Braden is 11

I'm SUPER late with this post considering Braden's birthday was about 6 weeks ago. Here is a look at his day:)

From Napa and Papa Teague ~ a build your own car.

*happy birthday ring tone coming from somewhere*

Braden is surprised to find it's his other present "ringing"

It's a cell phone from Mom, Dad, the girls and Nana and Papa Russia.

"I'm sooo cool now". He wasn't expecting to get a phone until his 12th birthday ;p

Kaitlin and Kaeleigh made Braden a poster. Isn't it cute?

Blow out the candles and make a wish (but I think it already came true).

Scouts ~ Aquanaut Badge

Braden's webelos den have been working hard all month earning their aquanaut badges. They went to a pool and worked through the swimming requirements and for the grand finale they went to the lake to paddled a canoe.

Here they are receiving instructions about boat safety.


Looks like they're about to do battle like Jedi Knights or Gladiators :)

Time to launch the canoe.

Trying to get coordinated...

And...they're off.

They spent about an hour on the water. Hmm...I predict sore arms later.

Here they are drifting to the dock.

It took all hands to bring in the watercraft...Braden had the best time ever :D

Go Speed Racer!

The night before, all the boys had to weigh and register their cars. Braden had to add some weight and it ended up being exactly 5oz...perfect :) All the cars got locked up until the race the following evening.

We charged our camera battery the day of and beat all the odds by arriving early and snagging front row seats, mission accomplished, all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the show.

26 cars, 4 races each (once in each lane)... Let the races begin!

Lane 2 - 3rd place

Lane 3 - starting position.

Lane 3 - 4th place.

Hum...that's a shame...it's not doing so well...did we forget something???

Uh-oh...graphite!!!!! I can't believe we forgot to add the key ingredient :(

He only has one race left...will it be enough?

Karen raced to the car and added graphite with just a moment to spare...here we go...


Lane 1 - starting position.

Lane 1 - "come on Bolt"

WHAT!!!??? He got 1st place? It worked!...too bad we didn't get it on sooner, Braden might've had a chance to place.

Karen was extremely disappointed, the car wasn't the best it could be (due to parental error).

We all had refreshments and watched as the boys got to compete again (just for fun).

Braden won 1st place - twice and 2nd place - twice. I felt for sure he could've done better but I put it behind me and enjoyed the night.



Award ceremony...cheese :)

Great job Braden!

A SUPRISE TWIST...

Our family was leaving when 2 officials along with Braden's pack leader stopped us, they were holding two sheets of paper and looked excited. The first paper was pre-graphite it showed Braden in 18th place...to be expected. The second paper was post-graphite and it showed Braden in 5th place.

Excuse me? Hold the phone! You mean Braden moved up 13 places with just 1 final race?

YAHOO...We were soooo excited to know that "Bolt" did better than we thought and if raced with graphite for all 4 races...he might have been in the top 3!!!

Oh...parental guilt released :D

Later that night I passed by Braden's room. He was laying in bed holding his car in the air and singing "I am the champion"!

Even though he didn't win the race, Braden was happy in the knowledge that he built an amazing and fast car...

And I'm happy that his last race was memorable. Who knows, maybe he'll have a son and can do it all again (vicariously of course) ;)

Which reminds me of the movie.

It was cute and funny :)

The Making Of...

Braden chose the design and colors, he sanded and painted his derby car...


car and supplies.

Naturally an adult had to use the power tool. Cool recessed lightning bolt!

Blue spray paint, it took a lot of coats.

Time to paint the bolt.

Lost in concentration.

The wheels were a power tool neccessity (for speed)...sorry Braden adults only but you did spray paint the trim pieces :)

Now for the final touches...glue on the trim, add the wheels and spray a clear coat.

Voila.

Job well done...we think :)

Race Day ~ Down and Derby

*Tonight is RACE DAY ~ Braden's LAST one!
You're welcome to come and cheer for Braden, the race starts at 6pm.

The Boy Scouts have organized for an electronic track to be set-up this year. I'm glad because Braden was cheated the other times when they had the wooden track. The first year his car kept getting stuck and last year they got his name confused with a Brandon and he missed some races! Here's hoping for a fair race.

Keep checking back...pictures will be posted of the big event.

A fun family comedy about a childrens' pine wood derby race that turns an average group of dads into an awkward bunch of competitors.

We plan on watching this movie with the kids. Never seen it before but it looks cute. Will let you know how we like it.

Punishment or Torture?

When the kids got home from school yesterday...Braden took a brief trip to "Doofusville" as we affectionately call "mistakes" or "relapses in rational thinking" at our house.
He took his frustration out on Kaitlin by hitting her.
Yes, I know it's very sad...but true :(

We tell him the usual stuff about how inappropriate it is to hit "yada yada yada" and then send him to his room. Mike decided to give him two choices 1. stay in his room or 2. write "I love my Sister" 200 times.

Braden almost choked on the second option but decided it was better than being sentenced to his room for the night. He did it!

Unfortunately he edited the word love out of the sentence and inserted "like". His reasoning for this was that "like" is easier to write than "love". Yea right Braden, we all know that you don't want to appear as if you do, in fact, actually "love" Kaitlin ;O


A sample of the many pages he wrote. I didn't have the heart to make him start over.

Kaitlin's response. Sigh... don't you just love siblings ;)