To the Bridge

Hi folks.

Well, it's been two years since we last did this - Abby's Girl Scout troop, led by Kris and Courtney, have 'graduated' (for lack of better term) from Brownies, and therefore it was time, once again, to hold a Bridging Ceremony.

If you'll recall (via the hyperlink above), last time we did this we did it in our own backyard, since we do have ourselves a bridge (recently scrubbed clean, by the way - just need to put some waterproof finish on it.)  Girls line up and take turns crossing the bridge, removing their patch-covered Brownie sashes, and donning the teal vests of the next class of Girl Scout, Juniors.  They then talk about the scout character traits they identify most with, and what they liked most about being a Brownie the last two years.

Following this, everyone - scouts and parents alike - hung out and picnicked in our backyard.  I was grateful that this time around I didn't simultaneously have a shitload of unpacking to do.  Still kinda sucked seeing how it was a school night, though - I really wanted people to eat fast and get the hell out of my backyard.

That shouldn't be all that surprising to anyone, honestly.

So yeah.  Here's another Bridging Ceremony. . .

Swearing fealty to all things Girl Scouts.

Bustin' a gut.  Great composure, kids.

Opening remarks.  Courtney, as usual, did all the talking while Kris handed stuff out.

Abby was the first up.  You could tell she was nervous, because she fast-walked across the bridge - practically jogging - and I barely had time to snap a decent picture of her.  Of course.

She shucked off her sash so fast I didn't get a shot of that either.  Way to go, kid.

Donning the teal.

Presenting Abby with her certificate of completion (or whatever the hell it's called), along with a new Girl Scout water bottle.

Abby tells the assembled masses her favorite things about being a Brownie.

Later, once the entire troop went through the above process.

Attempting to take some group pictures on our bridge. . .

Kinda surprised it held all this weight without buckling, to tell ya the truth.

Another Junior in the house. 

Kris helps set up the potluck table.

Now seriously. . . get the hell out of my backyard, people.

- Brian

Another Random Girl Scout Thing I Wasn't At

No idea what's happening here.

Hey folks.

So I've gotten pretty good at skipping out on Girl Scout functions over the years.  I'm like a frickin' Black Belt at not being involved in my kids' many, many troop outings, and, to some extent, I'm kinda proud of that.  I suppose that if we had had a couple of boys instead of girls, and they were instead involved in Boy Scouts, the tables would be turned somewhat.  I still don't see myself becoming a troop leader like Kris is, though - I'm not down with the whole 'scout' thing like she is.

Anyway, Kris and Alayna set off this weekend for some random Girl Scout camping trip. . . somewhere. . . in Michigan.  I forget where exactly, I don't know.  I'd assume some place like Harrison, where there's a big-ass Scout Camp, but I could be wrong.  They were gone all weekend, though, leaving Friday evening and getting back Sunday afternoon, and spent two days and nights in a little, wood cabin.

Meanwhile, back in Midland, Abby and I were busy Halloween shopping and gorging ourselves on snacks and treats.  Like a couple of badasses.

So yeah, seeing how Kris never updates this blog anymore, and I wasn't there to know what was happening at all, I'm going to show you a selection of photos and do my damnedest to caption them as accurately as humanly possible.

It's bound to be a shit-show, folks - be forewarned. . .

I think this little kid here is getting lynched.

"Let's grab the smallest kid we can find and shove her through this tire, girls."

Success.

Here's Alayna's BFF, Maddie, climbing up a rope ladder.  Who knows why.

Later, the girls all stood around in front of a cabin and looked at two men.

Some girls put on yellow helmets.  Alayna didn't.

Rock climbing. . . or is it called 'wall climbing'?  I don't know, I don't do either.

Alayna, all ready to start climbing up a wooden wall covered in colorful, plastic thingies.

Preparing to ascend the wall.  Also, here's a bucket with what is either a rope, hose, or a long-ass snake hanging out of it.

Aaaaand there she goes. . .

I'm just gonna go out on a limb here and guess that this is probably the highest point she reached on the wall.

How is this culturally sensitive?  For shame, Girl Scouts.  For shame.

Alayna, Maddie, and some other kid I don't know, sitting around for a snack.

Slainte.

A bunch of girls on a piece of wooden something-or-other.

I guess the wooden something-or-other moves. . . huh.

What's the point of this?

Kris and Alayna, posing with dirt.  'Cause that's what people do.

Two girls and a miniature dinosaur of some kind.

People standing around outside a cabin in the woods.

An assortment of people in kayaks, on some random lake somewhere.  I doubt my kid is among them, but she could be.

The Cannonball scales the wall again.

- Brian

World Thinking Day

Happy World Thinking Day!!!

(Yes.  Apparently that's a thing.)

Never a dull moment when you have and two kids - and a wife - actively serving in a perpetual nightmare state of Girl Scouts.  This evening we had yet another random event, that featured dozens of troops from all over Midland:  hundreds of screaming girls, dozens of moms of all stripes, and, like, four dads.

I was one of those four dads.

Embrace the chaos.

This was World Thinking Day, and basically what that entailed was every troop in the area got to pick a country and give a presentation to the assembled masses about it.  Alayna's troop chose Australia, while Abby's troop - of which Kris is a co-leader - chose Ghana (guess why.)  Each girl within the troop had to research a different aspect of that country, and they had to read out what they had found out.  Geography/climate, economy, history, wildlife, food, etc.  They'd then to some kind of a presentation and/or skit, they cooked a traditional national meal to serve at their station, they decorated signs and made flags, and displayed information-riddled tri-fold presentation boards.

Like what I'm sure happens at the United Nations all the time, just way louder and with way more hair braids.

Totally '80s.

Kids also had to create swatches (little pieces of pure garbage that troops trade one another) based on their country.  Kris and Courtney made Shrinky Dinks (yes, those still exist) in the shape of Africa, which were then, in turn, colored in the fashion of the Ghanaian flag.  I was recruited - against my will - to make sure hundreds of these stupid, little things were completed in time.  Because all my roommates are in Girl Scouts, and resistance is futile.

The flag of Ghana, also known as the 'door' to the Captain's Quarters.

Anyway, I've got some pics here for you guys - they're not great, because I was stuck way in the back doing the dad thing (taking pics and video.)  The videos turned out far better, but the files were too large to upload here to Blogger (stupid 100mb size limits.)  So, if you want, while you're looking at these pictures, just scream as loud as you can for as long as you can - that should give you the appropriate experience.

Enjoy.

Alayna's troop prepares to take the 'stage.'

Alayna had to research Australia's economy, which took a few evening sessions using her school-issued Chromebook to find relevant and age-appropriate information on the country's monetary system, main industries, etc.

Pass the mic.

She presents very well - she was better than a lot of the other kids we saw present throughout the evening.

A few troops later, it was Ghana's turn. . .

Kris wrangles some kids

If you look carefully off to the left, you can see Abby speaking into the mic - she had it the entire time.  Not sure why she was designated as the group's speaker, but she did a good job.  Public speaking must run in the genes.

The Pledge.  Or whatever it's called.

Scatterin'

Ghana

Australia

- Brian