Forest Faries

I am sitting here wrapped up in a blanket, barely able to move my fingers, and considering that maybe now is the time to turn up the heater - only to realize that I have yet to finish my reunion post! how lame am I? I will try harder. I say that alot... see a pattern?

What are forest fairies???? Well they are these mythical creatures that I created. You see, we  have good kids. but all kids have bad days right? I wanted a way to have these kids WANT to behave and more importantly something to stand out while we are on vacation to remember for the rest of their lives. Island park is near and dear to my heart. It is where my heart is. I would probably live there if I could afford it. As a matter of fact, mark my word that if I ever become a millionaire, My second home will be there... and well used. So for me to love this place - well I want the kids to love it more. I want them to want to take their kids there and their kids there and so on. so I created these fairies. These fairies that survive in the forest, thrive on good behavior and good deeds. Misbehaving scares them away. I had a whole thought process behind. The only thing I lacked was a story but a huge thanks to my friend Rie Pie for helping me out. You see, she is this amazing writer (although she would deny it) and it is something she loves to do. so I gave her a call. I suck at writing - proven fact (hello, anyone out there?!?!?! prime example right here!!!) She eagerly agreed! That right there saved me. If she would have said no - how would I explain the fairies to the kids without giving away the secret behind it? This year I just read the story... next year I am hoping to create a book. I sat the kids down and read the story to them. I want anyone who wants to use the idea to go ahead but I am going to make them work for it a little bit. The basis of the story was to hang a bag in the trees by a rope and wait for the secret treasures that they will leave behind. Every day we had stuff for the kids. It wasn't just candy. We had church puzzles for them on Sunday that i put together. We had a treasure hunt for them one day, another day we had games for them, another day we had smore kits for them to do over the campfire. It was a ton of fun but being sneaky comes at a price. It was alot of work to get together and it was alot of work trying to not get caught but at the end of the week - it was 100% success. I think next year though - I wont put as much labor into it. I will also start earlier. this year I start in February putting things together.. next year - well Ive already started putting stuff together.

I also had little 'fairy lights' that we put out at night. How did we manage to keep the kids away??? Well the story also told them how they will lose their magic if they chase after them or try to catch them. It worked perfectly. Poor E didnt want them to die and she sure made her cousins know that. She was 'in love'.

So there you have it... the story behind the fairies. I will continue my little adventure in the not so far distant future. hopefully. I don't want to wrap this up at Christmas.