Brownies

No, not the delicious, ooey-gooey brownies that I usually like to think about and bake.  These are the Girl Scout Brownie kind.  Somehow, at the end of the school year last year, I found myself volunteering to be a Troop Leader for Grace's Brownies.  It didn't sound so bad... there were three other moms would said they would help.  We all have our strengths - I volunteered to be the organizer, another mom is the money person, another mom is the "cookie leader" and another mom actually runs the meetings.  We make a good team and while it has been a lot of paperwork, registrations, coordinations, I think we are finally getting in a routine.

I was in Brownie's for a couple of years and it was fun.  I remember the Brownie promise and the "Make new friends but keep the old" song.  I think Grace is enjoying that I can be a part of something she is involved in and I know the day will eventually come that she will want nothing to do with me being within 100 feet of anything she is involved in.  So, while I may complain about it sometimes, it is worth the smile on her face and the pride I see in her that her mom is one of the "troop leaders".

Last weekend we had the Girl Scout kick-off at her school.  Each troop sang a song in front of the group.  Our troop sang my favorite, "Make new friends, but keep the old...".  It has rung true for me throughout my life.  But one troop sang a song that I just absolutely loved.  It is called "Can a Woman?"  and I am reprinting the lyrics below because I think they are so powerful. 

As they were signing, I sat there thinking how far we have come from the days when women could only be teachers, nurses, secretaries or nuns -  when girls played half-court basketball (my mom did in high school) because I suppose the men thought girls couldn't "handle" to play full-court, and when women never dreamed they could break through the glass ceiling to be on an equal playing field with men.  I feel so blessed that Grace is growing up in an era when we can honestely tell our daughters that they can be whatever they want - as long as they study hard.

One of Grace's friends recently told her mom that she wants to be a judge.  When her mom asked, "why?", her daughter said "because I want to change the law so that women can be priests."  She is in second grade - wow!  I have a feeling that the next generation of girls are going to be very powerful and strong women.

Can a Woman?

by Iris Hirsch of GS Central Maryland

Tune: She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain

Can a woman fly an airplane?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman build a building?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman fight a fire?
Can a woman change a tire?
Can a woman lead a choir?
Yes she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a lawyer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman fix an engine?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a drummer?
Can a woman be a plumber?
Can she play ball in the summer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a doctor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman drive a tractor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman lead a nation?
Can she run TV station?
Can she head a corporation?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Just you wait until we're older
Then you'll see! Then you'll see!!
We'll be women in tomorrow's
History, History!

As we grow up through the years
We'll sing out loud and clear
Can we start the process here?
Yes, we can, yes we can!

Girls Getaway Weekend 2011

Many years ago, my friends and I decided we needed to start planning "Girls Getaway Weekends".  Our lives had become so busy that we needed to set aside a special weekend to catch up.  Gone were the days of spending hours on the phone talking (even when it cost extra money to talk long distance) because we had nothing else to do.  Hour-long phone calls became lengthy emails which have more recently become texts.  I know we would all love to spend hours on the phone again, catching up on everything but we no longer have "nothing else to do".  There is always a litany of things to do.  We all have kids, jobs, husbands and other family and friends who keep us very busy. What can I say, it is just a busy time in all of our lives for a variety of reasons.

So what better way to put an end to the "busy" and set aside three days and two nights once a year?! We usually start planning months ahead and it is always something we look forward to.  This year we met in Ann Arbor, Michigan - which was a little hard for the Spartans among us!  But we had a fabulous weekend - great food, drinks, shopping, staying up late talking, waking up early and talking.  We always pick up where we left off and we never run out of things to talk about and catch up on!

There is a sincerity, comfort and calmness about being with friends who I have known a lifetime.  There are no pretences, there is no hiding your feelings - they know everything about me.  And while we have formed new friendships, we will always treasure our time together. 

I shed a few tears when my friends dropped me off at the airport - I always do when I say good-bye.  I never used to be a "crier".  But it seems the older I get, the more I realize the true depth and meaning of life-long friends.  Here's to you, my chicas!

Happy Birthday Abby!

 
A couple of weeks ago, our little baby turned three years old!  How is this possible?!  We had a birthday party for her this past weekend and she could not have been more excited.  She wanted a Minnie Mouse-themed party so that is what we had!  We had streamers, hats, plates, napkins, etc.  Since we already had her Minnie Mouse costume for Halloween I asked her if she wanted to wear it and she said, "oh, yes!" 
As we were decorating, she kept saying, "thank you, mama and dada for the beautiful decorations!"  And she was very happy with her cake too!

We are blessed with a very healthy little girl - 50th percentile for weight and height - and she couldn't be happier.  She is always smiling and sweet and sometimes a little shy.  She is the light of our lives and we love her so much!

Here are some more pictures from her special day.  I have also added some that I took recently of the girls!