Camping! We made it!

We finally managed to make it through an entire weekend camping trip!  Lodge camping of course, but still, we made it!!

This was the lodge we went to about a year and a half ago, when I drove home in the middle of the day so she could stay Saturday night.  This time, we were prepared for the whole weekend.  Jocelyn was very excited when she found out it was the same lodge!

Camp Woodlands, Annapolis MD.

Planning our day.  The girls all worked hard to earn there Eco Camper over the weekend.  Jocelyn and one other girl previously earned two other badges that all together completed another Journey!

We did some hiking through the woods and down to the lake to learn about leave no trace.

All the adults brave enough to spend the weekend with 19 girls!  Leslie, me, Colleen, Kelsey, Kerry, Carol, and Stacie.

Me and my favorite camper!

One requirement for the badge was to make a snack using little to no trash.  They made fruit salad.

No camping trip is complete without a campfire, singing and s'mores!

Our next camping trip is supposed to be at a different lodge in January.  Jocelyn can't wait!

The Brownie Years

This past week was the final Girl Scouts event for this year.  Jocelyn is officially a Junior.  Considering the rough first year as a Daisy, the last couple of years in Brownies have made up for it.  We love the troop we're in.  And I say we, because, no surprise, I've been the co-leader this year.  Next year I will be the leader, with assistance from a couple parents.

Anyway, this post isn't about my experience in GSs.  :)

At the end of the year, Jocelyn's vest is full.  I could barely wedge in the last badge.  Thankfully bridging to Juniors, means a new vest!  I've seen girls wear vest extenders and layered badges.  That may be in her future!

This is her Brownie vest.  

Front...

Includes badges and the summit pin for completing all 3 Journeys (she was one of only 3 girls to finish all 3!), and 7 legacy badges.

Back...

Includes badges for field trips, events, cookie sales, and camping - at least her version of camping!  Every fun patch represents a memorable experience.

That is two years worth of accomplishments and stories we will treasure, and I've loved being able to be with her through it all.  Look out Juniors!  Here we come!

Proud Mommy Moments

Those who have kids can attest to those moments when we as parents are in awe when we see our kids becoming amazing human beings.

Every day I am in wonder at this little person that I carried in my belly and brought into this world.  How is it possible that this incredible being could be MY daughter??

Recently, we have had some experiences that almost brought me to tears with pride and happiness at who this little person is becoming.  I have watched her be thoughtful and contemplative, kind and brave.

In December she made a tough decision to stop doing ballet and jazz.  She has been taking ballet and jazz or tap since she was 3.  She spent a lot to time weighing the decision and realized she was ready for a change.  I'm so proud of her for putting so much thought into what was best for her.

A couple weeks ago, she got off the bus in the afternoon very troubled.  A group of kids in her class were accusing someone of taking something, and they were getting mad at her because she wouldn't just go along with the crowd and decide this boy was guilty.  She told me that she wasn't willing to accuse him because she didn't see him do it.  I told her I was so proud of her for not giving in to peer pressure just to be part of the crowd.

And this last weekend - in her own words - she was ready to take a risk.  In the fall, her Girl Scout troop went on a camping weekend.  We are indoor people.  Camping, bugs, cold, rain, latrines - not our thing.  Well I encouraged Jocelyn to try it for the day, not the overnight, just the day.  It was POURING.  I don't mean light rain, I mean down pour!!  We lasted an hour and a half before she was done - inside I couldn't wait to leave myself, so I was silently cheering!

Well, last weekend, the Girl Scouts did a lodge camping weekend.  Again, I encouraged her to try it for the day on Saturday.  The weather was beautiful, no bugs, there was heat and a bathroom and kitchen in the lodge - night and day different from the fall.  After a few hours, she came to me and said "Mommy, I'm willing to take a risk".  Yes, she used those words!  She wanted to stay the night.  How can I turn that down?  I went all the way home, picked up what we needed to stay and drove back.  (I wasn't expecting this, can you tell?)

She had a blast!  She made a new friend - who proceeded to steal her lovies, her blankets and her Gus in the middle of the night! We're going to laugh about that for a long time!  They hiked, made crafts, built forts out of wood, played pudding football and musical chairs, sang songs around a campfire - she had a "blast"!!  She even liked KP duty - which I need to remember the next time the dishes need to be washed!

I have been informed that the next time they go back to the lodge, she wants to stay for the weekend!  Tent camping is still out, but she won't get an argument from me on that one!

My brave girl - I couldn't be prouder of her!!

Spring Break Part 2 - Stream Cleanup

This year's focus in Brownie Girl Scouts is Wonders of Water.  The girls have visited the aquarium and local waterways, learned about conserving water, and the benefits of recycling.  And at the end of Spring break they went to a local stream to pick up trash to help keep the streams and waterways clean, right down to the Chesapeake Bay.

Jocelyn has been looking forward to doing this for months!

The night before, it rained and rained.  The morning we did this was drizzling and overcast.  But nothing dampened her excitement!

We went out in raincoats, boots, and rubber gloves.  She was excited to announce that we found 12 balls and a shoe, plus lots more!  We filled a bag of trash and a bag of recyclables just the two of us!  I'm very proud of her for how hard she worked despite the weather and the mud (lots and lots of mud)...

which even sucked off her boot!

She was like this pretty much the whole time.  She ran around looking for trash and came back to me over and over with her arms full.  Who knew picking up trash could be so much fun?!?!

We went home covered in mud.  But as a group we probably filled at least a dozen bags of trash and recycling.  The girls worked really hard.  Definitely a proud Momma moment!