Today (4/20/11) Madi and I got to join in with Charlotte and her class for their Easter Party. When we first got there, I learned that Charlotte held a special job for the day as Line Leader. I do beleive this is the first time she has had this responsibility and I was proud as she seemed to be doing it well. She led her class to the Easter Egg Hunt which was indoors do to rain about to start. Previously, Madi and I helped to hide and scatter the eggs about the location. Charlotte has been very excited about the upcoming Easter egg hunts, and this was the first of this year's. Sadly, when we got the start time, her anxiety got the best of her. She did not pick up any eggs, but rather buried her head into my legs :( Luckily, her teacher, Ms. Pat gathered some for her and Madi happily retreived 4 to put into her sweet bunny basket each she had made. Madilynn was so good and not once even asked about any eggs for herself - really kind of amazed me.
In hindsight, Charlotte knew of the eggs I had stuffed. When she saw all the eggs scattered, I think she got confused and that heightened her nerves. Just before the start, she looked at me unsure and said, "how will I find my eggs, how will I know which ones are mine?" I quickly tried to tell her that she could pick up any eggs, and that they were all for everyone, but Charlotte doesn't usually do great with any quick change in her mind. I guess I took for granted that she'd recall last year and exactly how it worked. She did really want one of our eggs though because they had little fuzzy chicks in them, but she did not get one.
Luckily, once back in the classroom for lunch and craft, she got herself back into the spirit and had fun. It was pizza, fruit, and cupcakes for lunch. Madi got to sit right next to Charlotte, (which they both love), who was right next to Christopher - as per usual. The cupcakes here really do deserve some recognition. They were made by another little girl's mom and they were iced chocolate with some green icing for grass and some speckled m&m eggs set on top, but the wonderment lies in the cake part of each cupcake being a rainbow of bright colors. This mom actually separated the cake mix, dyed each bowl, and layered every individual cupcake. Wow, kudos to her.
This Mommy was in charge of the Easter craft. Charlotte always tells me how she likes for her Mommy to explain "how to do it" to the class. I did just that explaining how to marble paint the pre-cut Easter Egg cardstock. It seemed to be a big hit and Madi participated right along side her sister.
My great joy came after this when I was placing the kids' crafts and baskets in the hall and then returned to enter the classroom. Ms. Pat had all the children looking at her from their little chairs to do a song for the parents present. It was a song about a tiny raindrop that gets larger as the children sing louder. Charlotte participated whole-heartedly, without noted hesitation! May be a little thing to some, but almost tearful to me. :)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Day of April 16th
This morning started out lovely with a little morning sleep for Mommy...yeah! Kevin got up with girls and I tried to kick the sickness I've had for way too long with a few extra zzzzzzs. The sickness remained, but I did enjoy the snooze (and little breakfast in bed too :) )
Once up and going there was no stopping. Kevin went over to school to put in a day's work. IEP season is the pits! So much work and stress on him - the countdown is on til it is over in early May. I got the girls dressed after baths and we went for a special surprise...to see Knuffle Bunny, The Musical at The Orpheum. They were very excited once I told them of the plan. Knuffle Bunny is one of both of their favorite books, in fact there are three written by Mo Willems and we own them all, and read them DAILY. The show was a big hit with the girls. They enjoyed ring pops while watching the hour long show and then even waited by the stage door for autographs! So now our Knuffle Bunny Book, tattered and torn and taped, is preciously signed by "Trixie," her parents, and the show's puppeters (x2).
On our way home, we met up with our friends on the island to catch some of their school festival. We watched the cardboard boat races and then the rubber duck races. The girls really were having a good time, but their Mommy was freezing. We ended up running home, getting warmer clothes, and returning for the outdoor concert. It was really fun and the girls got to run and play and dance till their hearts were content.
Right from that it was off to church. This almost put me over the edge as I did not have the usual church supplies (drinks, snacks, Color Wonders - you know what everyone brings to worship), but did have two growing weary children. Charlotte behaved fine, while Madi had a bit of trouble staying still near the end - shocking I know.
We arrived home to meet up with Kevin, who informed me that dinner plans had changed from quick, easy, microwaveable leftovers to cookout with the neighbors at our house. I looked at what was to be the hosting grounds for this meal and began moving quickly with Kevin to transform it into something presentable to our friends. Luckily, they know how we roll, so won't end our friendship over the condition of our home. We all really enjoy cooking out with the neighbors and so it was fun for all. We did call it a night when Madi began to beg for a bath and bed.
