Our final day at Weblos Camp was only a half day but we made the most of it with a hike up Mary’s Mountain. Some of us were a little hard to wake up.

We were extra busy before breakfast because Leo’s Den was raising the flag for the day, so he had to be in his full Class A Uniform and we wanted to get our camp broken down and completely packed up. This way when we headed to parking lot to drive over to Mary’s Mountain, we could load up. VBS starts tonight and I’m in the kitchen… so were going to hit the ground running once we get home.

So here we go, looking like Sanford & Son 🤣

The Color Guard did a great job… especially that little blond one ♥️

After a big ol breakfast, we were off on our hike.Leo found a “spirit animal” – can you see the alligator?Leo’s Arrow of Light Den did great, some begrudgingly, but they had fun!We loved the shouting match with the troop at the pool. And crossing the bridges in the trail

I did this hike last year when Michael was getting Arrow of Light. Now they can both say they hiked Mary’s Mountain with their mom. (I’m well aware that they’ll never actually say that but in my “Hallmark Movie Brain” they will ♥️🤪

We were hot and tired, but we survived 😀just kidding 🤪

Once we got home, we hit VBS wide open and I think Leo had the best sleep of his life that night 😉

Well, Day 3 is in the books and I am in the bed 💤 💤💤 oh my word, beyond tired, beyond short tempered and beyond ready to sleep and shower in my house… BUT this little stinker joined me about 3am and reminded me how lucky I am to be here and why … (stupid mama love 🤷🏻‍♀️🤪♥️)

So it was another really early morning since a twin air mattress doesn’t really accommodate 2 people especially when one of those 2 people are snoring (Leo).

After breakfast, we headed off to the Model Camp Site to learn how to make an ideal camp site. The boys loved learning:

How to tie 6 different knots:

How to make a ladder:

How to tie a teepee:

And making foil pack lunches. We especially loved meeting Mr. Mike again. Me. Mike is a 70+ year old gentleman who is an Eagle Scout, and still works with the Old North State Counsel teaching about Native American culture and leading hikes. Today, he taught us about the drum and it’s use in native American culture and the story of the courting flute. he even let the boys play.

And tomorrow, Mr. Mike is leading our hike up Mary’s Mountain. This was a three hour class FLEW by and before we knew it we were headed to the mess hall for lunch.

We did pause to send birthday wishes and silly faces for Bobo and Jimmy 🎉🎂♥️

After lunch, we did a STEM class to build roller coaster prototypes from pool noodles, duct tape. Although when Leo first heard STEM, his first reaction was “What!!! We’re doing math?!?!” 🤣

We went from STEM to the old favorite, Capture the Flag, and then free swim before heading back to mess hall for some resting before dinner… and by resting, i mean, they played Gaga ball 🤪

We ended the night with a campfire at the council ring where our boys performed a skit and we watched a real Native American grass danceThe Arrow of Light scouts were all recognized for their workAnd we closed the night with, of course, a slush puppee from the trading post!

Tomorrow is a final day, and the Woodfield tradition is for the Arrow of Light Scouts to hike Mary’s Mountain in the morning. (That’s the mountain in the picture above ⬆️). After that we head home to get ready for VBS tomorrow night.

So to save time in the morning, and to avoid a middle of the night visitor, We took down Leo’s tent and we are tentmates tonight…

I’m exhausted, tired and just sticky feeling but it’s been wonderful too.

We’re both ready to see the other 2 parts of the Brown Family… who have been quite busy with cooking, movies, “farm stuff” and pigs 🐖♥️

Day 2 started bright and early… like before 7am early… which wouldn’t have been terrible if we’d gone to be at 10. Or if we hadn’t woken up at 2am to go to the bathroom (because we drank over 100oz of water on Thursday) and then had to dodge the black ants that I apparently startled by disturbing the toilet in what can only be described as a glorified outhouse, and then coming back to the tent and being unable to sleep because you had 2 hours sleep and the worlds largest and loudest cricket is singing beside your tent… so yea, 6:40 am came EARLY!

