Friday April 15, 7:30pm

Friday April 15, 7:30pm

Court of Awards and Ice Cream Reception

Location:
Amy's Ice Cream/Phil's Ice House

2901 South Lamar Boulevard

Austin, TX 78704-4711

(512) 707-8704

Wear your vests!

We take Hwy 71 West and exit South Lamar. Turn right. It will be a few blocks up, on the right, next to a Half Price Books.

Please eat dinner ahead of time as a family. This location sells burgers (menu here) and the Rockin' Tomato (menu here) is in the same parking lot.

Schedule (hopefully) :
At 7:30 we will meet inside Amy's. All girls registered to Troop 1563 will assemble with Mandy and get in line to pick an ice cream or fruit ice (non dairy.)
After we've ordered, and families have had a chance to do the same, we'll have a seat outside to eat and play on the playground.Then we will do our Court of Awards.

Please remember the Girl Scout Law and "Use Resources Wisely." Don't let your eyeballs get bigger than your tummy when ordering and end up throwing away perfectly delicious dessert. Go here to see flavor listings.

To Receive Patches:
To receive patches at this Court of Awards, girls must turn in completed Badge Worksheets (including the "What I Learned or Liked Best" section) by Tuesday April 12. You can bring them to the Monday April 11meeting, or drop them off anytime on Tuesday. That is of course, assuming the Shop has all the patches in stock.

When choosing patches to complete, remember our Troop will be bridging to Juniors this June. Try Its are only for Brownies- so it would be best to complete any she's almost done with. Some of the Council patches the girls may be working on (found here) will carry over to Juniors- that does not mean take them off the Brownie vest and move them to the Junior vest. It means don't rush to finish Council patches because she can still work on them as a Junior- but there will be additional requirements. The only pieces that move from the Brownie vest to the Junior vest are her WAGGS pin and her membership stars. (And the colored discs that go with the stars.)

As a Troop we are currently working on the Her Story and Girl Scout Ways Try Its. Most of this work will be done at meetings. If you have questions about which activities your daughter has or has not done on ANY patch, just give me a shout. We will try to have one more "Brownie" Court of Awards before we bridge.

Holiday Party: Monday December 13, 6pm

This event has passed.

Attendance:

Atalli
Amri
Desjonique
Faith
Emonee
Emma
Gabriella
Ariana
Syndy
Naya

Notes:

Kids made ornaments, then we sang the "Johnny Appleseed" grace and ate dinner. Girls received their Holiday patches. Then we did our gift exchange. Parents turned in Cookie Permission Slips.

Thanks:
To parents for providing food and drinks, helping in the ornament room, and cleaning up afterward.
To the kids for getting along so wonderfully and cleaning up after yourselves. Great job!

Reminders:
The RSVP deadline for January's Cookie Rally is this Sunday, Dec. 19. Please let me know if you plan to attend. I cannot add late parties. Go HERE for more details.
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Original Post:

(image from here.)
The girls were given a few options about when to have their Holiday Party, but opted for Monday December 13 out of concern that they might be out of town during the break from school.

Families are welcome at the party. You are all invited to dress festively (though the kids will probably end up sitting on the floor for various  reasons.)

Girls voted to do a potluck dinner. Please inform me when you know what you are bringing- at least the general idea of your contribution. I expect 12 girls and accompanying parents/siblings.

Committed Food/Drink Items: fruit tray, pigs in a blanket, taco soup, egg nog, brownies, mini-quiches, nachos, macaroni and cheese

Committed Non-Food Items: two plastic tablecloths, bowls, plates, cups, napkins, plasticware

We'll have stuff for the kids to make "punched tin" ornaments. We need to borrow a few items. If you have a hot glue gun and sticks, it would be fabulous if you brought them. We also need multiple hammers, some junky towels, and one package of long, skinny nails. All of these items will be given back to you.  If you have a portable cd player and a christmas cd- or an mp3 player and a way to make it play christmas music at the party, that'd be great.

The girls also voted to do a Reused Gift Exchange. They should go through their belongings and choose books or toys that they no longer use and would like to pass along to a friend. Gifts should be clean, in good condition, and wrapped- no need for a gift tag, unless she wants to write her name on the "from" portion.You can bring an extra reused gift if you like, in case someone forgets. We will play a version of the Gift Exchange Game. The rules are listed below. I will explain them to the kids again before we play, but please look over them. 

Rules for Gift Exchange Game:

• First and foremost: be polite! No whining or saying "That's not fair!"  If you do not like the gift you open, or the gift you end up with at the end of the evening, do not make any negative comments about it. After you've left the party you can decide to donate the toy to charity.

•  Girls will draw numbers from a hat. On your turn you can either open a gift from the pile, or steal an opened gift from someone else. If your gift is stolen you can either open another gift or steal, etc. An opened gift can only be stolen twice in a row. Then it's frozen with whoever has it. We'll work our way up the numbers until the last person has gone. At that point, number one gets to go again. Number one is the only person to go twice, as she had no option to steal at the beginning. These rules typically work. Please be flexible.

