Climbing the walls

     We got back to school this week.  It went well actually!  Everyone had a pretty good attitude and we got everything done.  I'm feeling much more at peace with everything.  That probably helps with the schoolin'!
     Our field trip group went to Earth Trek climbing center this week.  The girls had sooooo much fun!  They all were hesitant and first and chose "easy" climbs.  But by the end Gwyn and Celee at least were trying to make it harder by following the colored tape paths and doing the "hard" climbs that took them up over a ledge.  Then they both did a climb blind-folded!  By the end their hands and whole bodies were tired.  And of course, they want to go again.  I do too!  I didn't expect it, but I even got to climb!

     We don't go out to eat much, but we received a very nice gift certificate to Cheesecake Factory so we went out.  I don't know why I like these two pictures so much, but I do.  I will explain that often when confined to a booth or table in a restaurant, Lyla can get a little intense.  So rarely does anyone sit next to her for the duration of the meal.  We take our turns!

    The girls also got back into the swing of things with Girl Scouts this week.  All three girls' troops met on the same day.  Lyla got to present her family tree to her troop.  I know that we've talked about maiden names before, but she didn't realize that all the women on our tree had other last names before they were married.  So that was cool for her to see all the different names.  My name changes are a little boggling to her, but at least on the tree we only had to put my maiden name.
     Celee's troop got to learn some things about China and play traditional Chinese games.  Gwyn's troop had a lot of planning and decisions to make.  Oh the responsibilities of a second-year Junior!  They have some events coming up that they have to run so the pressure is on!  
     All the girls got to hear a talk from a life-time Girl Scout who spoke about Title 9.  She had lived through the laws changing to mandate girls' sports opportunities and facilities and the retro-fitting of her college gym.  It was interesting to consider how much our girls take for granted that they have opportunity to do.  And that girls are still under-represented in sports participation, jobs, and scholarships.

     The weather has warmed up.  No coats today!  So we've been back outside.  The girls have been having a good time alternating between games of "Explorer Camp" and "Forest Fairies."  Everything is an adventure!