Brooke's News Debute :)

Brooke & I were asked to talk about Girl scout cookies on the KNOE morning show. Yes we had to wake up excruciatingly early to be there and read at 6am. Brooke was a trooper though. She woke up easy and was extremely excited. When it was all done and we were in the car she said "This is the best day of my life." That made it all worth it to me. I was just concerned about if everyone could notice my mouth was excruciatingly dry from the medication I'm on. I was very pleased to see it wasn't that noticable and I said everything I wanted to say since I was so nervous I didn't even remember what I said.
Here is a picture of them telling Brooke where to stand and how to hold her arms so everyone could see the cookie costume.

You can see the video I made with my camera, off of my TIVO at home. Hope it comes out ok.

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It's Girl Scout Cookie Time Yeahhhhhh!!!!!! :)

Yeah!!!!! This is my familie's favorite time of year. I'm not sure if it is the extra quality time I get to spend with my girls doing an activity they love. Ashley loves the challenge of setting a goal and achieving it, and Brooke I think just loves meeting people and of course eating cookies. Brooke's favorite thing to do is go door to door with us selling cookies. She never meets a stranger, but she's ok b/c I go with her. Ashley loves the business side of selling cookies. She loves keeping track of how many of each she has sold and who all we have to deliver them to. I am going to let her design and print out the business cards this year. She is taking a computer course at school and this may help her by doing something hands on with the computer. I usually print them and she loves to pass them out. Of course they don't say the girl's name or address. They just say a Thank you for buying cookies from our troop number and my cell number if anyone changes locations before delivery or if they'd like to add some to their order. We are not allowed to sell cookies via ebay, but me posting the sell on my blog for family and friends is ok.

So if anyone would like to buy any of the following types of girl scout cookies you can email me at my personal email address: bnicole19951@aol.com

They are $3.50 per box and we are also going to send cookies to 3 local soldiers stationed overseas if you'd like to donate a box to them that would be awesome. We sent 4 cases last year as a troop to one soldier to share with his fellow soldiers and would love to send more this year since we have 3 soldiers. If you'd like to donate a box to them you can write them a personal note and I will have the girl's in my troop write it on a card they have decorated. We will place these cards, a letter from our troop, and a picture from our troop in each case we send to them. Hoepfully that will help brighten their day. I started doing this 5 years ago b/c my brother was stationed overseas in the military and I don't want anyone over there without a chance of having any girl scout cookies. We are also going to try to send care packages as a troop to them after our cookie sale is over. I am going to try hard to instill in my girl scouts a place in their heart for helping others. I have a great group of girls and I know they love to help others, but I want them to remember me for teaching them that life lesson. I will list the types of cookies below and if you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Samoas

Tagalongs (Peanut butter & choc.)

Thin Mints

(best out of the freezer. Mmmmmmm)

Ashley's fav: Lemon Chalet



Our new on: Dulce de leche


(tastes like a trefoil with caramel on it)




Do-Si-Dos




(peanut butter)

Sugar Free Choc Chip

Last but not least:

Trefoil

(shortbread cookie)

And in other news: Brooke, Katie (our junior girl scout in my troop), and myself will be on the morning show Monday morning live at 6:15 am. I will TIVO it for you Mom and Dad. The girls will be in cookie costumes and I have to learn how to say the new cookie before then. Needless to say I am a nervous wreck. I also will be working on almost no sleep so if I look rough please don't tell me. I'd rather not know. Ashley and I will be arriving home after her competition in Baton Rouge around 2 am in the morning and then I have to be at the TV station at 6am. It will be worth it for a memory Brooke will cherish forever. Ashley has already been on the news once for girl scouts. Girl scouts is a great opportunity for them.

Hope to hear from you all soon if you'd like some girl scout cookies.

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Girl Scout Cookie Meeting. Jan 16th.

Meet my Girls. They are a great group of girl scouts. I love spending time with them doing fun stuff & sometimes educational stuff. At our meeting we learned how to say "Thanks Anyway" if someone says no to buying cookies or if they are not nice to them. They also learned what a diabetic is and what cookie they could have. We colored cards for people to sign if they want to donate a box of cookies to the soldiers we will be sending cookies to this year. I have done this for the last 4 yrs with all of my troops, but this is the first year the girl scouts are promoting it and asking us to do that. Last year we sent 3 cases overseas to a girl scout's father who was serving in Iraq. This year we will be sending them to a girl scout workers nephew who has been shot and given the option to return home and he chose to stay and fight. He is currently serving in Iraq. We send the cards decorated by the girls with well wishes written in them by the people who love them enough to send them cookies, along with a letter from our troop asking them to please share with his fellow soldiers and a picture of our troop. Hopefully we'll get a letter in return I can share with the girls.

We went over safety rules like do not go door to door without a parent or inside a house without a parent. We talked about cookie prizes, booth sales, made our individual goals and our troop goals. Our girls want to have a bowling party for their cookie party. Last year they chose a skating party. They ate chili, smores, & cookies when we played the guess the girl scout cookie game. Special Thanks to Abbie's Mom for the drinks. :) I forgot to get tape so we will make our thank you craft at our next meeting with the hershey kisses. A super duper Thanks goes to Ashley for keeping the girls entertained and quiet during the parent meeting. I don't know what I am going to do without you next year. The girls will miss you greatly. You are a good influence and someone they look up to in the girl scout world.

