Biffy's Cake

Today is Elizabeth's seventh birthday. Every birthday Cindy makes the kid's a cake that gives them a hint as to what they are going to do for their big birthday surprise, usually a place that the whole family goes.   This was Biffy's cake this year. Can you guess what the theme is?

Img_1439_1

Weddle Olympiad

Ever since the Olympics started the Weddle children have been in a tizzy. It's all so very exciting.   One of the first things to capture their imagination was the balance beam routines. They began wandering around trying to find a piece of wood. Dad found them one, along with two bricks, that made a perfect balance beam.   Here is Jacob in the midst of one of his routines, with Belinda as a judge and Elizabeth as the next competitor. It's all very exciting.

Img_1436_1

Jacob's Knife

This was by far the highlight of Jacob's Adventure: he got to whittle a stick with a knife. The knife you see him using was taken away shortly and replaced with a smaller one. He did not cut himself once but the potential was often present.   This is an activity reserved for Men Only times. For some reason, mothers don't enjoy teaching their sons about knives nor watching someone else teach their sons about knives. Weird.   Anyway, it was a great male bonding experience and many sticks were whittled into smaller sticks. Very cool.

Img_1411_1

Camping With The Boy

Jacob and his dad found a beautiful spot to camp overlooking the lake as the sun set. Although camping is rarely comfortable, this was one of the more comfortable nights of camping the dad ever had. Relatively flat ground with cool temps around 50.   The two boys spent the evening talking, setting up the tent, a canoe ride after sunset, stick and pinecone wrestling (something you can only experience, never explain), and the most exciting event of the entire outing. . .

Img_1412_1

The Girls' Campout

One of the things on Dad's list of things for kids to do this summer included having the girls sleep in a tent by themselves. They were all geared up to do it the other night when Belinda made her fire.   The whole day they talked about it, planned and asked what stuff they could take in the tent with them. Around 8:30 they were dressed and set up in their tent.   Around 9:30 there was a brief three minute distant thunderstorm which caused tears and the girls were back in their beds.   However, Dad is not so easily defeated. Without telling the girls, the next day they were put back out in the tent and they survived the entire night and reportedly enjoyed it.

Img_1402_1

Belinda's Fire

Well, of course Belinda can actually make a fire work! How could she not? She's a Weddle! We're always on fire. Except for a few times, one of which a certain female Weddle shared about a male Weddle to all the assembled kids. Hahaha, isn't that funny that daddy couldn't start a fire one time and mommy could. Hahaha.

Img_1387_1

Belinda's Project

Belinda has a list of 25 things she can do this summer if she needs "something to do." Today she attempted the "Get a book on how to build fires and go build one."   She followed the directions, with one added tip from her father, to prepare a roaring inferno. Did it work? Is there a chance an 8-year old girl can build her own fire, light her own match and set actual wood ablaze?

Img_1384_1

The Dare

On the way back from the swimming outing, Dad said he would buy anyone who jumped out of the canoe into the deep lake a hot fudge sundae. By the time "sundae" was out of his mouth, Jacob was half in the lake.

After a bit of whining and so forth, including the words from one young girl, "But if I don't go in, everyone will get a sundae except for meeeeeee-yyyyyyah," every single child jumped out of the canoe!

Dad was quite shocked and yet pleased. Lest you think he is a horribly cruel person, he actually wanted them to do this so if they did ever fall out of the canoe they wouldn't freak out. No problem, that's why they make life preservers. They all survived.

Jacob was unbelievable though. He was the true Brave Man. He was the first one into the swimming in the weeds bit and the first one jumping out of the canoe. What a guy.

Everyone then went to McDonald's and got their hot fudge sundae, except for Cindy because Jacob said she didn't deserve one because she never got in the water. Can't argue there. Bravery and flawless logic, this boy must take after some kind of incredible man.

Img_1380_1