So Far, So Good

Summer has started off with a BANG!

We celebrated Memorial Day in a big way.

Michael, Nick and the rest of the local Boy Scout Troops placed flags on the graves of veterans at all the many local cemetaries. Next we attended a Veteran's Memorial ceremony at the cemetary across the street (road). Emily and Lucy were not fans of the 21 gun salute but I'm a big crybaby and get all choked up at any display of patriotism.

After that, we raced over to Hyde Park to watch a parade. Parades up here are a big deal to the kids...they're frickin MARDI GRAS! Parade marchers throw beads and, more importantly, CANDY to the people lining their route.

From Hyde Park we drove back to our 'hood for the Native American Festival at Bowdoin Park. The kids got a kick out of the people in traditional dress and all the yelling, drumming and stomping they did. We closed the day with a BBQ because, as my husband says, "It's the LAW!"

Sadly, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are both finished for the year, but what a year it was!

Michael did great in the Pinewood Derby, the Space Derby and the Rain Gutter Regata. He hiked along the Appalachian Trail, visited the Museum of Natural History, marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and sold popcorn and more popcorn and more popcorn. At the year-end picnic he graduated from cub scout to wolf scout and he (and we) couldn't be prouder.

Monday night was the Girl Scouts bridging ceremony where Maria graduated from Brownie to Junior. Maria had an AWESOME first year of girl scouts. After the past couple years of dealing with nasty "friends" in Astoria, Maria was welcomed, with open arms, by the sweetest bunch of girls into an already established Brownie troop. Maria and the girls had a sleepover at the Children's Museum, toured our local Shop Rite, learned about different cultures, met other troops, had a Father/Daughter bowling night, sang Christmas carols at the mall, marched in the St. Pat's parade, and sold Girl Scout cookies. Best of all, Girl Scouts allowed me and Nick to relive our youth at Family Skate at the roller rink. At her overnight camping trip the only thing Maria wasn't a fan of was the bugs (she used an entire can of bug spray in only 24 hours).

The little ladies and I have been keeping ourselves busy too.

Hopefully, once school lets out on the 25th, our summer continues to be a blast.