Girl Scout Cookies!

Yes, this is my life for the next six weeks. My Daisy Girl Scout Alex will be selling Girl Scout cookies for the first time. Things have changed since I was a scout. No more taking orders, turning in the form, and delivering cookies 4-6 weeks later. Oh no. We are going to Fort Worth on Saturday for a giant cookie extravaganza at the zoo. Each girl gets 10 cases of cookies up front (to start off with) and is set loose on the Metroplex. I guess Girl Scouts is embracing the power of impulse buying.

However, we're all excited, and as a troop, we expect to do pretty well. We have booths lined up at several businesses and banks in our area.

Cookie descriptions are on the baker's Web site, http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/cookies.asp

$3.50/box and everything freezes great.

Alex joined GS at the beginning of the school year and loves it. Who am I kidding? So do I. It's a large group with girls of all ages; I help with the Daisies, along with fellow Daisy mom Michelle. Alex and I have been camping twice out at the GS camp near Glen Rose, and we've both made some good friends. I'm very thankful for this opportunity to share time and new experiences with my girl. Now we can add cookies sales to the list ... pray for us.

New Addition to the Family

We finally did it! After months, nay years, of pining, Alex got her a Build-a-Bear last night.

Her name is Rose, and she is a cute little puppy we dressed in a lovely wedding gown. Alex loves her dearly and has sworn to do so forever. Alex is such a good kid, and she really deserved it. Plus the long wait and the prior torturous visits to Build-a-Bear (when we just looked) seem to have made her appreciate Rose quite a bit more.

I asked Alex if Rose calls her "Mommy." She said, "I am her mommy."

Fun Friday

Today was a full day. Alex had Field Day in the morning -- 60 kindergartners participating in non-competive athletic contests. It actually was more fun than it sounds. Alex was excited to get her ribbon, not for winning, but for participating.

After that, I headed home to change then straight to the new Splitsville by our house. My team at work had a team-building event. Free food and bowling -- tuna tataki for me. Very good. And I bowled a 95 and 98. Lots of fun, and Splitsville was really neat.

Then I picked up Alex from school -- after I got a last-minute call from Gerald, who accidentally fell into a golf tourney at the course, so he couldn't pick her up. Alex and I headed straight to Burt Grant for a couple of 4 p.m. haircuts and styles (that was after I had a scary moment of misplacing my purse. I somehow walked out of the house without it -- who does that?).

Then home for hot dogs and a veggie plate before we drove down to Mansfield for a cookout at one of Gerald's hospitals. Alex loves those jump houses. Cookie, cotton candy and a Diet Coke for me, thanks.

And what would a Friday night be without a trip to Golfsmith? Those clearance clothes need at least another 25 percent off before I would even consider buying. But I do have my eye on a couple items. I'll check back next week.

And we topped it off with a drive-through at Taco Bell. Shockingly, we did not stop by QuikTrip (but I did buy stamps there earlier in the day -- is there anything they don't have?)

A Night Out

We attended Gerald's annual Masonic banquet in Dallas tonight. The speakers focused on supporting and mentoring and upholding our youth. As Grand said, black youth are going two places -- to jail or to the graveyard. And the keynote speaker, L.D. Thomas, said, yes, we may have Obama in the White House, but that's just the beginning. So much work is left to do ... I agree, although it is hard to find and reach those who have the greatest need. How do you find those kids? And will they trust a stranger enough to let him or her in?

On a lighter note, the food was excellent. Ribs, chicken, brisket and sausage. Yes, I had some of each. Meat is good.

Last night, Alex and I were looking for hidden images in one of her Friend magazines. She found one cleverly hidden in an illustration, and I commented how impressed I was. She said, "Well, I have little eyes, so I can see little things."

Easing into this blogging thing

Here's a test post. A photo of Alex from spring break, March 16-20. We stayed here in Arlington and enjoyed several mini-trips around town. Here is Alex getting her nails done. We also saw Coraline 3-D, played tennis every morning at nearby Vandergriff Park (Alex loved it), went to an indoor swim birthday party at the YMCA (Alex really loved that - keeps asking to go back).

All three of us were on break that week, so we got a little sick of each other and could've used some alone time. We'll have to work on that next time. Nerves were wearing thin by Thursday...

Alex will be going to the Shriner circus tomorrow with her class. She didn't seem too impressed when we asked her about it; hopefully, she'll change her mind once she gets there. A trip to the Fort Worth Zoo is later this school year. I believe parents will get to go, so I'm looking forward to that.