Reminders:
Please bring back your signed Cookie Permission slip. Do not worry about the cookie order at the bottom of the page- our troop order has already been placed. Most of you will receive 48 boxes to start out with. (That's enough to reach the first prize level.)
If you have collected any paper sacks please bring them as well. If you don't know what the paper sacks are for, go here and read PART THREE of the Original Post.
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Gingerbread House

The girls want to participate in the GS Shop's Gingerbread House Contest. We're beginning work this Sunday and will finish at the Monday November 29 meeting. The completed house is due the next day. 

This Sunday at 4pm we'll start building our Gingerbread House. Meet at Atalli's house. Her info's on  Troop contact sheet (check your e-mail) or you can call me. All girls need to wear a hairstyle that prevents hair from falling into her work. I had hoped to have the girls pick a house design prior to the day of building, but we'll pick it out Sunday. We have to pick one of the designs from the book, but have creative freedom with the decorating. If you'd like to bring some building materials, please keep your receipt in case we don't use them.  Opened things can be taken home, saved for a troop Christmas party, or used as snack later. If you are bringing something in particular, let me know and I'll note it here on our blog. As a warning, we cannot use taffy or cake frosting. The house will be self-preserving and those other things get melty. There are specific materials listed for each design, so we want to be prepared and have an assortment to suit the girls design choice.

Supplies:

plenty of kitchen scissors
quart sized ziplock bags

House construction materials:

one or two boxes of graham crackers
powdered sugar
meringue powder
eggs/egg whites
box of nilla wafers
cream of tartar
gel food coloring- We have pink, purple, blue, and yellow
a can of pirouette cookies (the rolled wafers)
ice cream cones (cone-shaped)
chocolate sandwhich cookies- miniature ones might be good
package of wafer cookies

Decorations (some of these are found in only in candy shops):

spearmint leaves (for making trees)
skinny green sour straws (lots of these for grass)
blue decorating sugar (large, for making "water")
Andes mints (make good doors and windows)
red twizzler nibs- or full size if you can't find the nibs (for bricks)
Necco wafers
sour gummy worms
pretzel sticks
sour skittles
candy sticks (all same color, white would be good)
gum drops
starbursts
lollipops
confetti sprinkles that look like flowers
chocolate rocks/pebble- We have a few.
m &ms
assorted jelly beans
one pack of fruit stripes gum
one pack green gum
smarties
candy corn
candy pumpkins
sugared gummy fruit slices (to make arched windows)

We obviously don't need all that stuff...You can bring leftover Halloween candy as well.

As a reminder, there will not be a meeting this Monday (the 22nd.) I will be at cookie training.
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Sunday November 7, JGL Birthday Event

This event has passed.

Attendance:

Atalli
Amri
Brigid
Emonee
Emma
Gabriella
Naya
Ariana
Synthia

Thanks: 

 To all the parents for helping make the event such a success.

Congrats:
To Gabriella and Jessica for winning "People's Choice Beast Chili."
To Atalli and Adriana for winning "People's Choice Best Decorations" and "Judge's Choice Best Chili."

Notes:
All girls at the event received participation patches. Atalli and Gabriella received Chili Cook Off patches.
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Original Post:

Today we will be honoring the birthday of the founder of Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low. 

You can still attend this event if you did not register. Prior arrangements must have been made for Chili Cook Off participation (rules are on your forms), but you can pay at the door for entrance into the event. The price will then be $5 per person. Everything inside the event is supposed to be free and families are welcome. If you have any questions, call Donna Carlin at 512-461-0830.

If you have an extra folding table or outdoor extension cords for sharing, please label them with your name and phone number and bring them to set-up.
11-5-10 Update:
We had a Service Unit meeting last night. I will e-mail you the newest info on the JGL event. See you all Sunday!

Each member of Troop 1563 needs to bring at least 2 dozen undecorated cupcakes, any flavor. (If you are using a cake mix, one box should suffice.) All cupcakes need to be in paper liners. We're trying to stick with a Fall theme. You also need to bring one tub of frosting (or the equivalent of you're the home-made kind of person) and Fall themed edible decorations. Target currently has some in the Dollar Spot for 50cents. Your total cost should be less than $10. Please see the Bonus Item sign up list at the bottom of this post. We will set up our booth at 2pm. Girls and parents will take turns manning our booth, but are encouraged to wander and enjoy the various other booths. This is all planned by the children- and this is the first year with additional booths, so we'll see how many Troops participate. I've also heard that there will be a silent auction, benefiting Friends of Girl Scouts. Just wander around, meet other Scout families from our Service Unit, and have fun!

