Okay I've been wanting to post this for some time even though I was torn about this little trip but Brad did get to Camp with his Boy Scout troop this summer and when the moments were right he had a great time. I just wish he had a better tent buddy (not so buddy! More like needs to be potty trained buddy!) Right here he is with his best Bud "Sam". He really wanted to have Sam as his tent buddy and Sam wanted Brad but it just didn't end up that way due to my good nature son looking out for the under dog! Poor kid wishes he wasn't so nice now!

Okay...this brought tears to my eyes! I was trying to hold back the tears but they just were so proud. I will explain, John was on the color guard when he was a Marine. He was very good at it and it ment a lot to us Marine Corp. families. The color guard John did was for the missing in action brought back to the families who have been waiting for years....so it was a big deal to be a part of that, and yes I cried then too. Now our youngest son is doing color guard and as you can see he did pretty darn good.

Even with his best bud! Look at him tuck in the corners tight!

Folding it crease free and nice and tight with out touching the ground and expressing your pride!

The boy scout salute!

No thank you! I'll sleep in a motel please! These are boys and I guess it's okay. Again if you have a tent buddy who was better then Brad's. Poor guy! I think his mom forgot to teach him manners .

This is where the boys ate and did skits.

John and Brad....Brad looks pooped out! It was in the 100's there so the heat wiped out the boys. Brad was ready to come home here and was glad to see us on family night. He learned a lot there in all his merit badge earning classes. I love that, cause the skill they learn not too many boys know I feel there's too much video game playing and computer playing. I feel boys should learn skills to take with them into man hood. So when a time is needed they can do the skill. Brad smiles in nature. He is truely in his element when he is outside. I love that about him. He always has been that way. I remember even as a toddler he would play trucks and pull his wagon with collected sticks and rocks and other treasures and come home durty as can be. I don't know how many bugs in a jar that were collected but I will tell you that it was really hard not to freak out..yes a few screams happend and Brad would tell me about this earthly creature and named it and I would just smile at him and always tassle his white blond hair. That is truely our Brad.

These are past troop plaques. So collective! They are all over the chow hall. They are neat!

This was Brad's tent. He got a little shade!

Thank god for Brad's patience and high tolerance, cause that's what helped him get through this experience with a high maintenance tent buddy. I think the troop learned a lot from Brad too. They learned how strong he really is and no matter how much bullying he faced he never gave in, he stood tall and wiser and always remembered who he was. We are so proud of him he rised higher then any occasion. Now all of the troop looks up to him and knows who Brad is and what he stands for. Now as a mom and dad there were bull horns...need I say anymore!
Brad still enjoys the scouts but has a judgement on one and that is sad cause Brad doesn't judge but this molded this thought. Sad, but true! These are lessons we learn and I really hate as parents, but sometimes there is no control and you pray the kids will make healthy choices.

As an out door dude well that will always be our Brad. Trust me I saw it when we went camping as a family...he wouldn't stop smiling. That's our Brad! I think he'll have a show called "Brad the wild animal whisper"! Ha! Ha!