Weary Travelers

I should have known to expect Chaos from the start. Last Friday we had two events for the girls, Softball try outs & their first Girl Scout event, World Thinking Day. They try outs were at 5:00, so John agreed to take the girls as I do not get off work until 5:00 and it would take me about 40 minutes to even get to the ball field from work. So we agreed that he would take them and as World Thinking Day started at 6:00, I would meet him at 5:40 with a change of clothes for the girls and rush them off to do their Scout thing. It was a rushed plan on the best of days. So…at 5:30 I receive a call from my youngest beautiful sister (who helps with Gospel Project SB) advising me not to worry, but that Annabelle MIGHT have broken her finger. Say what???!!?? Fast forward 15 minutes to John frantically arriving home with a SCREAMING Annabelle, and a very consoling Big Sis. Ever the informer, Heaven was eager to inform me of the apparent run down of events. Try outs consisted of several stages, starting with catching some ground balls and ending up at the batting station where each girl took 3 swings from pitches by the pitching machine (which is what they will be doing this season as well). Heaven being older went first and after 3 strikes, AB was up. On her last hit, as best I can understand she tapped the ball from the bat, and it smashed against her pointer finger. By all accounts at this point hysterics set it and John rushed home. With her finger already doubled it size and beginning to bruise all plans of any event not involving a hospital went out the door. Once AB realized her World Thinking Day dreams were quickly slipping away, a whole new round of tears began. I was assured by Annabelle that she thought she would be fine if she could just get a little ice for her finger and that she would be a tearless, tough girl if we would let her go. So tear stained, late, and loaded with glittery Barbie ice packs off to World Thinking Day we went.

My Favorite Fighter

The girls ended up having a REALLY good time and I was glad we were able to go. The event was held in the cafeteria of a nearby elementary school. I believe there were 25 or 30 local troops total. Each troop represented a different county and the girls were issued passports as they arrived that were to be stamped by each country as they “traveled” from one to another. Once we arrived the girls quickly donned their flowered head pieces and Mexican skirts and they were ready to explore. All the troops made crafts called “Swaps” that could be traded with the other countries. As our girls represented Mexico, they made little felt taco pins, and “God’s Eyes” (which kind of look like yarn versions of dream catchers). Most booths sold an item to use as a fundraiser for the troop. Everything was very inexpensive, mostly less than a dollar, so the girls were able to use their own money which they thought was cool as well. Our booth sold Mexican candies & nachos. Both of which were thoroughly sampled by AB and Hev. In the excitement of world traveling, AB’s finger pains were soon forgotten and once her ice pack thawed out, she opted to just “be real careful” with her finger and lose the ice all together. Though anything suspicious looking was passed over with a quick no thanks, the girls got to try all sorts of cool things, like jasmine rice from Thailand, pastries from France, green tea from China & henna tattoos from India. Of course, the winner of the night was the Ireland booth who handed out chocolate coins. Candy beats culture every time in the eyes of a child.

The girls taking a turn working their booth

Troop 418! Clearly I was one of like 6 people taking pictures.

Some of their booth decor

Sisters :)

By tonight Annabelle’s finger was almost completely back to normal. She can move it and though it is a little bit bruised & swollen all pain is quickly dismissed when Gavin or Heaven give her a reason to use her “wounded hand” (for example to make a quick swipe of Gavin’s beads and run away). However I have heard rumors of her wounded finger calling for a bit of extra attention now and again…I’ve even heard a rumor of her using her wounded finger as grounds for the last piece of chocolate bar. I’m sure these are just rumors though….