AHG

Hannah's American Heritage Girls' troop just finished it's Hiking badge with a beautiful hike at Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville. Hannah and I enjoyed some much needed Mother and Daughter time complete with unplanned matching outfits. Gotta love it! 

AHG Camping Trip

In April, a bunch of the girls and moms  with Hannah's AHG troop went camping.   They go every fall and spring.    Unfortunately it rained 3.5 inches over the weekend and we experienced thunderstorms and cold weather.  Sunday morning at 2:30 am, it got so bad that we loaded up the girls in my van until 5:30 am.  There were 9 people in my van watching movies and eating and drinking until the lighting stopped. Surprisingly, some of the girls said that was their favorite time during the trip.  We were so beat when we arrived home that Hannah and I took a shower and climbed straight in bed.  We slept Sunday from 11:30 am until 5:30pm. It was quite an experience but one we won't forget for a long time.  

AHG Service Hours

With Hannah's American Heritage Girls troop, she was able to earn some service hours recently by cleaning up the church grounds where they meet.  We picked up sticks, planted new flowers, cleaned signs and more.  Here's Hannah with one of the high school girls in the troop after working hard all morning.  

AHG Fall 2012 Awards Ceremony

Hannah's American Heritage Girls' Fall Badge Ceremony was held last weekend. Hannah was too thrilled to be receiving all her badges from summer camp as well as the ones she completed with her troop and on her own. She earned nine new badges. Some included cake decorating, sign language, traveler, swimming, arts and crafts, and four others. She was especially excited to be able to experience AHG with her neighbor and best friend who joined AHG this year. Abigail and Hannah were so cute comparing their badges and looking them over before heading over the food tables to load up on sweets as the night concluded.

Hannah was part of the flag ceremony.

Hannah receiving her 9 merit badges.

The Tenderhearts (Grades 1-3)

The girls were too excited to smile for the group shot.

Abigail and Hannah, neighbors and best friends

Hannah's Summer Camp

Hannah's local troop of American Heritage Girls are hosting a week long camp. Hannah is in the Tenderheart group for girls in grades 1-3. They are working on 4 badges this week; sign language, cake decorating, our heritage and creative crafts. She is there at day camp from 8:45-4:30 all week. She arrives home by 5 only to have 45 minutes to rest before we head over to VBS at West Park Baptist Church from 6-8:30. It is very strange to only see my little girl for about an hour a day. I'm thrilled she's having a blast at camp with the girls and VBS at night but do miss her. I will be glad when Saturday rolls around. Sleeping in and enjoying time with the whole family. Then we only have only one more summer camp left, Andrew's Boy Scout Camp. His won't be as intense with all the driving. We drop him off on Sunday at Camp Buck Toms about an hour away from here and pick him up on Saturday. We won't lay eyes on him for a week. He's gonna love it!

Family Ice Skating Night

We were able to take the whole family out ice skating this week for one of Hannah's American Heritage Girls' troop outings. It was Andrew and Caleb's 1st time skating. All the kids picked it up pretty well. Jason had to take them around the rink the most because I am a horrible skater holding onto the wall for dear life. We all had a blast and got a great work out and came home with no broken bones or sprains. Here are some cute pictures of the kids.

Veteran's Day Parade 11/11/11

Hannah has always wanted to be in a parade. It was on her "bucket list" of things to do. Today, she officially crossed it off her list because the kids and I all got to walk in the Veterans' Day parade with her American Heritage Girl troop.

I honestly believe once is enough for us. We were placed in line at the end of the parade. We missed the flyovers, the military trucks and tanks and hearing the marching bands. We stood in line for hours even before the parade started and with Caleb that is no easy task. The parade itself is quite long, almost 2 hours last year. By the time we arrived home after meeting friends for lunch downtown, it was 2pm. We had arrived downtown that morning at 10am. Whew! The kids and I are beat but do have a fun memory. Hannah was sooooooo cute. She yelled at every veteran, "Happy Veteran's Day!" She seemed to be having a blast! The boys? Not so much but they were troopers to stick it out and walk in a parade beside a bunch of girls.

These pictures are ones of us lining up before the parade began.