Body Works and the State Museum

The State Museum traveling exhibit now is Gunther con Hagen's  Body Worlds Vital.  They use donated body. After they dissected them, they use a process called plastination.   After the process, they are permanently preserved.The plastinates are odorless and accurate down to the microscopic level.

They wouldn't let us take pictures inside the exhibit but it was really cool.  They show bodies with different disease like lung cancer, fatty livers, etc.  There were smokers lungs and nonsmokers lung.  Hunter said I told everyone in the museum not to smoke.  

This was in the gift shop.  I thought they were very funny.

The boys enjoyed exploring the museum.  It had been a long time since I have been to the museum with both the boys.

I have no idea how they agreed to this picture.  But here they are both sitting in the chair in front of the Christmas.

Happy New Year!!!!

Off to camp

This morning as it poured buckets of rain outside Hunter was on his way to camp.  He went to Klondike Winter Camp at Camp Barstow.  He will be there for 4 days working on merit badges.  He is taking two Eagle required merit badges.  Once he completes one of those merit badges, he will move up to the rank of Star.  We are very proud of him.  He loves camping even if it is cold and rainy.

Merry Christmas

We were able to fool Santa again this year so he visited us Christmas morning.  We were very excited that our stockings were full of goodies.

Merry Christmas

Hunter and his stocking

Santa brought Chris a welding mask and gloves and Jordan received an airsoft gun.

Santa even remembered Oreo.  It was his first Christmas.  He has since gone back to his stocking hoping that more treats and toys would appear.

Court of Honor

Hunter's boy scout troop had their Court of Honor.  Hunter earned 2 merit badges...  the fire safety and traffic safety merit badges.

Hunter's rank is first class.  He is only 2 eagle required merit badges away from earning the rank of star.  He is going to winter camp at the end of December.  By the end of camp, he should have the rank of star.

Jordan's strings performance

Jordan is enjoying his strings class.  He is learning to play the violin which is incredibly hard to play.   They had a beautiful Christmas concert for us.

Jordan and Tred

Jordan concentrating on his music

All 4 of Jordan's grandparents were able to attend.  All the kids did a great job playing.  It was incredible that they could play songs we recognize since they just have been playing for 3 months now.

Click on the arrow to listen to them play Jingle Bells

Oreo caught in the "Death Ray"

We always laugh when Oreo gets in the warm ray of light and goes to sleep.  We call it the Death Ray.

There is music in the air

Hunter and Jordan have been busy practicing their instruments.  This is Hunter's second year playing the sax and he is getting very good.  Jordan has been playing the violin 3 months now and is improving every day.  Oreo has hung in with us like a champ.  Sometimes the notes get too high for us, I can only imagine what is sounds like to Oreo.

Hunter's band performance

Hunter had his Christmas band performance.  They did a wonderful job.   Those middle schoolers sure can play!

 

Click on the arrow to listen to them

Our first Christmas Present

It is Oreo's first Christmas so he was a little confused when we put a tree in the house.  Jordan was worried he was going to pee on the tree.  Thankfully, Oreo has not tried to "mark" the Christmas tree.  He has taken a few naps under the tree.

Corn Maze

We got "lost" in the corn maze again this year.  The maze was shaped like a dragon this year.  We went with flashlights this time and went through the giant maze in the dark.  It was a lot of fun.

Jordan and Hunter in front of a map of the maze

They had a tractor simulator at the corn maze.  What will they think of next?

Camping with the troop

Part of earning the arrow of light when you are a Webelos II is camping with the boy scout troop.  This cold weekend our den was invited to Camp Barstow with the boy scouts.  The boys had a good time camping with the older boys.  Since I am the den leader, I camped in the cold also.

The boy scouts were nice enough to prepare food for the webelos.  Hunter who has been in scouts for 2 years looked out for us.  Since Hunter is the den chief, he had arranged some activities to keep the webelos entertained.

Jordan building a fire

Hunter and Tyler giving Jordan some tips 

Granddad is a kid at heart

Thom could not resist geting in the saddle with the boys.  I guess no boys gets too old to play like he is a cowboy.

