Girl Scouts!

Last weekend, Gretchen and I attended an area wide girl scout camp out in Juniper Knoll Camp (East Troy WI).  I haven't been to a camp like this in 25 years but oddly enough it did not seem to have changed much!  We stayed in a lodge and slept on mats on the floor.  It was very crowded with about 25 girls and 11 adults so there was a real incentive to keep busy and out of the lodge.  There were a bunch of craft stations and activities for the girls to do.  They enjoyed letterboxing (it's a cross between geocaching and a scavenger hunt) and performing in the talent show.  I did pretty good energy wise but sleeping on the floor really hurt.  I mean really. hurt.  Even Gretchen was not happy....

Growing Up

Gretchen has a friend across the street who is also in second grade.  While she has always lived across the street, they have just started playing together on a regular basis in the last 18 months or so.  Anyway, the girl across the street got her training wheels taken off recently from her bike.  She and Gretchen were riding a week ago and it made Gretchen want to take her training wheels off.  Steve told her we need to work at it and she did!  Gretchen can be hard to consistently motivate but she REALLY wanted those wheels off.  She has been riding whenever she gets a chance with Steve.  He has been great with her, riding his bike all over the neighborhood.  I don't like bragging but this is a moment where I am just so proud of her for working so hard at it.  She got her wheels taken off a few days ago and has been riding with Steve all over our town.  Now..... if I can get her to feel this way about math and reading!