Blue and Gold

I've heard the words "Blue and Gold" before. 

Never knew what they meant. 

Really hoped to keep it that way. 

NEVER thought I'd ever be in charge of one though! 

Holy work. This bugger was a TON of work. Besides the time that went into planning, I spent the entire night before and literally every minute of the actual day, frantically getting ready for it. (Travis was nice enough to consider setting up tables and chairs an appropriate FHE activity :) Plus I was calling the Scout shop and Fed Ex multiple times because the awards didn't arrive until hours before it started! I can't believe I didn't break out into hives. I had to make and print the programs, figure out how the heck to do an Arrow of Light and Bridging ceremony, order and get the cake, buy extra salad and bread, decorate the tables, call all the families and people I was able to coerce into bringing food, and dozens of other tasks. I was driving around town all morning with my 3 kids just running errands that had to wait until the day of.... like getting the balloons and cake. Thank GOODNESS for amazing friends that rescued me that afternoon and took the boys. At least I only had Olive at the church for the couple hours right before. She was quite the mess though.

I actually found a bouquet of blue and gold flowers! Ha! I had the boys write thank you cards to their parents the week before, then during the program they gave their parents a flower with the card. I also bought 3, six packs of those glass bottles of IBC rootbeer for each of the den leaders. I forgot to take a picture, but I had printed out a card that said, "We are SODA-lighted that you are our Bear/

Wolf/Webelo leader!" I had them all come to the front to be recognized and give them their little gift.

Sis. Davis gave an announcement about Day Camp while the Bears got ready for their skit.

I was sweating bullets the entire time. It was so nerve racking to be in charge of something I've never even seen done before. The Arrow of Light Ceremony caused me the most stress. I just wanted to do it right. Well, turns out, you're not supposed to light candles in the church building! Arrghhh! I guess that should probably be a no brainer, but I just thought it was what everyone did for this particular ceremony. I swear scouting is like a different culture/language. And I don't speak it.

I could not have been happier to have this over with! It was wayyyy more work than the Pinewood Derby! I guess the biggest mistakes were not having any forks, dropping my glass vase of flowers on the sidewalk outside and the unfortunate demise of the table centerpieces. The idea was for the scouts to take the balloons and candybars HOME, thus eliminating the need to store centerpieces. #fail 

A lot of people were really kind to say how nice it all was and that it was the best one they had ever been to. That was seriously so nice to hear!!! At least maybe it was all worth it then. Maybe. :)