Award's Day at CES

The elementary school had an awards ceremony for the first quarter of school.  Jordan received an award for being responsible, respectful and ready.  Which is completely true, but I'm a little biased I know.  :)

The fifth grade class at Jordan's school

Jordan is on the top row on the left hand side in a gray and orange jacket.
You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

Happy Halloween

Hunter debated if he was going trick or treating this year until one of his friends invited him to a party.  Hunter dressed up like a nerd.  He is wearing an old pair of Chris' glasses.

Jordan dressed up like a zombie.  We had a great time making Jordan's costume.  He was a good sports a we were cutting his clothes and putting fake blood on him.

We had a great time at the Brownfield's Halloween party.  The boys went trick or treating in their neighborhood and had a blast.  Not to mention they scored a ton of candy.

Halloween is here

Hunter cleaned on this pumpkin and carved it all by himself.  He did an awesome job!!!!

Walk for the Cure

Again this year, we walked for the cure.  Walk for the cure is fundraiser to raise money to cure juvenile diabetes.  Branden, one of Hunter's friends, has juvenile diabetes so Hunter has seen first hand how diabetes can affect you.  We have raised money and walked with the Boyds for the last two year.  It is a wonderful cause and a lot of fun.

At the starting line with the Boyds and 1000s of other people

Oreo walked with us.  We fill prescriptions for diabetic dog every day at the pharmacy.  So Oreo was walking for his fellow canines.

At the 1 mile mark

The walk was 3 miles.  It was a beautiful day.   We all enjoyed the walk.

Trick or Treat

Hunter's boy scout troop help give out candy to the kids of chapin at Crooked Creek Park.  Tyler and Hunter had fun handling out candy and only took a few for themselves.  They were not allowed to dress up.  So they wore their Class A uniforms.

Hunter and Tyler

Camping with the pack

Our cub scout pack had a family camping trip at Dreher Island.  I am the den leader of the Webelos I and II which has a total of 8 boys.  It is nice have some new boys in our group.  The Webelos II, which is the group Jordan is in, will cross over to the boy scouts in February.

my den

Oreo went camping with us.  He did great!  He got along with everyone.  At night, he slept in the tent with us at the door and only bark if one of us left the tent.  It was like he was guarding us during the night.

He also bured he food and water in him bowl.  He kept telling him it was not a smart idea to bury your water but he wouldn't listen.  

Hunter and Oreo by the campfire

The Webelos of Pack 870

My 40th birthday surprise party

Laura came up to Columbia to go shopping with me to celebrate my 40th birthday.   We went out for a delicious lunch and then shopped.  We had a wonderful time even though she drugged me to Sam's on my day off.

 

Lunch with Laura

If spending the day with Laura wasn't a big even present.  When we got back to my house, Chris had planned a surprise party!  Everyone was hiding if Oreo.

Jordan got a big kick out of surprising me

Mom and Dad were of course in on the surprise 

They had a slideshow made of the first 40 years of my life which was wonderful.

Hunter, Jordan, Top and Anna had helped Chris get ready for the party while Laura and I shopped.  He said they were a big help.

I was so glad that Sonya, my best friend, was able to come down from Charlotte to help me celebrate.
I love this picture that Craig took out us.

 

Sonya gave me this awesome birthday cup for my birthday.


Jane and Thom also came early and helped Chris give everything ready for the party.  Jane also helped with some yard work a few days before the party when I was at work.

  

Jane and Jordan

The bar that Chris made me for my birthday is behind them.

Chris wasted no time putting it to use.

I was very happy to Craig, Sari and Joseph.  Craig has been a dear family friend for years.  He helped Mom and Dad make my slideshow.

Craig and me

Beth and I went to Clemson today.  It is nice that we live close now.
We try and make for lunch when we can.

Beth and me

Chris had this wonderful cake made for my birthday.

Laura took fantastic pictures to help document my party.  She is truly a gifted photographer.

Mom and Laura

Oreo enjoyed the party.  He was great with all the people around.  He has fit into our family perfectly.

Hunter- our teenager in deep thought

Laura took this great family picture of us

The Bristow's

Thanks for everyone who made my 40th birthday so special.

Maybe I should turn 40 again next year.