Thursday, March 22, 2012

Mini Vacation

Last Thursday and Friday, the kids had off school because of teacher workdays.  We decided to go visit my parents so that Ann could deliver to them their Girl Scout Cookies.  Mom wanted the kids to plan an activity, so they narrowed all the kids activities in Charlotte to the Raptor Center, Reed's Gold Mine and Lazy 5 Ranch.  The kids voted and they decided on Lazy 5 Ranch.

Lazy 5 Ranch is a private zoo north of Charlotte that offers wagon tours.  Mark went there with a class field trip and said we had to go back.  So, we get in the car.   I never went, so I did not know what to expect.  We signed up for a wagon tour and we go there a little early, so the kids had a little time to explore.  Then it was time for the wagon tour.  When we  get on the wagon, we were told there was a bucket of food for every two people to share.  The kids got to feed giraffes, horses, emus, pigs and even a holy cow!  They had a cow that came from India.








We left the ranch and the kids were tired and hungry.  So we started on the road again.  This time, my mom had a surprise for them.  She was taking them to Reed's Gold Mine.

Reed's Gold Mine was the sight of the first documented gold find in the USA.  You get to see where the gold was found and tour the mines.  We got there at 4:12, so we had 18 minutes to tour the mine before they closed.





We toured Reed's Gold Mine often as child, so it was cool to take my kids there.  They really enjoyed the history and I think they are looking forward to coming back this summer.  They want to pan for gold and the mine feels really good in the summer as it stays about 55* year round.



On Friday, my mom had one final surprise for the kids.  She took them to the Raptor Center.  The Raptor Center is a non-profit that helps injured raptors and hopefully gets them to the point that they can be released back into the wild.  The kids had a good time looking at the owls, hawks and eagle.

We left Friday afternoon to come home.  The kids had a lot of fun that weekend and were tired.  But, on Saturday, they had the Pinewood Derby to look forward to.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Cookies!!!

My life has gone to the cookies.  It seems like it is consuming all my time.

Ann has decided she is going to fulfill her goal of 1200 boxes.  Old Navy at the Mall has said she can set up a booth when she needed to, so with that and a promise to us, I ordered 23 extra cases of cookies last Monday.  So now, we have at this point 269 boxes to sell.  For some, that is a lot of cookies.  But a 3 hour cookie booth, 90 boxes can be sold.  She now has to commit to her goal as I can't return the cookies, so we are in it for the long haul, probably 2 more weekends.  And for all of her (and my) hard work, she has earned herself a week at camp.  I really hope she enjoys it.

My week days seem to be consumed by cookies as I have parents (especially one) wanting to know how many boxes of cookies their daughter has sold or how much money they owe the troop.  It seems like a constant.  If I am not answering emails, I am getting texted or delivering cookies.  I am looking forward to Monday when I have to close the cookie season down.  I print off final reports and then it is done.  Hopefully, all the money will be turned in on Thursday and then it will be done except for meeting Ann's goal.

And if I see another Girl Scout cookie for a months, I may scream.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Lent

Lent started this year on my anniversary, February 22nd.  So, my anniversary had very little celebrating.   Maybe we will learn from this experience as it will happen again on our 20th anniversary.

So, to observe Lent, my each member of my family sacrifices something.  We, as a family give up meat for the entire Lent (I am always looking for some good vegetarian options).  We also go to Stations of the Cross almost every Friday.  Mark and Ann are doing a decade of the rosary.  Patrick has given up candy (but not cookies as there are over a hundred boxes of cookies in my house and that would be too hard for a four year old).  My stepson has reportly given up gum.

What have I given up?  The computer after 8pm.  My house is cleaner, I am going to bed on time and I am spending more time with my husband.  But, my blog posts will be a little further apart.  Yes, I still need to tell you about my vacation.

I hope you are growing this Lent as well!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Girls Night Out

Last Wednesday I had a girls night out to celebrate my acceptance into Grad School.  I had 3 close friends there and we were having a great time laughing and talking.

Then my party was crashed - by the two priests at my church.  I was in for a surprised when they walked through the door of the restaurant we were at.  I thought it was a random event they choose the same restaurant, but they they sat down at our table.

I am lucky to have so many people willing to come and celebrate me.  I truly felt special that night.