Today we've had a laid back kind of day so far.  Sorted some toys, did some laundry, read two chapters of Swiss Family Robinson.  We took one of the activities from the book and learned how to make slip knots-a very useful knot!  We found a website that has step by step videos of many knots!  We were going to "pitch' a tent this weekend but will be going out of town instead. No worries, hopefully we'll have many more opportunities to do that.  I'm also trying to figure out how to use the trampoline to "make" a tent! 

I've also given Cameron his first real knife!  It's a multipurpose (similar to Leatherman) knife with all sorts of "manly" tools-two different sizes of screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, a saw, a phillips head, and of course your regular file and knife blade.  He is not in scouts (we've had bad experiences with troops we've been involved with so dad said no way for Cam) so I'm drawing on all my previous den leader experience to get him started in this area.  He loves the knife and has already cut his finger so it's been proven he's his dad's son!  At his point we're just practicing how to open the knife to get the tool you want out without taking out every single thing!

This afternoon we'll make home made butter.  Picked up the heavy cream so we're good to go.  Cameron requested a special dinner-hamburger meat and corn-all mixed together and simmered in tomato sauce.  That will be a welcome treat for dad who flies back in tonight. The Swiss Family Robinson had ham, home made butter and cheese for dinner so I thought about doing a ham, but Cameron turned several shades of green at the thought-the only ham he eats is in a package labeled "BACON". The boys have some movies to watch with dad so we'll all be taking a nap soon, so we can stay up late and enjoy him being home.

On another note, I got a call from Alex at 11:45pm last night.  They spent Monday giving tours at the Holocaust Museum (one of his favorite museums of all time-he's a HUGE WWII buff) and then yesterday was spent cleaning people's houses.  Today they were headed out to Galveston to do who knows what and then tomorrow they will be cleaning and rennovating a run down and forgotten cemetary in the 4th or 5th ward of town.   As he's hanging up I hear this "Oh and by the way mom, I am pretty sure I broke my finger because one part was like above the other part and I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to look like that but its ok cause I moved it around and and pulled on it and fixed it myself-except its really swollen and black and blue now....love you! Bye!".....click.........you think I slept good after that? hmmm?