Caroling for the holidays

The girls made some ornaments for the residents at Berkley Manor and they caroled.  They have three dining rooms and the girls started in the main dining room to sing to our dear friend Val, who many of the girls knew.  Then we sang a song to each of the other dining rooms.  They were so cute.

Berkley Manor - caroling outing in the dining room.

the troop and some sibings

oh - they were just so cute!

Boxes for the Troops

This month we put our meeting time to excellent use.  Each girl brought an item or two and we made an assembly line of sorts and filled 20 boxes of goodies to be shipped to the troops.  Each box had goodies (some of which were specifically requested, and others things the girls found)  There were wet wipes, trail mix, kraft mac&amp cheese, fruit leather, candy, crackers/chips, peanuts, slim jims, peanut M&Ms, gum, rice crispy treats and mini kleenexes.   The girls had a great time together, giving back. AND it was very rewarding to get a THANK YOU directly from the troop that received our goodie boxes.  

all ready to start making the boxes.....

finishing up

And this is what it is all about - look at all of their smiling faces. We were so happy that the service men and women received their packages before the holidays.

Project Angel Heart - giving back

This month the charity we worked with was PROJECT ANGEL HEART.  They deliver nutritious meals to improve the quality of life, at no cost - for those coping with life-threatening illnesses.  We were able to decorate 70 bags that will be used to brighten a meal time for the recipients.  The girls each did a few bags and I think they turned out great.  I am positive these put smiles on many faces.

these are just a few of the 70 bags we delivered.  sorry if each girl isn't represented - i lost track of who did which.

first project: Dumb Friends League

The girls wanted to work with and learn about our local animal shelter.  We first spent out meeting time making cat toys.  The girls made little mice, stuffed them with cotton, a bell (no catnip, per their request) and then topped them off with strings and feathers.  They were so cute.  When I brought them home, our cat Cheeto drug them out of the bag and approved of them.

all working hard

some great toys were made

cheeto approves

Then after we had the toys made and we rounded up some supplies that they were in need of we were able to go donate all the items and take a class and a tour.  The girls in our troop are amazing.  It was a great outing to start the year.

the girls learning about animal care and about what the shelter does to help animals

all the ladies on the tour

on to 2010/2011

and we are OFF...... our third year of girl scouts. For the first meeting we walked to the park and had a pizza party while brainstorming ideas of what to do for the year. The girls came up with some great suggestions. I think it will be another busy year.

Brownies in the park } EXTRAVAGANZA!

I thought i would share what i have in store for my Brownie Troop. I didn't have time to do all that i did - but i made it happen. We were scheduled to do this last friday but were rained out. Today the forecast says rain, heavy after 5PM. Crossing fingers that we can get this all done without hail and lightning. Here is the Amazing Race inspired scavenger hunt/tasks that they have to perform to get their loot & patches that they have earned.

Thinking Day - Japan

Our troop was late celebrating Thinking Day this year with council. I had it on the calendar for April but had missed the council meeting with official dates for February/March. Regardless, we got together April 11th and got to learn all about Japan. (the girls voted in a prior meeting on Japan - which edged out Mexico and Peru by just one vote) Alice (Mrs. Bauer) and Susan (Mrs. Engeman) luckily knew about Japan and pitched in and led the girls in a Japanese Tea. The girls got to see what the traditional dress of Japan and also tried some Japanese food. Sushi, Edamame and Rice. And thankfully Sophie led the troop in an origami demonstration. What a fun time. (I will upload some videos when i get a few spare minutes)

Cookie finale.

Cookie sales and delivery was over many weeks ago - but we still had things to do to finish up the season. We first had HOMETOWN HERO cookies to be delivered. Our original charity was The Ronald McDonald House in downtown Denver. Our troop was able to give 24 boxes of cookies to them. Because we had over 100 boxes that were donated we also donated cookies to the troops. Tiffany took over 50 boxes to the girl scout headquarters where they pool all the cookies from all the troops in the area (that were donated) and they ship then to our troops in Iraq, and other locations. And our final bit of donated cookies (about 24 boxes) were given to our local FIREHOUSE. Last week our troop walked them over and dropped them off. The firefighters were so thankful for our donation. They pooled their money together and donated $40 to OUR TROOP! That was very generous of them in exchange. Here are some photos of the hometown heros cookie delivery. Then after all those cookies were delivered our troop still had a alittle over 100 cookies to sell. Cookies that were left over from booth sales that we were unable to return. Thanks to everyone who were able to sell a few more boxes here and there - and to Francesca for doing a BIG WALK ABOUT over spring break. (more on that in a later post)

YOGA - on our way to a fitness patch.

