Sydney's Summer Break Wish #1 - Lemonade Stand

Sydney had 3 wishes for Summer Break 2009.

1. To have a lemonade stand.
2. Go to a beach.
3. Go camping.

Here's the first wish....

"Mom, Emma and I want to have a lemonade stand. Please!" Sydney has asked ALL summer long. I knew that it would take a little work to help make the girls lemonade stand successful since we live on a court and traffic can be a little slow. Whenever they asked, I had to keep telling them maybe in a week or two.

Emma came up with a great idea to donate all of the money from the stand to Relay for Life. Sydney agreed! Well now, Tina, Emma's mom, and I had to put a little extra work into the project so their efforts and excitment to raise money would fill successful. So, about a month ago, we chose the Friday before school started would be the big day.

Both girls took the time to make their own fliers to pass out in our neighborhood.

They took turns going up to each house taping signs to each door.

Camden and Allison were troopers and rode in the wagon as we passed out fliers.

The big day came and the girls couldn't be more excited. Sydney has had the opportunity to run a lemonade stand before with her friend Marlee. Emma knew this and I overheard her asking Sydney the cutest question, "Sydney, how did you feel inside when you did your lemonade stand last time." Sydney talked about how much fun it was to pour the lemonade, take the money, that people let them keep extra money and making signs. Since the girls have been planning a lemonade stand for awhile, Emma's grandma bought her this very cute lemonade stand, cash box and pitcher for her birthday.

Tina and I did a little extra advertising for the cause, so we thought it might be a good idea to have a few treats to sell also.

We had brownies, cookies, Swedish fish, licorice, lollipops, jelly beans and an assortment of chocolate bars. They had their own little store!

Emma's grandma was one of the first customers for a yummy lemonade and treat. I was so impressed with the girls. They worked really well together on pouring the lemonade, taking turns getting treats for their customers. They also greeted each customer with a big smile and asked "What would you like today?" "Would you like change?" Most customers gave them something a little extra since it was for a good cause so the girls would say, "Thank for the extra money. It's going to Relay for Life to cure cancer!"

Tina had a fun little surprise up her sleeve for the girls. Since Emma's dad is a fire fighter, she was hoping that his engine could stop by for a treat. But he is stationed on the opposite side of town and was unable to come. Engine 91, close to our home showed up instead. The girls were thrilled! How cool is it to have fire fighters come to your lemonade stand? So cool!

Thank you Engine 91 for stopping by our girls lemonade stand and for your donation to

Relay for Life!
So what did I learn from our girls? Well, if you take a few lemons......

Turn them into lemonade......

Along with a little preparation and cooperation ......

And a lot of support from neighbors, community.....

....friends, you can make a BIG difference!

Thank you to all of you who took the time to come out on a Friday afternoon to support these two girls and full fill a wish. A very simple wish....a wish to have a lemonade stand and raise money for Relay for Life. I was pretty amazed that so many friends, neighbors and community members came out and kept them busy for the full 2 hours.

You made a $219.66 difference!

Thank You!