Random Justice, October Edition

This was a busy month.  First of all, Justice and The Coach are gone on Justice's first-ever overnight Boy Scout campout.  He didn't make it easy for me, either.  He didn't want to go, which is uncharacteristic of him.  I'm pretty sure if Dad hadn't agreed to go, he wouldn't have even attended.  The good news though, is that when The Coach texted me before they went to sleep, he said Justice was having a GREAT time.  Whew!  The Coach took his camera, I really and truly hope that he takes some pictures and Justice can blog about it himself when he gets home.  Fingers crossed for a great trip for him.

AND, football is OVER.  Justice's Junior Varsity Team finished out the season with only one loss.  JV doesn't hold playoff's so his season was over after the last game.  I am thankful for this season.  I mentioned earlier that he had for all intents and purposes "quit" football after his miserable last season with the Tipton County Chief's.  He decided to play at the very last possible moment and I'm so glad he did.  It built his confidence back up and he really enjoyed it.  

Pics from the last few games.  He's #45.  

See this guy?  Jack is his biggest fan, without a doubt.

I think he has plans to play again next year.  But to be quite honest with you, I wouldn't be crushed if he decided he was done with football.  He is very small.  Not necessarily short, but he is indeed skinny.  At 68 pounds, he's down right skeletal.  He is healthy, and he has plenty of muscular definition in spite of his weight, but he's not built for any type of football I watch.  I can't stand the thought of the head injuries, and I can't stand the thought of a 150 pound lineman tackling his 68 pound frame.  In my opinion, it's time to move on.  But we will leave that decision up to him.  Personally, I'm hoping he will enjoy the next few 5K's he and The Coach are signed up to run and he will start to focus on running.  He's good at it, and his frame is built for it.  I don't like the idea of having to "fatten him up" for football.  First of all, it never works, but more importantly it teaches bad eating habits at an early age.  He's not always going to be this thin, and I don't believe that just because you are thin means you can eat whatever garbage you can shove in your face.  Eventually that thought process will do some damage.

Before his first race.

So for now, I'm banking that these shiny objects will lure him into the sport of running.  Ha.

Now that football is over, he has had time to do other things, like help out with Jackson's soccer practices.  He's really good with the kids.  Very patient and helpful.

It is also breast cancer awareness month, and he made and sold a little over 50 bracelets featuring the breast cancer ribbon.  He makes a donation to the Susan G. Komen foundation for every sale he makes.  

Most people order black and pink, but some people thought outside the box and he made some cool combinations this year.  

He also spent a considerable amount of time catching up on scouting.  Our travels in the summer left him behind all the other boys.  He missed camp because of my Mom's memorial service and that really did some damage to advancement timeline.  He is working diligently to get caught up.  He worked over fall break on some items, and he also attended a merit badge workshop this month at our local home depot.

Plumbing was the topic.  I find that pretty humorous after The Tragic Pooping Disaster.  He claims it was awesome.  He got to install a toilet, learned to cut copper pipe, learned about ventilation and how plumbing schematics work, and all sorts of other "cool" things about plumbing.

He's also been busy being the best big brother ever.  This kid has unbelievable patience dealing with a tiny baby and also the one and only Jack. 

Report cards are right around the corner, but that will have to make the November Edition.  

Also this month, he got a wonderful surprise.  He was nominated by his Math teacher to attend the 2014 Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC.  I wish I could have seen it coming and could have been prepared with the camera to capture the look on his face when I read the invitation to him.  He really appreciated it and was thankful for the opportunity.

We looked over the materials together and the schedule and decided pretty quickly that he would attend.  It's funny and puzzling to me though... I know other parents that have kids that were nominated and they didn't send them for one reason or another.  I cannot fathom not doing everything in my possible power to make sure he can attend a trip like this.  It is costly.  But it's a week-long trip to DC, with lodging, meals, tour guides, transportation and 24 hour supervision.  It doesn't cost any more than a trip like that SHOULD cost.  As a matter of fact, it's a bargain all things considered.  In my mind, this is an experience he will never forget and will learn SO MUCH from.  There is an overnight campout at the Maryland Science Center, a tour and photo-op at the White House, and trips to Capital Hill, the monuments, memorials, and the Museum of American History, leadership working groups, breakout sessions, guest speakers, and a dozen other awesome things.  We had planned to take our family vacation to Washington DC next summer at his request, but this is much better for him.  To see these things with a group of his peers and some genius professors/tour guides will be a far better experience for him than going with us.  He is REALLY excited about going, and we are so happy for him.  I'm also excited about the particular conference she recommended him for.  Leadership.  There are several different conference types, including technology and personal success.  But I think it's awesome he's going to the leadership conference.  

It's a nerd convention for middle school students.

And my little nerd will love it.  

But not as much as I love him.