pin is upside-down until the new Bobcats do a good deed), Dylan decided he wanted to be turned once more for old time's sake.

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The Cub Master was more than happy to oblige, while Mom looked on!

Finally, at the end of the pack meeting, Dylan crossed The Bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, with all of his Cub friends saying good-bye on one end while the older Boy Scouts waited to welcome him on the other end. Doesn't he look proud in his brand new official Boy Scout uniform shirt?

Afterward he wrote his name on the bridge, alongside the names of all the other new Boy Scouts who crossed the bridge in years past.

Dylan's dad, Mark, and his dad's girlfriend, Diane, were in town for a few days, so they were able to attend Dylan's important pack meeting. That made it even more special for him.
We don't want to leave Jacob out! Not only did he talk about Dylan's loving nature in the Arrow of Light ceremony, but you can see in this picture that the Cub Master strong-armed him into leading the Cubs in a silly scouting song. Jacob has grown so much this summer. He's about 6'1", almost as tall as his dad!

If you're wondering why everyone looks a bit bedraggled, rain had fallen nonstop all day, and just before we arrived at the pack meeting, the heavens let loose a downpour! It was impossible to see across the street, literally. So we were all soaked to the skin as we raced inside the building that night.
It was a great week, but it didn't end so well for Dylan. After school today while riding his bike to meet a friend, the front tire flew off the bike and Dylan met the road face-first. Keep in mind, we live on unpaved roads that are mostly dirt and rocks. He took several layers of skin off his chin and the backs of his hands. After scrubbing the dirt out of the wounds, we were both exhausted and Dylan crashed on the couch.

I'm happy to report he's feeling better now, but he'll be sore for a good while!