Happy Birthday Girl Scouts...or...Who are These Weird People in Walmart??

Today is the birthday of Girl Scouts (WHOO-HOO...Go Girl Scouts!!) I have been a Girl Scout leader since Kimberly was 5! Until this past 2 years...Due to moving, we decided to Juliette Missy in Girl Scouts--basically we are home-schooling Girl Scouts too LOL! She likes it and we have a lot of fun with it.

So...after a long day of homeschool today...I decided we should celebrate this holiday in the BEST way I could think of...with a "MOM-MIS-ADVENTURE" (Pause for dramatic effect *smile*)

I had Missy put on one of her Girl Scout t-shirts and we all loaded up in the van to head "who-knows-where"! The kids were trying to figure out what mom was up to this time (Well, Kimmy knew--since she is usually in on my plans while Steven is gone) but the two younger hoodlums were trying to figure it out!

We ended up at Walmart. Walmart? For a Girl Scout Birthday Celebration?? As we were walking into Walmart...I went into full-movie director mode..."Okay Missy...we're shooting our big number next...the "GIRL SCOUT BIRTHDAY" What is your motivation for this part...feel the birthday...be the birthday...focus..." By this point Missy is cracking up and can hardly walk. Kimmy is the "paparazi" on this film shoot. She is constantly snapping photos...the flash...the roar of the crowd...okay, well the roar of laughter from my children who are wondering what is up with their mom!

We reach the cake department of Walmart..."Focus Missy...focus on the CAKE...Be one with the cake...Find the PERFECT cake..."

After MUCH debate on the theories of the PERFECT cake for Girl Scouts..."Would it have pink? Girls like pink. Or should it have sprinkles? Multi-color sprinkles--Girl Scouts is world wide...We finally chose chocolate (for Brownie Girl Scouts" with blue frosting accents (for Daisy Girl Scouts) and lots of sprinkles of every color!

The next part...the ice cream! Not just ANY ice cream would do...by this time Missy thought SHE could direct ME! The GREAT...one and only...MOM! I don't THINK so silly girl!

We auditioned the PERFECT ice cream...Dreyer's Ice Cream...the actually have Thin Mint Ice Cream and Samoa's Ice Cream! Ooooh yum...they got the part immediately!

Stevie...through all of this silliness...kept trying to be "cool" and "duck the paparazi"...but she was too quick for him! It's hard to be almost 14 and have crazy parents like he does!

The final event...the culmination of the night's events...the birthday cake candle blowing/singing/and EATING! (Yes, that is a Yankee candle on top--That's what happens when you plan things spontaneously and don't have candles! *smile* Mom, the director, instructed Missy on the proper blowing techniques before the big event! Missy had to do practice breaths and lip exercises in anticipation! After a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday Dear Girl Scouts" and the blowing out of the candle...it was time to...EAT THE CAKE!!

Unfortunately for Missy...this did not involve silverware *grin* Yes, those are her fingers...in the Girl Scout sign--three fingers together like a good Girl Scout! Eventually we did take pity on her and gave her a BIG slotted spoon to eat with...messy but extremely funny! But it could have been worse...

Stevie didn't even get to use his fingers. We just told him to eat it out of the bowl and...

...that wasn't fast enough...Mom decided to HELP!

It was a fun night...and I am sure it will be worthy of a few more therapy sessions when they grow up!

Happy Birthday Girl Scouts! (and to my cute Scouts in Miami who read my blog! I miss you!)

My Beautiful New Flowers...on Steroids!

Steven sent the most fun surprise last week! MORE FLOWERS!! Yep, still trying to get out of that birthday doghouse I think. Shhhhhh...don't tell him but he is on my good side already...but I love the presents anyways!

Anyways...he told me last Tuesday that I had a package coming...so ALL DAY I anxiously wait for my mystery package. I HAD to run to the store...but I just kept waiting...two o'clock...four o'clock...six o'clock...Finally Kimmy volunteered to stay home and wait for the package. So...10 MINUTES after I left, she called me laughing...the package had come while I was gone. *sigh*

I always thought it was so romantic in the movies when the woman opens the door...there is the delivery man with a box of long-stem roses. Well guess what? IT IS ROMANTIC! (well okay...maybe not the delivery man since I missed that part...but OOH LA LA...roses in a box!)

Well...fast forward a few days...

I have had lots of flowers over the years...I mean...I started dating Steven when he "didn't send me a rose" *grin*. (He sent a carnation but the flower shop goofed. I tease him that I probably wouldn't have dated him for "just a carnation") But I have NEVER had flowers that have opened up THIS much! They are beautiful! The kids and I joke they are super-flowers on steroids! I love them Handsome! Thank you for spoiling me!

Fifteen Minutes a Day...

You can be a new person in just 15 minutes a day! Well, at least you can according to many of the magazine articles I have read! You can have a clean house...it just takes 15 minutes a day...Supper ready for the family at night...take 15 minutes in the morning to throw it in the slow cooker! Exercise just 15 minutes at a time, conquer your laundry pile in just 15 minutes a day...Pick up any self-help book or magazine...and there are those magic words! "Fifteen Minutes a Day!"

I especially feel the 15 minute guilt from church...morning prayers, nighttime prayers, scripture study, compassionate service, visiting teaching, family home evening...the list goes on and on! Hobbies? I just need 15 minutes a day to practice my piano, another 15 for cross-stitch and don't forget my 15 to read a chapter in that new book!

And family time? 15 minutes of special mom time per kid per day? Journal writing, story time, games and just taking time to listen to them talk about friend problems or school...it just all adds up!

Okay...so why is this in my mind tonight? BECAUSE I AM SWAMPED!! *sigh* I keep trying to find that elusive 15 minutes right now. I must not be allocating my time well? I am so far behind I don't think I will ever catch up *blech*

One time I sat and wrote out all the "15 minute" things we *should* be doing or that I *wished* I was doing--and it came to over 40 hours a day. Now I admit I don't sleep very much (which might account for being so cranky!) but I do need a little at least LOL!

The kids and I are trying to finish the school year early since we know we have a move coming up next year. If we get done, we will be able to get our new books and work over the summer. I love my kids...but doing school for 10+ hours a day AND everything else I am supposed to do...I need another 15 minutes a day AT LEAST! *grin*

So...if you don't hear from me...or if I look frazzled...tell yourself "ooooch--she hasn't found those 15 minutes yet" and please don't be mad--if I can find 15 minutes of spare time...I'll give you a call *smile*