Safety Kids

Do any of you remember The Safety Kids?  Last year I bought the booklet and CD for Claire because I remembered doing it as a kid. It's great and teaches your child personal safety in a fun way.

 At the same time last year I enrolled Claire in a local Baptist Church's summer Bible camp. It was a good experience and I liked the feeling of community between other Moms of different religions.

  I then wondered why we didn't as a church take advantage of inviting the community in a bigger way than simply inviting a friend to come to some activities.

 So I spent the next year working on how to bring Safety Kids to our community. I wanted to do something that was non-denominational-something that any person with or without faith would appreciate.

 I advertised through all the local city halls and they sent mailers out and posted on their websites. I also posted on several local and popular sites for the community and went to a variety of churches and asked if they could post our community event.

 I asked my friends who were not affiliated with the Mormon Church to teach classes.

 I gave the teachers two months to prepare their own lessons based on the materials I gave them (Brite music gave me copyright permission).

 I had two different outdoor safety classes that the kids also rotated through. They learned "street smarts" in regards to playing outside and being in the woods and a bit of wilderness survival...you know fires and shelters and such.

 The turnout was not what I dreamed, but it was a great start. We did have people from around the community join (just not as many as I hoped, but non the less a good start- 10 out of 43 "member"kids).

 It ran smoothly, I had tons of help and people all seemed to comment in the positive.-Whew!

 I really hope if we are not in NH next year that someone will continue on with this. I think it will gain momentum as the years go on and be a positive thing for the community and something that can bring understanding and a sense of comfort between faiths.

Oh New Hampshire!!

 I started to read this book titled "Last child in the woods" or something like that. It motivated me to take the girls on more hikes in our back yard and just hang out outside more because they are where I am.

 The author bored me after the first 5 pages, but that's all I needed to get his message. I didn't care for all his research behind why it is so important to spend more time outside vs. inside. I don't need it beat into my head to get out more.

 One point that he made was one that I had already heard my Dad make comments on- and that was, "Kids are not ADD or ADHD, they are 'wilderness deficiant'"...now don't get mad at me, I know there is legitimacy in the above conditions, but I do believe there is truth to what being outside more can do for the body, soul, and mind.

 This is the lil' fam on top of Mt. Cartigan- Beautiful! And Windy! I thought Syndey was going to blow off.

 Her little Mountain goat legs kept climbing around though. (there was a rusty old tower on top...fire tower?? Not sure, doesn't help for looks, but what can you do).

 I don't think any boy scouts peed in this puddle....

 This kid is danger. She would have jumped off the side if we let her. Heaven help me keep her alive.

 When Sydney started stripping, we knew it was time to head back down the mountain.

 Another day on the Connecticut

 Water Lillies

we think we're so funny, or at least I do......

Now don't you want to come and visit??? Before we move of course!

Burgers falling from Heaven

 Lyndon is all ours for TWO weeks! So today we went to NH's Hampton Beach!

 We hadn't been in 2 years in our almost 4 year stint here, so it was high time to go again.

 We had the best time we have ever had there and concluded that it was because we didn't care about Sydney's nap time and had no one younger than her to care for...so we played, and played, and played.

 Claire at one point in the day was building a "drip castle" and all of a sudden heard (we all heard it) a big "plop!" right next to her.

 A burger had dropped right out of the sky right next to her!

 She looked stunned, but not as stunned as when the seagulls who dropped it came swooping in to get their lost lunch.

 The birds flocked all around her and when they didn't leave quick enough for Claire, she bolted for us while at the same time, Sydney bolted for the birds.

 Sydney chased birds the rest of the day.

 Sadly we didn't have the camera handy for the burger bird drop.

 But we did record all the fun we had.

 And no one drowned.

 No sun burns...

 But a lot of sand was taken home....

 And we wore ourselves plum out.