Fourth of July

 Fourth of July.  It was very low key, due to Covid.  We did get to shoot of some fireworks in the driveway

Changing a Tire

 Lon has never changed a tire. But one of his friends was able to come over as they both were only in their rooms and not going out. For the sake of their mental health it was a good to get a visit.  He now knows how to change a tire.  He did a good job, got it done, did all the problem solving he needed to.  I was proud of him. 

Confirmation

 In June of 2020, Lon was confirmed in the Catholic Church. Due to covid we could only have parents and sponsers. There was no party or reception for them.  That part made me sad.  

 Waiting for the Bishop and Father Artur.  

 

We are very proud of Lon 

My Knee Replacement

 Lon was a trooper though my right knee replacement surgery in May of 2020.  He got things I needed, he spent time with me. Encouraged my PT.  It was hard on him as well.   

After I was able to walk a bit.  That took about a month to get there

Scouts

 Since I last posted Lon has ranked up well in Scouts!  Just before Covid hit, he made 1st class.  Finally passing his swim test. 

He is now a Life Scout.  Working on his Eagle.  He has not decided what his project will be yet. I will keep you posted. 

Getting ready for the ceramony for Order of the Arrow.  This was after his ordeal

Thoughts on Virtual School

 Lon has done this whole school year as a Virtual student.  My thoughts, it was a failed experiement.  It was ridiculous to think that a kid would sit in front of his/her computer for 7 hours, even if the teacher was just staring at them.  At an in person school, he would have friends to talk to, other work he could have done. But on line, he just had to stare at the teacher staring at him. It was mind numbing. He would leave the computer on and zone out, or do other things.  All I want him to do is pass his core classes.   It was more struggle than it was worth.   I am just hoping we are not on the 5 year high school plan.   Next year will be better. 

Trying to start recapping the past year.

 Lon needed to pass the BSA swim test to become first class.  He has trouble swimming. He has a hard time in the water, he doesn't float!  We were on our way to CT (pictures as soon as I can find them), by the time we got back from there the pool would be closed. This was the LAST day he could pass the test until the following year.  It was NOW or wait, waiting would mean cutting it close for Eagle.  I shamelessly bribed him. I told him that if he did all the requirements while I filmed them, I would take him to Disney World for President's Day Weekend.  The kid did it! One take.  So I had to keep my word. I worked like crazy and we did it.  President's Day Weekend is crazy busy.  

We will try to avoid that weekend and spring break too!  

We had a great time! Of course. 

we waited for the kiss goodnight.  

We rode the Skyliner!   I did okay, Lon loved it.  

Castle! 

We love it when random characters walk around and Country Bear Jamboree has a soft spot in my heart.  Always will 

Lon was not so thrilled. He was hungry. He is always hungry! 

On the skyliner, way up high. 

Galaxy's Edge.  My little nerd heart was amazed and happy.  Lon was making his droid. It was super crowded inside the shop, so I waited, happily outside, drinking my blue milk. It is better than the green milk in my opinion.  You could get it with alcohol added but we chose not to . 

More in the next couple days. 

This was the last few weeks before we had a year of two weeks to flatten the curve.  

 It has been a very long time since I posted anything on this blog.  I need to catch up with this horrible year. Pandemic, the shut down of the world, riots, and more!  But we still did somethings as a family and I need to go back and document all of it. Or at least give an overview.  

We did go to to Disney in February, before the two week shut down to flatten the curve that turned into a full year. 

Lon has made Life Scout, on his way to Eagle.  

There is more as I will try to post as I go back through the year in photos. 

Geography Bee

This was in early May, I am sorry for not posting it sooner

Lon tried out for the Geography Bee again this year.  Only this time, he WON the school ! He was one of about 100 or so kids from all over the state going to the capital, Columbia, to compete to go to Nationals. ! 

 We all filed into a big ballroom, got some photos and waited. Then they called the kids out by the color on their badges. 

The parents waited. 

Lon was a runner up, he did not advance to nationals. And we are more than okay with this! SO PROUD of him!  The questions he missed were tough. Who is the vice president of Zimbabwe ? The second question was This town on a river (which the proctor could not pronounce) in southern Mexico just recently banned single use plastic bags.    If he ever qualifies again we are going to read every National Geographic Magazine from the last two years.

We went to lunch at a great place called Nicks. Everyone got a wonderful meal,  Lon had a pizza, Mark got a grinder and I had one of the best gyros ever!    Since it was still early and we had the whole day off, we went to the zoo!   We had not been to the River Bank Zoo before, it was a lot of fun.  Lon was happy with his effort, so it was a good day!

8th Grade Dance

It is a big deal at Alston Middle School. The 8th grade dance.  They said NO LIMOS. I wonder how that got to be a thing. 

