Benji had his first year of scout camp this year! We got home from the cruise Saturday night and he left Monday morning!

 

He worked on 6 Merit Badges while he was there. He did Astronomy, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, Woodcarving, Rifle Shooting, and Swimming.

On Wednesday night Ben went up for parents night and had dinner and campfire with the boys:

His leaders said he was fun and responsible!

He was pretty proud about doing the Polar Bear swim at 6:30am:

  

and something about going out with Ryan and trying to sink other canoes:

 

That’s about all of the detail that I know but he said he had a great time!

    

Benji had a birthday! 12 years ago I became a mom! We became parents. I was so ready!

We celebrated on Thursday with friends and then the next Thursday with family so we drug it out pretty good. We partied and played and enjoyed Benji. This was his first friends party – EVER. He had no idea what he wanted for his bday. He knew he didn’t want clothes or electronics and he trusted us with the rest! funny kid.

He earned his Faith in God from primary. He moved out of 11 year old scouts. joined the Deacons, received the priesthood, got his temple recommend! Turning 12 is a big deal! Benji is so ready to move on. He still loves rules and does anything to obey. He is kind and looks out for others and he is turning into a good leader!

We got him a bike! and Fablehaven books, rubix cubes, PIT, and Harry Potter Game.

All of the presents were a hit. He was excited to see how nicely a NEW bike rides. And we got the house ready for the party:

and then grabbed Kong Cones cause it was a HOT day:

Grandma and Grandpa stopped by and gave him a pocket knife!

friends came over around 7:00! Pacen and Seth and Nathan were out of town but he had a blast with Ty, Hyrum, Ryan, and Tommy. They got wet out back and waited for it to get dark for an outdoor movie!

A week later we had all of the cousins over and did the slip n slide again and Ben made an obstacle course for them and timed to see how fast they could do it!

So I dropped Benji off at Scouts the other night… As he’s getting out of the car I tell him goodbye, “Have fun my friend. Be good.”
And then he says. ” I will Mom. I Love you.”

I love you! I love that he tells me that. I wish that I said it more. I think I say it to my kids often but in that instance I didn’t and he did. Benji is a great oldest sibling/first child.  I LOVE my kids.

Benji has played for 7 years now! He is starting to get some good ball control and sense for the game. He is still SOOO small out there – especially since they played with 12 and 13 year olds and he is still 11. It’s fun watching these older guys and fun seeing Benji when he’s not afraid to shield and be the first to the ball. His strengths are passing and seeing the field.

He had lots of guys on his team from the previous years like: Conor, Austin, Cannon, Brandt, … and this year he got to play with PACEN!

Benji is done at Manila!

He is excited. He and Seth. But he didn’t want me to run around and find his friends (Tye, Hyram, Ryan,..) and get pictures…

 

Some of his best friends even though they are not 6th graders:

Hope of America Award! at the Dance Festival Benji got awarded the Hope of America! His teacher loved that he always participated in everything! I want a well rounded young man when all is said and done so that made me proud.

Benji also had really good grades all year. A’s in everything and he did it all on his own. Once in a while he would ask me to help get supplies for big projects but that’s about it.

Benji was in his Class play – Romeo and Juliet! He did great. Memorized all of his lines and had fun.

So now, we are not going to play the Clarinet in 7th grade – instead he wants to do Drama and Chorus!!!!