100 Years of Girl Scouting

GS Troop 62067
Guilford, Connecticut

High Hopes

Christen and I just started volunteering in the barn at High Hopes Theraputic Riding Stables in Old Lyme, Connecticut. It already seems that we may receive far more that we can possibly give. It is a truly amazing place. . .click on the link below to read their mission statement.

http://highhopestr.org/high-hopes-mission.htm

This is Christen and Melissa with Teddy. His day is almost done then we will walk him out to the pasture for the night.

Muckin' the stalls. . .getting them ready for the morning.

The tack room at High Hopes is so very clean and beautiful.

A bucket for every horse. . .

Okay. . .so when you don't go anywhere during February break you clean and sort and purge! I have been cleaning the office/bonus room for 2 days now and just getting organized and it is such a good feeling. Anyhow, I found a poem that Christen wrote when she was in the 3rd grade. It made my day. . .

M akes me learn right from wrong

Y ou started my beautiful life





M akes supper for me so I don't starve


O nly my mother


T o defend me


H ugged me my whole life


E ver so kind


R eady for action

Another Winter Band Concert. . .

This year we attended two winter band concerts at Baldwin Middle School. . .one right after the next! Christen is in the fifth grade and playing the french horn and loving it. She says that she is going to get a scholarship for college by being the best french horn player there is!

She makes us so proud!

The whole 5th grade band directed by Carol Fonicello. Many of these kids had never even read music before this September. Now they are all playing together and it is really most unbelievable.

And now. . .the 6th grade concert!

Connor is wearing a blue shirt and standing in the back row. He is still playing the trombone and totally loving it! He is wanting to try out for the jazz band at Adams Middle School next year.

Connor and his friend, Ben.

Baldwin Middle School 5th Grade Winter Band Concert

Connor was getting ready for the concert. Everyone had to wear nice pants and a button down shirt with a tie. Larry gave him a lesson on how to tie a double windsor knot. Warming up. . .

Listening to Mrs. Fonicello. . .

Dana

Isabella

Finally, let the concert begin!

Band is lots of fun!

What? A blog post?

Happy Birthday, Connor! How can it be that you are 11 years old? Me and Christen Larry thought that we should surprise Connor and take him out for pizza on his birthday. We found a place in Guilford called Nick and Tony's Pizza. The have made a gluten free pizza for me a couple of time now and they are so good.

Next, Connor wanted to go to Ashley's Ice Cream instead of having a birthday cake. Cool! So, to his surprise, a few of his friends were there, too! Hmmmmm?

I think Connor would agree. . .it was a very happy birthday!

Time with family. . .

While we were in Illinois this summer we spent a fabulous evening in Evanston with Dave and Renee, Mike and Becca. It was so nice to be together. . .and just be. Nothing was scheduled, we had nowhere to go, we just hung out and got caught up. . .on life. Of course, when you go to Renee's house, at some point you will enjoy a meal that is out of this world! You see for us, Renee is like having our very own Ina Garten in the family. She is a most amazing cook!

Connor and Christen were shocked and amazed that the trampoline and the tree house were both gone! It was no problem though. . .the kids hung out and played a little volleyball in the back yard.

Becca, you are a beautiful girl and I love what I see.

Just a slight family resemblence. . .

We are looking forward to seeing you all when you breeze through Connecticut on your whirlwind college tour. I cannot believe that you are going to be 18 and college bound, Mike! Best of luck. . .you are gonna love it!