But it was awesome to watch the boys raise the flag at our campsite first thing 🇺🇸♥️

Then it was down the hill and Good Morning Woodfield! After breakfast, we headed to the pool for a few of our folks to complete their swim test… the organization was… well… not like I would have done it…

But whatever, we finally were cleared and off to boating we went. Thank you Jesus for keeping us from tipping over because for a while there I thought it was inevitable. But we made it! It is hard to rationalize as a 10-year old that to turn your boat left, you have to paddle on the right.And after some proper motivation (read: I’ll buy you a slush puppee) we got our rowing figured out.

Then it was off to archery…

We headed to lunch and after a little creative liberties with the scheduling, we worked in an hour of free swim. It was hot! and Leo and I thoroughly enjoyed just floating for an hour. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the range with BB’s and some more archery

And then finally we had some free time to just whittle some of wood with these prized whittling chips. By whittle, we mean, take a piece of wood and sharpen the end of it. 🤣

Before dinner, we watched as the color guard lowered the flag, and mail call!!!! I wish Leo had someone to write him at camp ♥️♥️♥️ – thank you Maw-Maw, Bobo and Nana! You sure made thus boy feel loved ♥️♥️♥️

Laser shooting was on the agenda for the Arrow of Light troops after dinner

And then we spent some time having a slush puppee and, you guessed it, some wood whittling 🤦🏻‍♀️

Our last even of the day was a Flag Retirement Ceremony led by Scuba Steve. Scuba Steve is a retired navy seal who serves as the aquatics director here at Woodfield. He spent some time explaining the history of our flag and places he had seen the flag flown during his service. He also got a little emotional talking about friends he had lost in the service. The boys all love Scuba Steve and were so reverent during this…He then invited and veterans, emergency responders, scout leaders, and Eagle Scouts to come on stage a give one last salute as they retired each section of the flag.

The entire troop sat mesmerized throughout this, I even saw one little guy simply salute.

I’m so so glad Leo and I were able to see this. Most folks won’t even hush during the national anthem, so it was pretty impressive to watch a whole group of people properly retire a flag.

Tomorrow is day three, and the schedule is just as packed 🤪🤪🤪

(I’m just praying the loud cricket has moved the heck on by now 🤣😂🤣)

Leo and I are spending the next few days at Woodfield Scout Preservation for our third (and final) year of Webloes camp. Things started off great – we were on time – actually 6 minutes early 😳. Ready for our adventure!

We loaded up a few cars and headed off to orientation and then… the bottom fell OUT! We spent the next hour in the mess hall getting instructions on how meals would work, where we sat, and even got our medical exams (i.e. turn in forms, and take the boys temperatures).

Once the rain stopped, We headed back to camp to get bathing suits for those who needed it… and then a very dark cloud set in, complete with thunder, lighting and some rain. But nothing like earlier. So swimming was now out of the question, so began to make our camp. The boys, and one girl, all were great – setting up tents, working together and really helping the younger scouts.

Afterwards we headed back to the mess hall for dinner. The boys were pretty sad that it wasn’t the famous Woodfield Salisbury Steak, but the pork roast was pretty good – not Two Boys Pork good, but good. We also found our favorite camp counselor – Kenan! Always happy to see some forward Pack 426 guys! Then it was time for slush puppies!!! It’s the happiest I’ve ever seen $1 make Leo 😁

The boys played Gaga ball until it was time for Campfire and off we went. We met the staff, sang some songs and did a little dancing…

Then it was back to the campsite to finish set up, and then then it was lights out! The temperature hasn’t been awful – a little humid after the rain but compared to last year’s 100°, 80 seems almost chilly!

Tomorrow we have model campsite, boating, and who know what else. No rain the forecast so hopefully we can dry out. 😉