Girl Scout Badge Opportunity

There is nothing like a big ole' Turkey Leg!!

We couldn't pass up such a fun opportunity to earn a girl scout badge! This Rennaisance Faire had it all; knights, mimes, wandering minsterals, peasants, court jesters, and even an evil queen!! The shoppes we're alot of fun to visit too as almost everything sold was being handmade before our eyes. It was a busy fun filled day and the girls had alot of fun interacting with the cast and look what Megan earned just for attending, watching and learning....

Where The Wild Things Are

Go on, the door is open, you can do it...

Bath time for the elephants is always big on our list of things to watch!

The Red Panda, a new resident at the zoo.

This past weekend we visited the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. This zoo is in the midst of huge change with expansion and improvement through out. It is by far the best zoo for putting it's animals first. Sure there are other zoos with rides and shows and animals at every turn, but when you look at the animals, I mean really look at where they live, does the zoo try to give them the as much space and natural habitat that it possibly can? Roger Williams does and that is why we love it. Besides, it's wide open, kid friendly and beautiful, what more could you ask for?

Wildebeest?

Summer Camp

If there was ever a year that you can mark as the year a child grew up, this would be the one for Megan. So many discoveries, understandings and firsts. Like her first time at Summer (overnight) camp!

She and one of her best friends, Lexi, spent 3 nights at the Girl Scout Camp, Green Eyrie in MA. It was a short stay meant as an introductory, and they had a really great time! They spent most of their time on the lake swimming and boating, but also enjoying themed meals and campfire songs.

Highlights:

Sleeping (for lack of a better term since no real sleep actually occurred) in a tent with 4 other girls and no adults!

The shock of what an outhouse really looks and smells like!

That there could actually be THAT many mosquitoes in one place at one time!

The "shipwreck" dinner that was to be eaten using only Kitchen utensils (Megan received a spoon the size of her face and Lexi got a whisk and they report their friend got a rolling pin!)

Best of all was the realization that there is an entire world beyond your door that is just waiting to be explored!!

Happy 4th of July!

Years ago, Dan and I stumbled upon a local town's Jamboree celebration and have made it part of our traditions for the 4th. This year, we went our great friends, the Wheeler and van der Swaagh families. It's very country and quaint, but chucked full; good (and bad) local bands/singers, men on stilts, chicken bbq, clowns doing face painting and balloon animals, kids games, hayrides and sno cones!! The best part is the afternoon parade that the girls loved...we decorated our bikes and rode along after the fire trucks. Very cool!

The previous night we laid out blankets, played games, ate snacks and got the light sticks ready all in anticipation of our town's fireworks display. It was a great show and everyone had a great time.

Later, when I was scrapbooking the day, it really occurred to me just how great this holiday was. Unlike many holidays in the past, it was stress free, immensly enjoyable and spent with great friends. You can't ask for more than that.

Easter

We celebrated this chilly early Easter by having an egg hunt in the yard with our great friends. We have 7 girls under the age of 9 between us and getting together is always an adventure and can often lead to parental exhaustion as was the case of Alexandra and Gabrielle's dad, Kevin...

Most popular eggs? Those filled with money, of course!!! Followed by the ever popular chocolate filled.

Most un-popular eggs? Those found and pillaged by a girl and thrown aside in the mad dash for those filled with money!!


The next morning we woke up to find that the Easter bunny had visited us and had left these wonderful baskets of goodies!!

A Day in the Life of a Pre-Teen Girl

The best sleep-over ever!!

Starring:

Lexi Wheeler (9) - loves softball and girl scouts

Abby van der Swaagh (8) - loves dance

Megan Hyatt (8) - loves horses and friends

Lauren Hyatt (5) - loves being part of it all