Labor Day Weekend Lemonade

The girls sold quite a bit of lemonade today. They might be at it again tomorrow too.

American Heritage Girl Camp

Elyana earned her fishing badge and Mikayla earned her archery and Art History badge. I taught the art badge. I did 6 different 45 minute sessions: God was the first artist (after all the bible uses the word "created" in Genesis, self-esteem and how to draw faces (we are created by God and are all unique), Van Gogh, Impressionism techniques, and a few art hikes with sketch boards.

Both girls had great times fishing, swimming, hiking, and playing games. (Grandparents, I know of a great Christmas present for the girls...some inexpensive fishing poles! I greatly enjoyed it as well.) The night Elyana came to camp, the girls older than Mikayla's group were earning their Toys and Games badge and put together a fun carnival for Elyana's group.

Mikayla made a new friend!

Mikayla playing Kick the Can.

Canoeing with Mikayla

Mikayla doing a water color picture after a lesson on impressionism.

Fishing!

Mrs. Gisi (our AHG head coordinator) teaching Elyana's group fishing terms.

Playing at the carnival.

Elyana got to participate in a skit on how to dress appropriately for fishing.

Snack Time!

There were plenty of older girls who stayed to help teach and encourage the younger girls. I often found them giving Elyana piggy back rides.

Playing on the obstacle course.

Monarch catepillar near the lake we were fishing at.

My friend, Michelle lent Elyana a fishing pole and was giving her tips.

We saw lots of frogs at the lake.

After having tons of fish nibble her worm off, she finally caught one!

My brave Elyana even wanted to learn how to throw the fish back in.

I created the craft for Elyana's group. I used plaster of paris with an IKEA fish ice cube tray. Glued on a magnet.

The girls learning about the different kinds and colors of fish and their parts before painting.

Snack time with fish cupcakes made by the older girls.

August is going, going, gone...

The girls had swimming lessons into the first week of August.  I'm so proud of them.  Elyana learned a lot and Mikayla surprised me by being passed into the very last level of swimming! The only place she can go after that would be to join the swim team!  I love that the girls enjoy the water. The second week we attended American Heritage Girl (AHG) camp at the Gamehaven Boy Scout Reservation south of town.  I will have a separate blog post dedicated to all of those photos next.  In a day I am back at work planning for the 2013-14 school year.  I am teaching an additional class this year, an art class geared specifically for Kindergartners. I am still fine tuning that curriculum before I have to whip up lesson plans next week.

The girls finished up their summer math workbooks on the road this summer.

 

Elyana swimming to her teacher.

Mikayla swimming the length of the pool.

On the last day of swimming lessons, the girls and I went across the parking lot to one of their favorite parks to play.

On Mikayla's 10th birthday, we drove to Nate's hometown of Oakdale, WI for his high school class reunion.  On the way, we stopped at a Toys R Us for the girls to use some of their birthday gift cards.  Mikayla got herself a new scooter. Nate and I bought her roller skates. Elyana had to have Despicable Me Minion glasses. If I wore them on the first day of teaching, would I scare my kids?

Time to hang out with cousins!

Teaching little sister how to skate.

Getting the hang of it!

Priceless photo of the girls hanging out with Grandma watching tv.