Girls should wear their uniforms (just don't get chili or frosting on it) and dress appropriately for the weather. It may get chilly during the movie. You could also bring your camera, sunscreen, bug spray, a picnic blanket (for the movie) and camp chairs for hanging out. 

Location:
Ghost Town in Manor
Click here for directions.
It's about 15-20 minutes from Austin's Colony. 

Event Schedule:
1-3pm Booth and Chili Set Up. Volunteers welcome.

3pm Event starts, games begin
4pm Chili Cook Off judging
5pm Winners announced (I don't know if they are including game and craft booths in this contest.)
5pm Clean Up

6pm Movie begins

Chili Cook Off Schedule:
1:30-3pm Set Up
3-3:30pm Participant Sign Up
3:30-4:30pm People's Choice, Judges at 4pm
4:30-5pm Winners Announced
5-6pm Clean Up

RSVP list (forms turned in/paid)

Amri, Hava, Mandy, Michael
Atalli, Adriana, Manuel-----> Chili Cook Off participant
Brigid, Julie, Dave
Naya, Diego, Rosie, Cesar
Aiana, Samuel, Greg, Gloriana
Emma, Adriana, Gabriel
Emonee, Casey, Eli'Jah
Gabriella, Kathryn, Jessica, Dad-----> Chili Cook Off participant
Synthia, Dominique, Travis, Robin

(?)

Desjonique
Faith
Kiana

*Remember that your family can still attend even if they did not register (pre-pay.) The price will be $5 at the door. All Chili Cook Off participants must have contacted Latheasa by Halloween AND turned in their forms to Mandy prior to Thursday Nov. 4.

Cupcake Booth Bonus Item Sign Up List:

Please keep receipts for anything you buy. Extra items can be returned, and extra cupcakes can be eaten at Monday's meeting or sent to your child's class as a surprise.

Wet Wipes/Baby Wipes: Amri/Mandy
ziplock sandwich baggies: Amri/Mandy
fall napkins: 
paper towels for clean up: Brigid/Julie
extra frosting: Brigid/Julie
extra edible cupcake decorations:
extra cupcakes: Ariana/Gloriana


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Saturday 8/14: Troop Sleepover!

This event has passed.

Attendance:

Amri
Atalli
Emonee
Brigid
Mikayla
Desjonique
Ariana
Juliana (potential new scout)

Badge Activities Completed:
Art to Wear #1

Thanks:
To Atalli and Adriana for hosting!

Notes:
We ate pizza, brownies, popcorn, marshmallows, donuts, and pickles. We had soda and lemonade.
We decorated t-shirts and pillowcases and toilet paper tubes.
We played burglar alarm, telephone, and Piggly Wiggly.
We watched Troop Beverly Hills and stayed up til 4am.

Reminders:
I'll be calling or texting you all soon with Parade details. Girls should be working at home on their BEst Memory Performance.

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image from purpletrail.com

 Apologies! I need you all to fill out a Parent Permission Form (hardcopy) ASAP and turn it in to me. I will make photocopies so we don't have to do this every time. You don't have to worry about the top part- leave it blank. On the bottom part, leave the activity and cost blank so we can fill it in appropriately. It does need to have accurate insurance and emergency information. I thought our Service Unit Director kept those on file but she does not. Thank you!------------------------------


Today we have our end-of-summer Troop Sleepover!

 


Drop Off:
Saturday Aug. 14
5-5:30pm

Pick Up:
Sunday Aug. 15
10:30-11am

Location:
Atalli's House
(Refer to your Troop Contact Sheet for her phone number.)

Events:
dinner
free play/games
re-vamping our Troop t-shirts
snacks
making float-decorations
flashlight fun
story telling
movie watching (one or two)
breakfast

Packing List:
*Parents* please bring  a few bucks to cover the cost of dinner and breakfast
anything we could use to decorate the trucks for the parade (old xmas, birthday decor, etc.)
jammies- you can show up in them if you like
your grey troop t-shirt. We'll be snazzing them up at the party!
a junky shirt to wear while working with puff paint and such.
toothbrush/paste
hair brush and other toiletries
pillow
sleeping bag or blankets
flashlight
clothes for the next day- or you can just stay in your jammies
make sure you bring real shoes (not just house shoes)
optional items:
a lovie to sleep with (doll/stuffed animal)
a short story to read aloud or a book if you'd like to read to yourself before bed- please, no scary stories

Special Notes:
Girls need to bathe at home- they won't be taking showers and such at the sleepover. Girls are expected to respect the rules of the house and to clean up after themselves.We'll be putting a movie on at bed-time. Girls need to take the wind down cue and not get all wound up when we turn out the lights.  If anyone is still awake after the movie(s) they can quietly talk or read by flashlight. After a certain point in the evening, it will be deemed "sleeping time." Parents need to stay near their phones. If someone wants/needs to go home in the middle of the night, parents will be responsible for picking them up.