Lon wanted a bow tie. So I made him a bow tie

We had to buy him a new sport coat. Yes, I bought it much bigger than it needed to be, I wanted it to last a little while.

The kids waiting for the doors to open. All the 8th grade teachers were chaperones. No parents.  The kids outfits ran the gamet from casual, to holiday barbie type dresses. Most kids were at least semi formal.

Lon said he had fun, even though he refused to dance. He enjoyed the Chic Fi A.

Spring Court of Honor

*again, I have to find the paper with the list of merit badges Lon earned. (and I need to edit the photo)

Lon earned 5 merit badges! 

Very proud of him.

Lon's mini golf adventure

Lon's birthday adventure for mini golf was a little early this year as Autzen was leaving for some summer fun a few days later

Jurassic Mini Golf in Myrtle Beach

The boys got done with the holes much faster than their mothers.  It was very fun that Autzen's mom got to join us !

They had a lot of fun, we all did.

Then it was time for Friendly's.  It took us a while to find the Friendly's we usually go to for lunch.  I did not know there were three of them in Myrtle Beach.    But we did find it. I am not sure our waitress liked us too much as we were pretty goofy, we did leave a good tip and not a huge mess.

We passed a store called Sugar Life.  It is a giant candy store.
I cut the Myrtle Beach off the bottom of the decal. For my first car sticker on this car, it is a good one.   Yes, Lon bought lots of fun candy.   We stopped at a Brasilian cafe and deli and took home some tasty things for later.

It was a good day in Myrtle Beach.

8th Grade Awards Ceremony

The last awards ceremony of middle school.  Lon got 8 awards!  (I will insert his awards soon)

Many handshakes as he crossed the stage

The program

A Couple of Camping Photos!

Lon and Dad went up to Kings Mountain for a Memorial Day Boy Scout Campout.  Dad stayed in Base Camp and Lon, and a whole group of backpackers,  went on a  two day 17 mile hike, before re-joining the guys at Base Camp for the 5 mile hike from Base Camp to the National Park.   The National Park was hosting reenactors from the Revolution, the Civil war and the Vietnam war.  There were not a lot of pictures taken

Lon was chillin at Base Camp on a tiny hammock he made out of rope and knots.

Lon got to hold a Thompson machine gun. He did not fire it. 

Lon had a great time at the campout. 

Some highlights of things we have done this past school year

I am feeling overwhelmed every time I try to go back and blog. I am SO far behind, so I am just going to post a picture or two, a few words so we remember the highlights of this year and hope to start keeping up better as time goes by.

Lon went to Lake Moultrie and did a little sailing last summer

Lon and his friend met an American Hero aborad the USS Yorktown. He was on the crew in World War II.  This was in August. Just before the accident

We had a fun time at the Boeing Halloween Party

On our way back to the car we came across a baby snake. He was very fierce. He wanted to attack, but we kept our distance. Baby snakes can have more venom than adult snakes. we were not taking the chance

annual pumpkin picture.

He was a dr. from Jurassic Park

We saw the Oscar Myer Weiner Mobile!  Free hot dogs and stickers!

Lon helped stack pumpkins for a church pumpkin sale. It was a boy scout volunteer thing

Fair time! Lon loves the kyaks. He went and pulled in some wayward boats. He got to stay out as long as he wanted and when he went out again, he was gifted his time.  Nice guys who run this!

Not all our time was spent watching Lon paddle a kyak, we saw everything. Including the selling spaces, we like rocks

Not the best lighting

Nice night for a paddle

His last year in the Jr. Lego League.  The Alston Tigers did as well as they did last year.

Watching the awards for Jr. Lego

Christmas. ! I need to find more photos of our Christmas

In January we went up to Ceaser's head to look around.
This is the view from a Pretty Place

Bald Head. People seem to like to spray paint the rock.  I have no idea why

Early Spring!

Lon's science class had an assignment to make a 3d model of something. Edible was given more credit. So we made a glacier cake.

Lon earned a spot in the National Jr. Honor Society

I can not find the pictures right now, but Lon won the geography bee for Alston. He then took the test for state and qualified!  So we took a day off school and went to Columbia! Lon was up against some very bright kids from around the state.  Lon was good, but other kids were better.  Lon got two questions he remembers he could not answer, one Who is the vice president of Zimbabwe, and the second one was This southern Mexican town on this river (Lon said it was pronounced badly) just recently banned single use plastic bags. We were so over the moon proud of him. He did great.  After the event, we went to a great greek place, called Nicks. I want to go back. It was gyros, pizza and grinders. Something good for all of us.  Then we went to the zoo.  The zoo was so much fun
I do have pictues but I need to find those as well.

Easter was wonderful and we are still eating leftovers.

Now I hope to not be so overwhelmed I can keep up.