Don’t worry, the guys aren’t left out, the receive a garter. I would also put the garter she gave him into the medium size category and he too loves it!

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Were you ever in scouts as a kid?  I was a Camp Fire Girl (do they still exist?) and my husband was in the Boy Scouts of America  for many years.  He’s always telling my daughter & I stories of his scouting days, in fact, just the other evening we took her & her boyfriend to dinner and my husband and the boyfriend spent the entire time discussing scouting and all the fun they have.  Yes, her boyfriend, a Junior in high school, is still into scouting, and loves it.

Scouting teaches so many positive things and creates so many lasting memories and friendships.  Be A Scout and earn badges, a simple way of encouraging kids to learn, whether it’s about living healthy, exploring or technology, scouting teaches and builds confidence. 

So, what did my husband and her boyfriend find most enjoyable?  The adventures and camping of course!  In fact, the boyfriend is all ready planning on attending a camp this summer in New Mexico that will take him on a 100 mile hike!  WOW!  He will not only be in great shape, but will also be learning survival skills.  He is interested in going in to medicine as an adult and will even be getting his EMT certificate this Spring.  See how it all fits together?

Seriously, I highly recommend scouting to both parents and kids.  It is a great way to meet new friends and bond even more with old friends.  It teachers leadership and builds confidence.  I can’t think of any other type of activity that can do as much for our kids as scouting can. 

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I dropped my daughter off at 8 am this morning for band camp. This is not just any band, but the Allen High School marching band, the largest marching band (high school or college) in the United States!

The freshman actually started band camp 4 days ago, the upper classmen joined them today. They meet 8-3 everyday. With it being so hot (we just had our 36th consecutive day over 100 degrees), the are marching from 8-11 in the morning out on the football field. They break for a 1 hour lunch at 11 and then move indoors in the afternoon to work on the music. Believe it or not, in just 2 weeks, they will perform their traditional show in front of all the parents and family.

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I did take one photo this weekend:

The girls played a total of 8 games over 2 days. The fields were in horrible condition and had no shade, for anyone. It was 102 degrees both days, miserable heat. But, the girls played like champs and were so much fun to watch. We are all very proud of their 3rd place finish. They were only 1 run away from playing in the championship game, that would have been like icing on the cake!

We are leaving in the am for Branson.  I’ll be gone all week so I apologize to those of you dropping EC for not reciprocating.  See you on Friday!

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Whenever we head out to the softball fields we tend to pack a lot of gear, and the hotter it is, the more gear we pack! Of course, my daughter’s bat bags and water jugs look just like every other players bat bags and water jugs. Imagine how happy I was when I was asked by Parent Reviewers to use & review a wonderfully cute and practicial product, Zippies, the pals that hang around to help kids (and moms) identify their personal belongings. There are so many every day uses for these adorable little tags. This is Kayla, the one I hung on my daughter’s water jug.

I received 5 different Zippies to enjoy and put to use. They are so easy to use and very cute little animal characters, a total of 10 different characters are available. Some of their little smiles look more like menacing frowns, but somehow they still look cute and kids really like them.

Zippies: Pals That Hang Around can be labeled with your child’s name and easily clipped on any variety of you child’s personal belongings: water jugs, back packs, pencil cases, lunch boxes are just a few of the items I can think of. I enjoyed watching the following video for more ideas, including using these cute little tags on drink bottles at a birthday party, helping the party guests be able to identify which drink is theirs.

Visit Zippies to purchase your own cute little Pals That hang Around. Purchase individual tags or get great deals on packages of 5 or even the entire set of 10. Shipping is Free, so it’s an even better deal!

Note: I received 5 Zippes to use in return for giving my own honest opinion in this review. No other compensation was received.

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This is what she looks like after a full day of playing softball in 105 degree temperatures! Believe it or not, this was only day 1! We had to get up the next morning at 5 and do it all again. They payoff? The team took 5th out of 24 teams, not to shabby in my opinion!

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What happens when 700+ band kids want to spell? They run like mad around the field until they form the perfect letters to spell out the team mascot, EAGLES!

Personally, I thought they did a great job, especially since it was the first performance and the first football game of the season. By the way, the football team won, 33-27 in a real nail biter of a game!

In case you’re wondering (I know you are!), my daughter is somewhere near the top of the L.

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This is week 2 of the high school marching band camp. Last week was just the freshman (my daughter included) and this week the upperclassmen, drill team and color guard have all joined in. The temperatures remain in the 100’s, today it is supposed to be 105. It’s been absolutely crazy! My daughter is doing really well with the marching and is only freaking out about having to memorize the music. I know she will get done what she needs to get done, but she is a perfectionist and puts a lot of pressure on herself. Next week should be easier, they do the camp in the evenings instead, giving her the entire day to work on her music.

By the way, there are over 600 kids out on this field. Sorry about the photo quality, it’s taken with my phone and looking into the sun.

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