Bennie the Beaver

Last week at Beavers Joshua was "Beaver of the Week" and as a reward he got to take home their mascot "Bennie the Beaver". The kids are supposed to try and get some interesting pictures taken with Bennie, but we failed dismally. We was really hoping to get out for our first canoeing trip of 2015 and stick Bennie on the boat, however the weather turned lousy last weekend and we was still waiting for Joshua's new life jacket to arrive. Never mind.

 

Lodge leader Joshua with Bennie the Beaver.

Bennie the Beaver.

 

 

Not really Beavers related but earlier this week the boys got to witness the air ambulance helicopter land in their school field. Joshua was a bit cheeky and managed to get his picture taken with the helicopter.

 

Joshua with the Essex Air Ambulance helicopter which landed in the school field.



2014/15 U7 Tigers Season End - Leigh Ramblers Lions

Finishing off a very good weekend of football, Joshua had his final league match of the 2014/15 season and it was at home against Leigh Ramblers Lions. Having been beaten by Leigh Ramblers Tigers two or three games ago (even if we did play badly) I was expecting the worst and thought our season was going to end on a downer. So before the match I gave the team a pep talk basically saying win, lose or draw, just run their hearts out and enjoy every minute of their last game for this season just as if it was their last game ever.

 

The boys did us all so proud today and played some of their best football all season to bring home a 6 - 4 win (including us also scoring an own goal). Joshua played right mid field and had 3 shots on goal himself, unfortunately no goals. But they all played well making it very hard to pick the MOTM award. In fact as it was the final match of the season I let the parents all group together and pick the MOTM award for once.

 

So we finished our 2014/15 season on a real high with a very good win against a good Lion's team. Our record for the season stands at a very impressive 12 wins and 4 losses (all the losses coming in away games, none at home). Very respectable for our first season.

 

Team huddle from the Tigers before going to battle in their final league match of 2014/15.

Joshua controlling the right wind and get in stuck in to the play.

Joshua making a break down the wing.

Nice pass.

And again given lots of space to run.

All the kids lining up to give 3 cheers for Leigh Ramblers.

Team stats for the 2014/15 season.

Concorde Rangers Tourney & Daggers Vs Stanley

Talk about a Super Saturday for football. Alarms were set early today as Brandon had to get up early for a football tournament over at Concorde Rangers and then myself and Joshua had to head off for our regular U7 Saturday morning training. Brandon's U6 team had a phenomenal tournament winning 3 games and drawing the 4th. The end result was that they all received a medal and took a stunning looking winners trophy. Brandon showed improvement by not going down injured all the time at the slightest contact, however he was played out of his comfort zone as a striker for most of today's games.

Brandon sporting his winners medal and a trophy almost as big as him.

The FG U6's did their coaches proud today.

All the boys enjoying getting some photo time with the trophy.

 

 

After the tournament and training we then had an afternoon filled with football as me, Joshua and Brandon headed over to Dagenham to watch Dagenham and Redbridge playing Accrington Stanley. We were met there by a lot of the other U7 Leopards and Lions and all the the kids were allowed to go on the pitch and make a guard of honour as the players ran out on the pitch. The match was really good and Joshua predicted the score spot on with a 4 - 0 win to the Daggers (if only I had listened to him and put a fiver on it!!!).

 

Joshua and Brandon forming the end of the guard of honour at Dagenham.

U7 Leopards, Tigers and Lions line up and await the players coming out on the pitch.

Practising their applause ready for the team run out.

And out come the players, Daggers in the red and blue.

Followed behind by their mascot.

3 of our Tigers, Alfie, Ryan and Josh.

Joshua with one of the biggest hot dogs ever.

And little B tucking in to a dog burger the size of his head.

Security nearly didn't let Brandon into the grounds as he was wearing a Chelsea top!!!

 

Selfie with me and B at the game.

 

Whilst me and Josh were at training and Brandon was with Tina at his tournament we need to thank Auntie Nicky for looking after little Holly. I think the first hour was tough with lots of crying but then she managed to get a morning nap followed by some nice snuggles.

 

Holly getting some Auntie Nicky snuggles instead of being out in the rain watching football.

