Second American Heritage Girl meeting

Last night was the second American Heritage Girl meeting.  Tatiana had so much fun!   We walked in late because I thought it started at 6:30, instead of 6:00 pm.  So, instead of getting there 15 minutes early, we got there 15 minutes late.  I don't think we missed much since they were still working on the oath.   Several girls said, "Tatiana!" as we came in.   It was day two of the Photography badge work.   All the girls were sent out with cameras to find interesting photos to take.   We walked to several different areas around the church.   The kids were told to find interesting shapes and get some close up.  Most kids took their mommies cell phones or tablets.   Actually all other girls.   I think using a real camera helped Tatiana to take better photos.  Zooming for example was easier and more intuitive.  There was a girl that was doing a trial meeting.   Her mom had signed up her son for the boy's group and Tracy had suggested that they sit-in on the AHG meeting.  Tatiana was very nice to the new girl.   I really appreciated that.  The girl was really sweet and I hope they sign up.   The mom said that they don't have the money for it, but that girl might want to use some birthday money she just received, but that it would be up to her.  They are homeschoolers too.

One of the photos that was needed for the badge was a blurry photo.   So, the troop went to the Gym.  The kids lined up on one wall, and the mom's had the cameras on the sidelines.  Then on "Go", the kids were to race across and the mom's were to take a blurry photo of them running.   Tatiana's camera was set on 2 second delay.  So, I got no one.  I asked them to race across again since I missed the photo.   Then the other mom's realized what a great idea that was to tire the kids out so several of the moms claimed they needed another try at getting a photo.

Then the kids picked a photo to show to the other kids.  They were to pick one that was very zoomed in and have people guess what it was.  Tatiana went first.   One of the other girls picked a photo that had Tatiana and Danielle, the new girl, running around so they were a little blurry.   Then for the second round the girls were to pick their favorite photo.

Frightfest with Godfather Ty

Yesterday was bring-a-friend free day at Six Flags.   It was the first weekend for Fright Fest there.  We had so much fun!   It was Godfather Ty, Scotland, Tatiana and I.  The only thing that could have made it better is if Margaret had been able to come too.  They had it decorated for Halloween and several employees had heavy monster makeup on.  Tatiana liked to spot the skeletons.   They were painted all different colors which kept them interesting.  The best part for all the adults was that Tatiana usually wanted to sit next to Ty and frequently held her his hand.   She seemed happiest when walking holding Ty's hand and one of her parents.  She would do this sing/skip/dance thing.  The first thing we did (after eating) was go to the big show that they have.   It was really good.   Tatiana couldn't decide whose lap she wanted to sit in.   At 7pm they switched over Adult Fright Fest.  Tatiana wanted to stay to see the scary stuff.  At first she was disappointed.  Although the decorations did look lots spookier in the dark.  Then we walked down a hallway that had lots of fog and the monsters jumped out and screamed at you.  That genuinely scared her.  She was breathing hard and she switched from wanting to see one of the Haunted Houses to not wanting to.  Then she kind of wanted to go in again.  But, we decided not.

Tatiana back home

    Tatiana came back home last night after visiting her Gram and Grandpa since Saturday.   It was lovely.  We sat on the couch together.  At first it was watching an Adventure Time that they hadn't finished earlier.  Then she ate her dinner in the living room.   Then we watched The Librarians snuggling on the couch.  That was nice.
     At bedtime she seemed tired and she asked to skip straight to Boxcar Children.  So, we did.  We almost finished the book we listened to on the way to Arlington.  She really seems to enjoy figuring out the hints that Mystery books leave.   She gets all excited and her eyes light up.   We are listening to the one with Grisly Bear in the name.
    Earlier in the day her Gram and Grandpa dropped her off at the Plano house where Scotland was working.  She was happy to show her Grandparents 'her' bedroom.   Then she went to tumbling and dance.  Then she played with Taylor at the park.  So, it was no surprise that she was tired at bedtime.  I think she knew she was tired, but she wanted Mommy and Daddy time.
    When she had first got to the Farm house, Yogi was very happy to see her.  He laid right at her feet.

Butterflies

Yesterday afternoon I got a skype that she was very excited to get 3 butterflies.   She started out with four caterpillars.  One turned into a butterfly while still in the little plastic cup with a lid, and it couldn't spread its wings.  So I was worried I'd killed it or it would never fly right.  But it and the three still in cocoon were put in the habitat.   It was fine, I was happy.   Then much excitement about that THREE butterflies were out and that they were moving around.  Then later that afternoon, Scotland tapped the side of the tulle near where the butterfly was, and it fell into the sugar water and floated, unmoving.  Tatiana freaked out, "You killed a butterfly".   He reached in a scooped it out of the sugar water.  he was very happy to see it had moved later.  Those are hardy butterflies.  

First game of Clue and first butterfly

A couple of weekends ago, there was a garage sale at a neighbor's house.   We bought a kid's version of Clue.   Clue: Carnival - the case of the missing prizes.  You had to figure out who stole the prizes, when and where.  The young kids version, you don't figure out the Where, just the Who and When.  You are also guaranteed to get to the next room every turn.   The really neat thing is that everyone can play.  No one looks inside the envelope until the end.   Instead at the end of every go-around, everyone makes a guess and they put colored tokens through the slot by the person, and the time that they think.   Then after 5 turns, the envelope is opened, and whoever has the most tokens in the correct bins wins.  Tatiana and I tied with 4 each, Daddy just had one.   It was lots of fun.

Oh, and the first butterfly came out of it cocoon.  Apparently that name only applies to Moths, but the correct term is hard to pronounce and spell.   Much excitement.  They are in the habitat.

First AHG Tenderheart Meeting

Monday was the first meeting of AHG where she was a Tenderheart.   Last year was a sort of introduction to scouting.  This year she starts earning badges, and the meetings have several girls.   It is for 1st -3rd grade.  We got there late because Scotland and Tatiana went to a funeral of one of Debra's lifetime good friends.   He had been friends with her too.  I think he really liked having her with him.   I'd even offered to work-from-home in the afternoon so he could go by herself.   I'd combed her hair the night before, so her hair looked really nice.  She wore my rhinestone headband and a black dress, and black heels with rhinestones on them.

We didn't miss anything at the meeting because they were settling in.  It was on cameras.   She thought it was a little boring to learn the parts of the camera.   But then they showed some examples of Bad photos and improved photos.   When they asked "What might make a bad photo?"  No one said, "Cut off the head".   Then they ran around and took photos of each other.   There was much giggling over that.  Then they did some coloring.  Tatiana hasn't really liked to color lately, but I think since it was entirely voluntary and since the other girls were, she wanted to color.  

The meeting got done early, so several of the girls played outside.   Many were waiting for the boys to finish their meeting.   She played with Macy and two girls that are best friends.  Then when they left, Tabitha came out and they played some more.

Gram Posted:

Susie proudly called Gram & Grandpa to tell us that Tatiana has her own library card.
YEAH!
That brought back happy memories about Susie getting her own library card .

They were on DART train going to Butterfly House in Dallas.