Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout

Today we signed Charity up for girl scouts! Yay!! I had looked for a troop for her to join last year without any luck, so when she brought a brochure home from school about a local troop that meets at her school, I was so excited!

And the weekend wouldn't have been complete, had I not dug out my old vest and shirt . . . I save EVERYTHING. She loved looking at all the badges (the benefit of having an older sister in girl scouts!) Glad I saved it, worked great in convincing Charity she wanted to become a girl scout. She's so hesitant to do anything new.

I don't really remember how long I was a member, three years maybe? I was never a Daisy, which is what Charity's going to be. But I was a Brownie and then a Junior. Lots of fun and fond memories!! I'm glad Charity can carry on the tradition!

To attend events and outings with the troop, the mom (or parent) must also be registered. So I had to pay my yearly membership fee and fill out the paperwork, as well. Charity, pretty much, thought this was the coolest part of the whole process. And though I don't think my shirt and vest will fit anymore, I am, however, a girl scout . . . again!

Counting Sheep

Last week as I "taught" Charity how to fall asleep on her own, I told her to count sheep imagining them going over her bed. Of course, she didn't really understand what I meant. She hasn't watched as much Sesame Street as I did growing up, which, I guess, is where I learned it from.

I told her we could go online and look and see if we could find Ernie counting sheep that I used to watch when I was little. I found this one. Lovely You Tube! I don't really remember this particular one. But it's from 1971, so it must be original.

She loves it! And made us watch it 3 times!! Hope you enjoy it as much as she did! :)

2 In A Row!!

It's the second night of Charity sleeping on her own! Dave and I are in shock. We just sit here grinning ear to ear. Wow!!

When I got home from work, we headed right out and Charity picked out her first $1 treasure, a faux-hair headband. Lovely. But it's what she wanted. And she's got her eye on some lip gloss to get tomorrow.

Last night she got up a few times, but I told her tonight she's not allowed out of her bed. If she needs something, she needs to call me. Ok. So after about 5 minutes of lying there, she calls me and says, "Mom, I can't sleep. I counted 59 sheep and I'm still not asleep."

"Keep trying, Char."

That's all I heard. And she's been asleep for a few hours now.

Yay! I must go relish this lovely new life.

On Her Own . . . Finally!!

I'm waiting with bated breath . . .

Here we are the first full week of school. It's Monday night and Charity was lying there still awake after being in our bed with Daddy at least 1 1/2 hour.

I came upstairs discovering this and was slightly frustrated. I don't know what hit me tonight, but I felt as the time was right.

So I told Charity if she would go in her bed and fall asleep on her own than tomorrow we would go to The Dollar Tree and pick out a prize, as well of every night she does this. Of course, she had mixed feelings but it's been about an hour, and I think she did it!!! I'm shocked, but ohhhh so happy. Our lives will be completely changed if she can get to sleep on her own. Dave thinks this is the best $1/a day we've ever spent!! Up until this point either Dave or I has had to lie down with her until she falls asleep, some nights this can take hours.

This is BIG!!! :) . . . now I'm just wondering why I didn't think of this sooner?!?!

What a difference a year makes?

Wow! I am amazed and so happy how excited Charity is about starting 1st grade tomorrow. She doesn't seem nervous or hesitant at all. I'm sure we'll have our "hiccups", but wow! I'm so proud of her. She even went to sleep in about 30 minutes, after a whole summer of staying up LATE. She said she couldn't wait 'til morning!!

Of course, it helps that she knows her teacher, surroundings, her classmates, how lunch and the pick-up line works. Makes me think things will eventually get easier . . . someday! 12th grade should be a cinch!

But for now don't want to rush things. Can't believe my baby is already in 1st grade. Where have the last 6 years gone? And I couldn't be prouder of how grown-up she's become!

Good-bye Summer. Hello 1st Grade!!

Back to Real Life

Ahhh! Life is perfect . . . until tomorrow! :)

We just returned from a family mini-vacation to Kentucky. 2 nights in Louisville and one at Barron River State Park in Lucas. So nice. We did all kinds of fun stuff: sight-seeing, shopping, eating, swimming, biking, more eating, horse-back riding, napping, and even more eating. It was such a great time. Perfect way to end off Charity's summer vacation as school starts Thursday. She even finished her last summer reading book report in the hotel. So we're ready!

And it's was nice to be home at a decent hour today. We went out and did some errands and got groceries for our empty cupboards. Lunch is made. Clothes are ready. Tomorrow will be my Monday. Guess I can deal with that. Then Thursday and Friday!!! Dave doesn't go back to work until Monday. Lucky Ducky!!

I would love to post pictures, but my computer is not cooperating in that way anymore. I have purchased an external hard drive in hopes to move everything from this thing to lighten it's load. Maybe by some small chance making it a little more operable, but we'll see. I'm not sure there's any hope for it. I hate not being able to post pics!! Arggggg!!!

Please pray for my mom. She goes in for another brain surgery tomorrow in Boston. She's been having numerous seizures. So they're hoping this will help. Her faith remains strong and I know the Lord will bring her through! Love you, Mom!

Webcast Church

Things have been VERY hectic lately and this is an extremely busy week coming up. Sometime this working mom just can't balance it all . . . believe it or not! :)

Monday is Gramma's birthday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we'll be attending NAYC. And then Saturday we leave first thing in morning on our mini-vacation to Louisville. So Charity and I stayed home tonight to get caught up on a whole bunch of stuff. Charity decided she wanted to "watch" church. I love that First Church has this option. While she watched, I kept on working. It was so nice to hear the service coming from the other room. And even more encouraging that Charity was enjoying taking it in too! What can you say about a kid that will sit and watch church?? She's the best!!

Gaming with Gramma

The perfect Saturday: