Brandy's Gold Award

After being in Girl Scouts for the past 13 years, all of those try-its, badges, IPPs, field trips, camping trips, and helping with service unit and council events have lead to this moment. The Gold Award is the highest honor a girl can earn in the Girl Scout organization. And on this day, Brandy earned what only a small number of girls accomplish that have ever been in Girl Scouts. Brandy worked with the City of Houston Waterworks Education Center in Humble. It was a long process as this project started out as one thing and turned and twisted to something totally different. Through this process Brandy learned that when you work with the government nothing ever goes as planned. She is now down to completeing the required paperwork and planning her pinning ceremony.

Tis the Night Before The First Day of School

The lunches are packed, the new supplies are packed into the backpacks, the clothes are pressed and hanging on the bedroom doors but I sit here remembering the first day of school 13 years ago for Brandy and 9 years ago for Kyle. I was very fortunate that both of the kids started school in the building that I was the school nurse. Even though there were times that I wondered if having them in the same building as myself was a good thing but never on the first day of school. Brandy will be a Senior at Spring High School Class of 2011. I remember her first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday. She wore a denim dress with her hair down (it was always short in those early years). She sat in the student chairs in front of my desk like a perfect lady with her backpack in her lap. When it was time I walked her to class to see Ms. Kleinhiezen. I appreciate Ms. Kleinheizen for being so kind and a wonderful example of what learning can be to a young student. Even though she is now Mrs. Siekas and a mother of a young son and daughter herself, Brandy still talks of her adventures in her classroom to this day.

Kyle starts his eighth grade year at Roberson Middle School for the 2010-2011. He will be a member of the Spring High School Class 2015.
Kyle on the other hand had both Mom and Brandy to walk to his Pre-K class. Brandy talked to him for weeks before about how he had to act to be able to be a Beneke Bear. I handed him off to Mrs. Cindy Burns and then in the afternoon he went to Mrs. Lopez. And no one has to ask Kyle the second time how he feels about Mrs. Lopez. The one thing that I remember about Kyle the most during those early years is he always had to give me a kiss just before he headed to class. And that continued until he was in second grade. Now I'm lucky to get a hug in public.

As always I will take the annual pictures before they head out the door but in my heart I will know that this is the last time I will have both of my children leaving for the first day of school from my driveway. And that is even with one driving herself on the road to becoming a young lady and finding her own road to a lifetime of adventures, I'm allowing myself to have a "mommy moment".

Towels

I never thought towels would become such a part of my life. But as I prepare for my daughter to begin her Senior year in high school, I find myself thinking towels will be something that I miss when my children leave home. Both of the kids have swam on summer league, year round team, taken swimming lessons, and of course taken baths. I continue to wash at least a load of towels a day if not two or three. If a had a dollar for every towel I have folded over the years I would be wealthy woman. Coach David always said I was the best swim mom as I sat in the stands reading my magazines or working on school stuff and always had the dry towel ready for the kid's shriving body to dry off on. I will miss the towels that have become such an important part of my kid's childhood.

Flounder

Brandy will retire her camp name of Flounder on Friday during the closing ceremony at Silver Springs II Day Camp. What that means is she has volunteered as a program aide at this day camp for the past six summers. The first two years a girl must learn basic outdoor skills and take core program aide training before branching out to a speciality. Brandy has volunteered with canoes before becoming lifeguard. She will be head lifeguard this year as a 6th year. The retirement ceremony even comes with graduation caps. It will be the first time Brandy dons a graduation cap. When a name is retired it means no other camper can ever have that camp name at Silver Springs II can. This camp has been in San Jacinto Council for the last 32 years. So there is a lot of history that involves this camp in our council. The picture below is Brandy's name that appears on the banner.

Adventures of a Road Trip

Kyle is on a road trip to Alaska for his summer vacation. He left Houston with Bear and Salty on June 9 headed north to Canada. Dad retired a year ago in May and had wanted to take this trip as long as I can remember. The rest of us will fly to Anchorage to meet them on June 27. By what we hear in emails and phone calls, the trip is a true adventure for both of them. Kyle is totally proud of himself as he has a stamp in his passport that Brandy and his parents don't have!

Mike and I let Kyle go as we know this is a once in a lifetime experience that he will share with only Bear. And I know he will be telling stories of this summer for the rest of his life. And besides he has a lot to write about next year at school. And he spotted a bear by the side of the rode while going down the Alaskan Highway in Canada.

Adventures of a Lifetime

Bear and Kyle at Meade Glacier 40 miles SE of Skagway

Getting ready to ride the chopper to the glacier.

Leopold Farm in Minnestoa - one of the first

conservation farm in the United States dating

back to the early 1900's.

On the Alaska Highway in Canada.

Summer

Brandy has been working two jobs since Memorial Day Weekend. She lifeguards for the summer league in our neighborhood. This is the team she has swam for since the fourth grade - getting paid to be at swim practice and meets on Saturdays what a concept. The second job is lifeguarding also but for a pool management company at a subdivision pool. She was made an assistant manager this year.

Kyle is having the adventure of a lifetime. But more about that in a later entry.

Silver Springs II Day Camp starts on Monday, June 21. Brandy has earned the right to retire her camp name after spending the last six years as a program aide. Her camp name is Flounder and yes she has served in the positions of canoeing and lifeguard - to no one's surprise. June 25 will be the closing of camp and my last year as Director. Eight years at this camp and serving the last three as director I believe it is time to pass the torch.

New Adventures

With the new job at Dekaney High School, I have had to have a open mind with so many different with types of teenagers. I just never know what to expect each day when I walk into the clinic. This type of clinic is a mix of a doctor's office and ER. I truly have found the last month very rewarding and look forward to the rest of the school year.

Last weekend was the Spring Tri-Club show. Kyle earned the Reserve Champion Single Fryer. We were very surprised and excited at the same time.

Happy 2010!

We will give the blogsite another go with communication between friends and family. I'm trying new things and trying to become more computer friendly so be patient. Tomorrow I'm going to try and add pictures to this blogsite.