We need to send out a Get Well Soon to our fellow girl scout Abbie. She will be getting her tonsils removed Tuesday.

And this little girl scout Katie gave us a scare at our meeting. She remade the bird commercial when she ran full force into my front glass door and busted her nose. It is a miracle it didn't break and injury her worse. Our favorite nurse Dana came to the rescue and kept Katie and her mom calm. She stopped the bleeding and watched after her.

We really do have a great group. All of the girls are friends along with us mom's. We enjoy being able to do things with our girls that they wouldn't have the opportunity to do without girl scouts. I am going to plan a Tummy Yummy meeting for March per request of LeAnn's mom. Also I will get outdoor trained so we can go as a troop camping. So we'll plan a campout this spring or summer. I know of several girls who can't wait. If any of you mom's wants to do something we haven't done please let me know and I'll plan it. I try to come up with unique things for the girls and need you guys help too with this. Thank you all for your help!!!!

Mrs. Brandi :)

P.s. Happy selling starting Jan 23rd!!!! :)

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Happy Birthday Hubby!!!!

Our picture was his idea. Ain't that sweet!!!!
The kids and I suprised him with a Steeler's cake made by my friend along with 3 gifts and a box of skittles. I know we like to wake up to suprises on our birthday. I hope the kids remember this when they get older and cherish the tradition. Hubby is 35 this year. I made him his favorite Hamburger Helper spagetti & we all ate as a family. He enjoyed the day. I tried to keep the kids squabbles to a minimum to help his day go smooth. (That was a challenge in itself.)

Here is a closeup of his cake. He said it was too pretty to eat. We did eat it though and it was awesome. It was a 2 layer cake with the best icing. We all loved it.

Here is Brooke's Hannah Montana cake made by my friend also. I hate to admit it, but I didn't try it. I am on a major diet. I have lost 18 pounds as of yesterday. The mom's who attended the party loved it. I might have a nibble of it tonight when I get home. Brooke loved her cake. She kept showing her friends over and over. Kelly I passed your cards around to anyone who wanted them. Maybe you'll get some calls.

Sorry the card didn't show up very well in the picture. You can email me for the info if you need it at bnicole19951@aol.com.

Here is Brooke at her skating party. She had a blast!!! I was a little scared b/c we invited 47 people and by 1pm only 1 person had shown up. Everyone arrived late. One set even arrived an hour late. In total (if you count siblings who came) we had 7 who came which was a good amount. The mom's loved how Brooke reacted over their presents to her. She was super excited and appreciative over everything even the cards. She made me proud.

Even Jarrett loved it. He skated up a storm. If I was a betting person (and I am over silly little things for fun) I would bet he wants his future parties at Skatetown.

He didn't fall much. He just liked to roll on the ground. Hubby would have to go get him up so he wouldn't be runovered by the other skating kids. It really wasn't too crowded. It was perfect.

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Happy Birthday Momma's Little Princess :)

Momma's Little Princess Brooke Elise turned 8yrs old Friday!!!!

She received a sweet suprise when she woke up Friday. Jarrett had almost spoiled it by telling her, but thank goodness Toys R Us was out of bikes so Jarrett told her that we tried to buy her one. I real quickly changed the subject before he told her that we found one at Walmart so she ended up being suprised when she saw it.

We took her out to eat and she chose my hubbies favorite place (I'm being sarcastic sorry.) Chili Verde. We had a great time. They ended up singing to her with a guitar and putting a hat on her's and my hubbys' head (probably another reason he won't like this place). She giggled and giggled about it. Her kid brithday party is coming up this Saturday. She chose a skating party over a Wi. Don't I just love these days!!!! I can't wait to take pictures from that. She is just growing up soooooo fast.

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Secondly here is a video of Ashley's performance at the ULM Basketball Game. Hope you enjoy. Please bear in mind that they are not used to a floor like this and it makes them kind of scared and timid on some of their stunts and tumbling. They are used to a competition cheer mat with springs under it. So I think they did an awesome job!!!! P.s. We got 2nd place at yesterday's competition in Shreveport. Yeahhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Heaven has received another wonderful Angel.

Coleman Scott received his angel wings at 10:45pm last night. He has fought an extremely hard battle with cancer. Please help me pray for his family & especially his twin brother Caden.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Coleman's carepage, but I have been praying for him and his family for a little over a year now. He reminds me so much of my little boy Jarrett. Jarrett & I even sent them a carepackage a few months ago and received a wonderful Thank You card from the boys with their picture on it and their own personal 4 yr old drawings. His family and him has inspired my oldest daughter to give her hair to locks for love, and for me to become more attached to my own children. They have received alot more hugs than normal because of this family. When I read about their struggles of everyday life I realize my own struggles are nothing compared to theirs. I also have an overwhelming urge to go hug my children and tell them I Love Them. I am not used to this much affection and this was a change for me that I really appreciate them teaching me. I know they are hurting tremendously, but they are the most intouch with God family I have ever seen. I know their faith will help them through along with all of our prayers.

God Bless you Coleman. I haven't even met you, but I know I Love You and will Miss You.

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