Cute Kid Pix March 2025

More photos that didn't make their own post...

We went on another hike in Wincopin Park, not far from the house (see other trips here and here). The Patuxent River flows through here, though the hike down is a bit steep.

Patuxent Pose

Mom lagging behind

Earlier on that day, our youngest had his final Pinewood Derby with his Scout Pack. He came in first in his den and seventh in the finals.

Scout faster than a car

Watching the finals

The den

My daughter's high school robotics team had their competition in March. We went to two different schools on two different weekends where the Ursa Majors showed their prowess.

The "Pit" area to fix problems between matches

Getting ready to drive

The arena

Refs in place

She drives

Leaders wear tutus!

Negotiating with other teams

Spring has sprung at our house, even before the equinox!

The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la!

We did some exploring in Baltimore and found a fun playground.

Pretending not to have fun

Avoiding the crab!

Fun slides

Hang on!

Cute Kid Pix February 2024

More photos that didn't make their own post...

The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was postponed due to snow and finally happened early in February. My youngest's den has only two members, so he had a good chance of coming in first. Their two cars were evenly matched with very close finish times. My son's car won three out of four heats, but both boys' cars advanced to the finals (three cars per den go ahead). They finished in the middle of the pack in the finals. 

Getting ready for the first round

I should have been standing on the other side!

One of the final heats

At a den meeting, they met with the new mayor of Laurel, Maryland, Keith Sydnor. They had a good discussion about civics.

Posing with the AOLs and the mayor

While Mom and the youngest were out of town, the rest of us went on a bike ride on the Matthew Henson Trail in Montgomery County, Maryland. It was fun but I have fallen out of bicycling shape. I need to bike more!

Trail's namesake

Waking from nap/taking a break

Challenge at a playground

Harder than riding a bike

Easier than riding a bike

Typically we get a treat during or after a bike ride but no bakery was nearby. We went home and made brownies.

Harder than buying at a shop

The next day I went geocaching in Odenton and was near Shipley's Do-nuts, so I brought some home. The bottom middle one is a Skittles-covered donut!

Yum!

In other dessert news, the Anne Arundel County Public Library had a fundraiser where the librarians crafted an ice-cream flavor with a local creamery. All purchases of Dragons Love Toffee supported the library. Naturally I had to try some.

No competition there

Yum!

The month ended with the Blue and Gold Dinner, a celebration of the Scouting movement at which the oldest scouts in our pack move on to the troop level. My youngest will be moving up next year! The event included a cake auction for which we donated a campfire cake.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever...until it's eaten!

Cute Kid Pix January 2024

More photos that did not make their own blog post...

While my son was having his scoutmaster meeting for his Eagle Project, I had to hang out at the restaurant (The Corner Stable). I ordered the shrimp special and a pumpkin ale aged in bourbon barrels. Both were delicious. The meeting went well too.

Not a cute kid pic, sorry!

My younger son started working on his pinewood derby car for Scouts. Here he is smoothing down the axles.

Finally using power tools!?!

We went to the roller rink for the first time in a long time. Our youngest still isn't sure on his feet but he is working on it.

Rare (and lucky) shot of all three children

Getting help from mom

While geocaching, I ran across a random statue that seemed really random--like a random face and number of feet, random materials, random proportions, etc. How many people want their arms attached to their knees?

Unnamed work in Columbia, MD

We had a substantial snow day, leading to lots of sledding but only one picture.

Using the neighbor's hill

During one of the snow days, we went mini-golfing, indoors of course!

Putting into the corner hole

A bunch of posers

The final hole!

Before the AFC Championship, I went to a Baltimore Ravens rally at a local shopping center. The marching band and some of the cheerleaders were there, along with some uber-fans.

Side view of the band

Front view from back of the crowd

What a car!

I saw a hawk sitting on our backyard fence. I got a picture through the kitchen window. I tried to open the sliding door to the back but it flew away.

Usually squirrels are in that spot

My eldest participated in one of his fellow Scout's Eagle Court of Honor and did a great job. It will be his turn soon!

The Trail to Eagle part of the ceremony

Cute Kid Pix February 2023

More pictures that did not make their own post...

My youngest had his first school concert. He plays the bass and was in the very back of the orchestra, so hard to photograph.

The orchestra

Close up of him

At the cub scout pack, Pinewood Derby was fun. We built a Minecraft car. Poor Steve had to lose an arm so that the car's weight would not be too much!

Arms and the man

About to race

Goofy victory pose (sorry I didn't get a good shot of the serious one)

Victory ice cream later

I went to one of my older son's debates and volunteered as a judge. The judges waited between duties in the high school's library, which had this awesome chair.

Check it out...not literally, though

The flowers that bloom in the spring have nothing to do with the case...in this photo.

Our G&S front yard