Girls Camp {Summer Fun!}

I absolutely, cannot, nearly refuse, to believe that Kayley is turning 12 this summer.  Of course, with 12, comes a lot of new adventures for this girl as she advances into Young Women's really soon.  She was thrilled to learn that she (barely) made the cut-off to go to Girls Camp.  She had an absolute blast and was so exhausted when she got home but said she can't wait for next year...

Thanks to a wonderful bestie, who happens to be in the Stake YW, who sent me many pictures after drop-off so I could keep up with what everyone was doing... 

Kayley said the camp was all about Being Strong and so they faced many different challenges to test their strength...  Physically and spiritually. 

She got to try out several new things too.   

She made a few new friends from across the stake and got to know some girls better from our own ward.  In this picture she wanted me to be reassured that she did NOT forget to put on sunscreen each day.  LOL.

She was pretty loopy by the time I picked her up.  4 days, 3 nights (really, really late nights) at camp can really make a girl go crazy.  She was glad to be home I think...  I know I was glad to have her home.  The house was really quiet without her constant chit-chat.  

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Discover Nature - Fishing {Nature Study}

We had a great opportunity to participate in The Missouri Department of Conservation, Discover Nature Fishing Course for kids.  Even better, it was totally free!  

The classes start with about 45 minutes of lecture (which honestly can be a little boring and a bit over the younger kids heads).  

Each course consists of the following:

• Lesson one: Equipment, Casting, and Proper Fish Handling
• Lesson two: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook
• Lesson three: Five Common Missouri Fish - Their Anatomy, Habitat, and Life Cycle
• Lesson four: Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations 

After completing the lecture portion you then move to the fishing part of the class.  It is a catch and release program and each girl ended up catching at least 2 or 3 fish each time.

The girls have learned how to bait their hook.  (You literally rip the poor worm into about 3 sections since the hooks are so small.)  Kayley goes for it but Maggie is a little disturbed by it, so luckily she has a big sister willing to bait her hook for her.  They also learned how to remove the fish from the hook, which isn't exactly easy.  Fish are sharp!

In the second class Kayley really got the hang of tying her own hooks. 

Thank goodness because she needed to tie her own pretty soon after the lecture due a fish swallowing the hook!  Worm and All!

They also learned how to identify different types of Missouri fish.

And in the next class they are going to learn about fish anatomy!

We have gone twice and even though it has been scorching hot, the girls have had a pretty good time!  This definitely fills a bucket list item for Kayley.  Maggie, not so much...she is a little less into smelly fish and a little more into other pursuits, but she has been a good sport and had a pretty decent time.  

To learn more about the MDC Fishing Program check out their website!

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A Jedi Burial for a Fish...

Well, Kayley's little sucker fish, Dementor the First, died...  We only had him for a few days but apparently he wasn't a hearty little soul.  Because we are pretty creative we decided to bury him "Jedi" style with a proper funeral pyre and at sea, no less...

Poor fishy.

Our sea...
(which is technically a birdbath, which is kind of like the sea only different...)

Kayley mourned while Maggie thought the flaming barge was fantastic.

RIP Dementor the First.

A Few Fun Things...

My iPhotos have been extremely messed up...  For some reason photos are not moving over automatically like they are supposed to.  And then, when I have time, I'll sit down and make it happen and I realize how much stuff we have done, and how much time has passed...  I realize that I missed things like Easter!  and Memorial Day!  and a couple of fun activities!

It is kind of relief to realize we are NOT as boring as I thought we were!  

In March (or was it April?)  we enjoyed a quick trip to Texas!  We enjoyed going to Homeschool Convention there this year,  visiting the zoo and seeing our cousin!  

We found an In-N-Out and, of course, stopped for lunch to see what the hub-bub was about...

Texas Visitor's Center...

We found a Five Below!  A favorite place to shop! 

The Zoo was great! 

In April (or was it May?) we went to St. Louis for Maggie's visit with her doctor and we were so disappointed when we discovered that The Magic House was closed!

So we ended up at the science museum instead and it was a fantastic visit! 

And admission was FREE!  Who doesn't love free?

The girls LOVED the planetarium! 

I have found a lot more pictures hiding in the Cloud so I will have to pots a few more updates when I have some time...  Thanks for reading! 

The End of The School Year is Finally Here!

We are pretty excited to have hit the end of our school year!   We are ready to move on into summer and do some lighter subjects and enjoy some summer camps, sleeping in, playing outside and just relaxing!  I tell myself every year that I am NOT going to take the summer off....yet, somehow, by the time summer rolls around we get to thinking that we just NEED a break.  The weather is too nice and pretty.  The turtles, butterflies and hummingbirds are just too distracting!  

So...  As of Monday, May 14th we are in full summer mode!   Bring it on!