BEN'S EAGLE COURT OF HONOR or (non)Secret Combinations

I'll start by getting this out of the way, first:

I could eat Mateo with a spoon. I LOVE little boys! Do you love his little eyebrows? Me too!

This looks like a bad K-Mart portrait. But the people are cute - my niece Heidyn, Mateo and Rachel.

Okay. Back to the purpose of this post:

During the flag ceremony, Matthew did this and I thought it was so cute!

Here's the flag ceremony:

Can you see Daniel at the very end?

And here is the other end. Blake Grimes, Ben, Jake Grover, Brady Jones, and James Larson.

First Brother Tolman talked. Then President Grimes. He used to be Ben's Varsity Scout Coach. And Ben's bishop, before President Larson.

The Eaglets - Ben, Jake, Brady, and James. Funny. Brady and James were my little Webelos and look at them now - all grown up.

First James got his Eagle. Proud mom, Dawn, and dad, our stake president, and former bishop, President Larson.

Then Brady Jones got his. Proud Alan and Steph. Tracy Grover was the one who presented Brady with his stuff so he's in the picture, too. Looks like someone said something funny.

Then Jacob Grover. Here he is with his momma and papi and Chris Grimes, who presented Jake with his stuff.

Last of all (the last finished) was Ben. Bishop Johnson presented Ben with the stuff.

He got a badge and a pin and a new bandana.

My dad took really good pictures, but I can't find where he put them on my hard drive, so you get these.

Larry gets the Eagle pin.

Ben gives me the Mom pin. Yay!

Again, something funny.

Ben gave three mentor pins.

One to Bishop Johnson, who was also Ben's Scout Master. Ben loves him.

Ray Welsh who was Ben's Blazer Scout leader, and later, his Scoutmaster. He used to take Ben canoeing and fishing. He went to Ben's football games - even one clear out in Cheney. He really knows how to work with boys and bring out the best in them.

Now, isn't that sweet?!

Last, but certainly not least, Ben gave a mentor pin to Larry Lawton. Without Larry Lawton not one of those boys would have their Eagle. Including Ben. He is the Eagle Whisperer.

This is the Eagle Whisperer's wife and daughter. Katie is Rachel's age (her twin, Dustin, is one of Ben's good friends) and Joy is so perfectly named. She is a JOY!

At long last ... the Eagle vow thingy.

Tracy O'Donnal read it.

Ben took it.

I love Ben!

The people in the Eagle's Nest took it.

Then they had the Eaglets join the Eagles in the Nest.

Then Bishop Johnson spoke. The ceremony took as long as this blog. Sorry, but I really want to get everything in here.

Speaking of everything. Here are some people:

I love my boys at eight. They are so good and pure and eager and excited about everything.

Hunh? How long is this going to be? Forever. Like this post.

My papa taking pictures. My mom excelled in camera-avoidance.

I love Heidyn's expression and Sydney Grover looking over her shoulder at the girls.

Always the joker, Todd Kraus with the bunny ears.

Dawn and Spencer Larson, Campbell, Noah, Mitchell, and Stephanie Jones

Told you it was long. Matthew just conked out on the floor.

Congratulations, Ben! We are so proud of you!