Karate Gradings

Well well done to Joshua and Brandon who tonight both passed their latest karate gradings. Brandon in particular did amazingly well and absolutely nailed his downward block better than he has ever done before. Brandon now has four red tags on his belt and Joshua has 2. After the grading the kids all had a competition to see who could do the most kicks on one leg without putting your foot down or wobbling and Joshua absolutely creamed this with a score of 25 kicks, the closest to him was 9!!! 

 

Brandon bowing to Sensei Quinn.

And then receiving his certificate and 4th red tag.

Then it was Joshua's turn.

Joshua receiving his certificate and his 2nd red tag.

 

 

When we got home from karate Brandon pretended that he didn't pass his grading as Tina gets fed up with sewing on Beaver badges and karate tags. But then he tricked her and waved his red tag around saying "Oh whats this little red snake I have found?".

 

Joshua and Brandon proudly show off their grading certificates and new red tags.

Beavers Fire Starter

Brandon in particular has been nagging me for some time now that he wants a convertible car.  Every time he sees one on the road he asks if I can order us a convertible for our next car. Of course finding a convertible these days that can accommodate a family of 5 in comfort is pretty much impossible to say the least! Anyway yesterday I picked up my new MR car and whilst it is not a convertible, it does have a fully opening sun roof which we have not had before. This was a real novelty for Joshua and Brandon who thoroughly enjoyed standing on the nice leather trim and sticking their heads out of the sun roof on a nice hot spring day!!!!

The novelty of standing on the car seats and sticking your head out of the sun roof!

Brandon got to have the first ride in our new Mondeo Estate as I took him to Beavers in it last night. This week they were being taught how to build and light an open fire and then cook some marshmallows on it. First task was for the 20+ something kids to kit the woods and collect a load of stick and wood in varying sizes to build their fire. Then they had to use matches to get the fire lit before using a fork to toast off some nice marshmallows. Brandon did a really good job but fortunately for me he doesn’t like marshmallows so I got to eat the 4 or 5 that he cooked up. I don’t think Tina was too impressed that we were playing with fire and both came home absolutely stinking of smoke.

Brandon starts with some smaller sticks and paper to get his fire going.

"Me man, I make fire!".

After waiting for the flames to go down and the boys could then start cooking their marshmallows over the heat.

Smoke in his eyes but he doesn't care, he is enjoying cooking for his Dad!

Sitting by the camp fire cooking marshmallows, that's the life.

Arms stretched out so as not to burn himself.

Testing the marshmallow to see if it is ready to eat.

3 of the Beavers all gathering around a fire to do some cooking.

Lego Alarm Clocks

3 weeks after Easter and we still have a house full of Easter Eggs to munch through and that's despite the fact that this year we did not even buy the boys an Easter Egg. As they always get so many eggs from all the family we decided to get them a Lego alarm clock which they both wanted. Holly was just happy to get some chocolate.

 

Little Holly with one of her Frozen Easter Eggs.

When Joshua got back from Camber Sands the Easter bunny had left a Mini Egg and a Batman Lego alarm clock on his bed.

 

Such a cool alarm clock.

 

Holly desperately trying to get into one of her eggs.

Brandon tucking into one of his eggs and also showing the Emit Lego alarm clock that the Easter Bunny left for him.

 

Brandon's Emit Lego alarm clock complete with built in light.

 

 

Not much to report out from this weekend other than lots and lots of football. Yesterday we had our usual Saturday morning training and then Brandon had a friendly match which he lost. Then this morning Joshua's Under 7 Tigers had their 15th league game this season which was away to East Thurrock (unfortunately we lost 7-3 bringing our record to 11W, 4L for 2014/15). After the match me and the boys quickly nipped down the driving range before heading back up to the football club for a football themed Birthday parts for Darcy who plays on the U7 Leopards team.



 

Whilst Joshua was off playing football at the party, Brandon and Holly enjoyed some fun time on the bouncy castles.

Holly absolutely loved just standing up and diving onto the bouncy castle.

Owen, Darcy (birthday girl), Alex and Joshua causing mischief at the top of the bouncy castle slide.

Joshua giggling away as he pushes Owen down the slide!

After the football activities and the bouncy castle all the kids went inside for some food and Holly tucked in and helped herself to a nice iced donut!

Holly sitting outside chilling with Sam whilst they both tuck into their donuts.