Vanilla Icing

Tots Anyone?

Puppets & Public Speaking

It's a two day recovery from a Daisy Scout meeting (in case I've never said, or someone reading this is 'new'---my daughter convinced me to start and lead a Daisy Scout Troop so she could be a girl scout) and I'm just now feeling like my energy has returned.

Don't get me wrong; it's a lot of fun with the girls. But first the mad preparation the day of the meeting gets a bit stressful with last minute things to make sure are completed and ready. Then, I worry all day long if our meeting will go smooth. Will most of the girls be there? Will they have fun? Will the timing of the activities work out? Will the mothers/parents be satisfied? Will one of the mothers/parents peek in through the window and see one girl frown at another and then lecture me about it? Will the girls (with reminders) keep the noise level that comes through our room and into the children's library at a level where the librarian smiles as we leave and says 'They sure sounded like they were having fun!!' Or will we all attain a noise level where we get a dirty look as we leave?

Sigh. And those are only some of the things I worry about!

This meeting (Tuesday the 8th) went well. The girls had received basic make-a-sock-puppet kits I had put together for the meeting before and their 'homework' was to construct a sock puppet and bring it to the meeting. It was fun to see all the different ways the girls made their puppets using what they were provided and things they had at home. Then, to earn their red petal patch each girl had to take a turn and do a little 'skit' with her puppet. The library has a puppet theatre in the room we use and the girls had a LOT of fun putting on a puppet show. Being able to duck behind the 'stage' really boosted their courage levels. =) One girl, with a puppy sock puppet, even put on an interactive puppet show! She had the other girls jumping and moving around.

Missy, my co-leader I coerced, had to be on her own the last ten minutes of the meeting. She awarded red petal patches for their smock--all the girls were strong and courageous enough to perform for their friends!--and also passed out the invitations to the Daisy Tea Party we are holding at the end of the month. Missy had the easy job. I, on the other hand, had the tough job. I had to go talk to the parents!! Yikes!!

Though I was only speaking to the parents of the girls in a very informal setting (around a table in the back of the children's library) I was a nervous wreck. I might as well been on a stage, behind a podium in front of an audience of hundreds. With so many activities and sports for children to participate in at this time of year in addition to family things and more importantly, plain old playing, I wanted to hand out and discuss our Spring/Summer schedule. I went over the schedule and fielded questions. Except there weren't really questions. Or comments. Pretty much everyone just stared at me--blankly?-- making me even more nervous and wondering if they all thought the things on our schedule were dumb. Or maybe that the whole thing was dumb.

=S

Lucky for my sanity, my friend Katie, whose daughter Macey is in Daisies and good friends with Maia, acknowledged me by speaking and saying thank you. Otherwise, I fear I might have kept rambling on and on and on until someone acknowledged me.

Ahh. Public Speaking. It's a rum thing, isn't it? Some people can do it with ease and the rest of us shake in our boots before and during and then take two days to recover from it!

---The 'irony' of me having to go speak in front of the adults just like the girls had to in front of their peers just NOW struck me. (Don't laugh at my pitifulness--I tell you my mind gets fried talking in front of groups) I only have one thing to ask--- WHERE'S MY RED PETAL PATCH????????

Yawn.

I am discussing savings accounts and explaining about interest over tea and toast. With my 8 year old. Who is fascinated. <----Is there anything else to add to that?

Muck Monster

Little did we know what was lurking below in the valley at Frick Park....

He's just around the bend---

The Muck Monster, the Muck Monster,
He stole my shoe

The Muck Monster, the Muck Monster,
To feed his dog, Moo!

The Muck Monster, the Muck Monster,
Sure is dumb--

The Muck Monster, the Muck monster,
Stole the wrong one!

----I couldn't manage a picture of me piggy-backing Maia out of Frick Park but we had a great time coming up with a song together to sing about our little misadventure!----

Sweet Surprise

There's no such thing as too much tape. I found this squishy little package in the bathroom after Maia was all tucked in and asleep.

Words...spelled out all by herself with no help at all that are readable! Spelling isn't important, right?

What is it? Something handstiched and lovely.....

A Princess Pillow guaranteed to give me sweet dreams after a busy contentment filled weekend. =)

Guinness? Huh?

Clean Up, Clean Up,

Everybody, Everywhere!

Maia helped me clean up after International Cuisine Dinner with friends.  <---That name is kind of hard to say; I think we need to come up with something catchier to call it.  What do you think Chels?   Anyways, last night was our first night for this.  We are planning on having dinner together with Kris and Chelsea and their daughter on the first Wednesday of the month with the intention of making a meal from a different type of cuisine.  This not only gives us a good reason to get together with friends but it also lets us try cooking new foods we might not otherwise try.

We are planning on alternating houses and the house that is hosting will be the one to pick the cuisine and also prepare the 'main' dishes.  The family visiting will be the ones responsible for bring the 'extras:' bread, appetizers, dessert, etc.   It seems that the extras are usually more portable. =)  I think last night was very successful and I'm looking forward to next month's dinner.

On the Menu for Irish Fare:

Beef in Guinness, Duchess Potatoes, Dubliner Cheese Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms, Oat Bread and of course Guinness!  Dessert was Chocolate Cake that was made a little more family friendly by using mint instead of Irish Creme. 

(The alcohol in the Guiness cooked off in the case of the beef; in the cake I believe the Irish Creme was to go in the icing)

Sharing a meal with friends is one of my favorite things. =)

the creative family

by Amanda Blake Soule. I have waited for this book for a very long time now and today at last it was out at the bookstores.

Her blog, Soulemama was one of the very first 'mama blogs' I discovered on the internet and I've been hooked on it since.

Yet--I've always been one to prefer books over reading something online. I like the feel of holding a book in my hands and turning the pages. Especially I enjoy how the bottom of it doesn't get too hot to rest on my lap!!! And that thing about the battery running out because you are too far from an outlet? Never happens with a book.

If you haven't already, you should go here or here and purchase it. Don't delay!

Now, it's time for me and my cup of cinnamon apple tea to curl up with way too many pillows and have a good long read. Goodnight!