The girls have been excited to try out Yoga since last year. I was excited to find out that Phoebes mom Nancy was an instructor and offered to help our troop learn some moves. The Brownie troop went to Iyengar Yoga Studio to try it out. Mrs. Briney led the troop in an hour long yoga session. There was some serious stretching, relaxing and breathing. It was a great hour spent - for many - learning something new. Special thanks to Iyengar Studio and Mrs. Briney!

Iyengar Yoga

COOKIE booth sales - take two & three

MORE COOKIE BOOTH SALES! Our troop hit Lowes on Havana and Walmart on Hampden. It was a COLD COLD day - but the girls were troopers. After the 2nd late booth some of the girls hit the local Anthonys to warm up and have some pizza. Our troop was SECRET SHOPPED at WALMART and we PASSED! We were awarded a case of THIN MINTS. Our troop can eat them or sell them at a $39.00 profit to our troop. (that is equal to selling 70 boxes at the .55cent profit to our troop) so WAY TO GO GIRLS! All that cookie training came in handy, and they didn't even ask "which cookie is kosher?" all the girls should know - ALL the cookies are kosher. :)

recent girl scout photos] LINK

I think there are over 150 to share..... lets try this link and see if it works.
Kodak Gallery with many recent Brownie photos.

cookie booth sales - take ONE.

Thank god for Cookie MOMS! This is a serious, strenuous, time consuming and confusing job! Tiffany has some help along the way from cookie elves on the phone... aka Carol Fronk and other past cookie moms, but Tiffany makes it look pretty effortless. So - another first for our troop! COOKIE BOOTHS! They told us o prepare to sell 200 boxes of cookies in a 3 hour shift. We made some fancy signs, we hung some signs on cars around the parking lot and we set up shop. We had 3 girls per shirt (the 3 hour shift was split into 2 shifts) We also have 5 helping parents for each shift and everyone was needed! We were so busy there were numerous times there was a line - and numerous times we couldn't keep the thin mints on the table. 3 hours later and we knew we had done well but we didn't know HOW well. Tiffanny had a starting number of how many boxes she brought - so now she just needed to count the remaining. (a tally sheet was too hard to keep up with) Tiffany called a few hours later to say we sold 433 boxes! That is a cookie credit of 72 boxes per girl. John also figured that was an average of 2.1 boxes of cookies sold - each minute of the sale. We have 2 more booths coming up this weekend and I hope we have equal success! Walmart may be tough. To stand outside in the elements (it is suppose to be 35 degrees) and also there are 2 doors for traffic and many other variables. THANKS GIRLS for all your help selling!!! You all did a great job, and I heard many people ask the questions we had practiced and i was very impressed! Good Luck to the rounds of girls going this weekend. I hope to get photos to post of each booth!

One of my many signs (i have them for the Lowes and Walmart location next weekend)

Mia's grandma Hooie came to help SELL!

We had many lines that included guys and flowers.


arent they CUTE!

The day WAS a blur!

many carts of empty boxes to finish the shift/the day

Afternoon Tea & Etiquette

What a wonderful day! Our troop has voted over and over again to prioritize taking an Etiquette class and finally things just fell into place. I found a listing for The House of Commons Tea House downtown who offered a manners/etiquette lesson with afternoon tea. We also had a random early release day right in the middle of our busy cookie month. A perfect time to take a break and enjoy the girls, the troop, the parents and an afternoon out. We had all thirteen girls together in two tables. A few girls went up and helped demonstrate some etiquette of meeting people. Then we got some brief table manners and some tea manners (which i didn't know either) It was a very memorable afternoon! Thank you moms for carpooling and helping and thank you Jessica Avery at The House of Commons.

Cookie Time !

cookies cookies cookies. Our troop started on JAN 8th selling girl scout cookies. This is our second year as a troop selling. we are VETERANS! this year we had a big goal but with 13 girls and booth sales we are going to make and exceed our goal. Each of our girls did an amazing job! Here are some photos of where cookies come from. Its a big production and it runs so smoothly. (thank you Tiffany for your hard work as COOKIE MOM!)