We had a jam packed week/weekend...full of transitions and getting ready to move into summer. Saturday morning started with Fiona's bridging ceremony. Some of the older girls from her Daisy troop were bridging to Brownies, and some of the older Brownies were bridging to Juniors. I was a Girl Scout on and off in elementary school, but my experience mostly consisted of making god's eyes and selling thin mints. I don't remember any rituals to speak of. Needless to say, I was a pleasantly surprised at what unfolded before me during the ceremony. I don't know how it was lost on my that Brownie Girl Scouts are named after brownies...as in little helpful elves. Who knew? I guess you probably did, but I just associated the name with the little brown uniforms...not a kinda groovy fairy tail. Our troop leader chose to have them 'bridge' at the botanical gardens. She would walk them halfway over the bridge and recite "Twist me, turn me, see the elf, I look in the mirror and I see myself. They would lean over the bridge and spot their own reflections in the water. I like the idea of my kids seeing themselves as mischievous little helpers. Why not? :)
After the Daisies bridged, the Brownies did...and then we all switched over to Zilker Park for an end of year celebration with both troops. It left me feeling really excited about next year. We had an awesome troop leader this year (pictured above)and it was a great introduction to Girl Scouts...South Austin style. More pictures can be seen here. You'll have to excuse that some of them are little blurry, I'll admit, it's hard to focus with a little tear in your eye.