HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAILEY ~ for real

Cailey's official birthday, today, was spent up near Bailey at the Girl Scout Tomahawk Ranch. At the last minute, I was able to join her for the day! We had such a blast. The girls slept in nice lodges with kitchens, bunk beds, and full bathrooms ~ not really "roughn' it" :o) They spent the day touring the ranch, doing crafts, launching home made "rockets" (made from empty water bottles), making swaps, hanging by the fire singing camp songs (oh my!), playing on the bunk beds, sharing cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday for Cailey, and walking, walking, walking ~ my feet hurt really bad and the girls were so tired they could barely take it any more. They were supposed to make S'mores at the camp fire and then do a night walk, but the rain and lightning started and the girls had to spend the rest of the night in the lodges. Apparently, that was just as well because they got to get into their pajamas and make S'mores in the microwave and then play "mattress surfing" (stack four mattresses on the floor, then run as fast as you can and jump on the mattresses ~ the top one or two mattresses go flying across the room with the girl hanging on for a fun ride!!!). I didn't get to spend the night but I hear they were asleep shortly after lights out (around 10:30pm)! This morning they had to clean (and I mean really clean) their lodge, get breakfast, participate in swaps (they trade the swaps they made with swaps that other troops at camp made ~ it's cute), and participate in final flag ceremonies. They really know how to keep these girls busy ~ I guess that keeps them out of trouble :o). I describe the whole thing as almost organized chaos :o) It was a wonderful experience for Cailey and I hope we can do it again next year ~ maybe even for a whole week! It was a great way for Cailey to spend her birthday...it was a special experience. I have TONS of pictures ~ this is only a sample. I am putting together a slide show and I will see if I can upload it to this blog. Enjoy!

Half of the girls ~ Alyssa, Taylor, Cailey, and Lauren:

At the farm ~ bunnies, horses, chickens, donkeys...oh my:

Playing games to pass the time ~ there was a lot of "hurry up...and wait":

The girls showing off their homemade rockets and aliens:

Enjoying the camp fire fun ~ singing and silliness...just what Cailey loves!:
Closing flag ceremonies courtesy of Troop 1240: