Adventurer Pathfinder Investiture

Last night was a high and important night for the Alpena Adventurer and Pathfinder Clubs -- Investiture.  This is a time when the children share about some of the award and honors they have worked on all year and they are invested in the level they have completed. They get a patch for the awards/honors they have finished. They also get a pin to represent the level yet have completed. 

Elijah completed Little Lambs this year. Dillon completed year 2 of Adventurers which is the sunbeam level. Chaeli completed her first year of Pathfinders which is the Friend Level.  She was even able to finish the Advanced Friend requirements which gives her an extra bar pin to put on her shirt. 

We are so proud of everything each child has accomplished. 

As for me, I'm glad to have made it through my first year as Adventurer Leader.  It was a simple year. We like that here and it made it easier for me to catch on to this. I'm thankful for all that I learned and that the program was able to continue for the children. I firmly believe that if any church program is to die out, it should not be the children's programs!!

Here are a few highlights from the evening, compliments of a friend because I was not able to take any pictures since I we as so involved with the program. 

Matching on singing our Adventurer song. 

Adventurers saying their Pledge and Law. 

Elijah shared about the Wooly Lamb Star that he earned. He got a little scared up in front of everyone so I joined him and wore the mask as he said that "lambs say baaaa."  

Dillon shared about the Cycling Award that the Adventurers did. One f the requirements is a 5 mile bike ride.  Dillon completed 35 miles in Onaways bike-a-thon to raise money for their school! 

Chaeli shared about the Horsemanship Homor that the Parhfinders worked on this year. 

The 3 girl Friend Level Pathfinders - all 4 months apart in age. 

Elijah's painted ladybug rock that he did for his Insect Star. 

One of the honors that the Patjfinders worked on this year was amphibians. We have a tadpole turning to froglet in our house as I speak. She was thrilled that we accidentally found a frog to take to display. It was in the garden when we were planting so they made a little habitat for it and we borrowed it for a few hours. 

Author Night

It's always fun to participate in Alpena's Author night. The kids display some of their writing from the year and also read something that they wrote. 

Dillon is in 2nd grade this year. He is quick if heart and body. He is self motivated to get his work done. He likes math. 

Dillon wrote an acrostic poem about Johnny Appleseed that he read tonight for Author Night, thus he dressed the part. 

He also wrote this short paragraph about Abraham Lincon and the following short story with an illustration. 

Chaeli is in 4th grade this year and loves to read. She does well at writing and language.  She presents herself very well when up front. 

Chaeli read a biography report that she wrote on the life of Helen Keller.  

Chaeli also wrote this How To paragraph and the following book summary of one of our favorite Christmas books. 

Dillon with Justin. 

Abby, Josie, and Chaeli - all 4 months apart in age!

The Teacher!  What a blessing it has been to be involved in her classroom!

Onaway School Bike-A-Thon

We joined the Onaway Adventist School for their annual Bike-a-thon this year.  They have been working so hard to keep the school alive.  They have to pay off this school year in order to open again next year.  What a great school, teacher, kids, and church!  So blessed to be able to work with and for them!  

The day arrived today.  Excitement!!!

Loading up the bikes!

Riding to Onaway

The kids at the start... 

Elijah was a lazy biker...he found all sorts of other things to do along the way!  This water fountain shot waaaaay high and he was amused by it!  :)

Tired teacher and daughter! 

Lap keepers! 

Lunch! 

The grill master!

Tired and happy after 35 miles!!!

Altogether the kids road about 200 miles combined.  They biked their little hearts out and did so well!!  God really blessed their efforts!

Getting the Job Done

Dillon comes up with the most creative ways to get a job done!

And it cracks me up sometimes!  :)

Drive By Glowing

My next Bible Labs idea.....

Jesus is the True Lifesaver!

We took these on our bike ride last Sabbath and handed them to people and we rode by.  We also handed them out at the park and in parking lots where we went.  Lots of fun!

Annual Children's Day / Birthday

Our annual CHildren's Day celebration was postponed a week this year and so it fell on David's birthday.  Perfect because that happened to be a Monday which is our family day and perfect for any celebration!

David's gift from Chaeli: back massage!

David's gift from Dillon:  head combing

Then we headed off to the Shipwreck museum!  It's free and always so much fun even though we've been there half a dozen times!

Then we came back home for a bonfire and hotdog roast!  The first fire of the season so it was lots of fun.  And very hot as you can see here.  Only David roasted the hotdogs and he had to "lay low." :)

Coconut Cream Pie for dessert! 

 

If you didn't know, David loves fire!  :)  He was trying to burn these faster so we could go inside without leaving the fire going.

We played a new game together....

We even folded lots of laundry together.  A favorite for mom because it went so fast!! :)