From the moment my feet touched the floor today, they didn't seem to stop. All I can say is thank God for my comfy cozy bed!
Once up and going there was no stopping. Kevin went over to school to put in a day's work. IEP season is the pits! So much work and stress on him - the countdown is on til it is over in early May. I got the girls dressed after baths and we went for a special surprise...to see Knuffle Bunny, The Musical at The Orpheum. They were very excited once I told them of the plan. Knuffle Bunny is one of both of their favorite books, in fact there are three written by Mo Willems and we own them all, and read them DAILY. The show was a big hit with the girls. They enjoyed ring pops while watching the hour long show and then even waited by the stage door for autographs! So now our Knuffle Bunny Book, tattered and torn and taped, is preciously signed by "Trixie," her parents, and the show's puppeters (x2).
On our way home, we met up with our friends on the island to catch some of their school festival. We watched the cardboard boat races and then the rubber duck races. The girls really were having a good time, but their Mommy was freezing. We ended up running home, getting warmer clothes, and returning for the outdoor concert. It was really fun and the girls got to run and play and dance till their hearts were content.
Right from that it was off to church. This almost put me over the edge as I did not have the usual church supplies (drinks, snacks, Color Wonders - you know what everyone brings to worship), but did have two growing weary children. Charlotte behaved fine, while Madi had a bit of trouble staying still near the end - shocking I know.
We arrived home to meet up with Kevin, who informed me that dinner plans had changed from quick, easy, microwaveable leftovers to cookout with the neighbors at our house. I looked at what was to be the hosting grounds for this meal and began moving quickly with Kevin to transform it into something presentable to our friends. Luckily, they know how we roll, so won't end our friendship over the condition of our home. We all really enjoy cooking out with the neighbors and so it was fun for all. We did call it a night when Madi began to beg for a bath and bed.
From the moment my feet touched the floor today, they didn't seem to stop. All I can say is thank God for my comfy cozy bed!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Woodlands Discovery Playground
"Let's check it out" are the words expressed by Charlotte and Madilynn when I told them their friend, Max, wanted to meet up to play at the new park at Shelby Farms. Actually, Madi saying "Shelby Farms" is just adorable, as is most of her widely expanded, never ceasing, speech right now :).
Woodlands Discovery Playground just opened Friday and here we are the following Thursday, ready to explore it though play. It is just amazing. It's the kind of playground I would like to play on even without my kids, with really very ingenious activities (see pics - once I figure out how to get them on here). I would say Madi's favorite part was the sand "nest" (there are four sections in this HUGE park and they are labeled "nests"), which is not suprising that she would pick the messiest one...shocker. I did beg them to stay out of the small water trough and they actually did. I think Charlotte's favorite too was in that "nest" but it was the high fast tunnel slide there that she just adored. The kids (and I) were flying out of this slide right into the sand!
We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed leaving the play area and going to sit under a tree for some shade (88 deg this day), then it was potties and right back to playing. Charlotte was very excited then when another friend showed up, Avery. They exchanged big hello hugs and then were hand in hand playing the rest of the afternoon. So cute.
The only flaws for this Mommy at the park was that it was hard to keep my eyes on more than one child, and to decide what shoes your kids should wear. The place is just tremendous, and as wonderful as it was there are always possible hazards around every corner, so the girls and I had to have a talk about staying together in the same "nest", and moving on together. I just kept thinking "How would I watch more than these 2?" The four "nests" have three different ground coverings, so for the sand play flip flops were great, but then to run on the rubbery ground, and climb the ropes and ladders, sneakers would be best. Luckily, Charlotte (always prethinking) wore sneakers (in case of wood chip ground) and packed a pair of flip flops. Madi wore her mary jane sneakers with socks, but ended up cutting the socks out the equation.
When we left I was exhausted, the kids were excited still, and it was time for me to get ready for work. Such a fun day, and I'm sure only the first of many, at this amazing new Memphis location.
Woodlands Discovery Playground just opened Friday and here we are the following Thursday, ready to explore it though play. It is just amazing. It's the kind of playground I would like to play on even without my kids, with really very ingenious activities (see pics - once I figure out how to get them on here). I would say Madi's favorite part was the sand "nest" (there are four sections in this HUGE park and they are labeled "nests"), which is not suprising that she would pick the messiest one...shocker. I did beg them to stay out of the small water trough and they actually did. I think Charlotte's favorite too was in that "nest" but it was the high fast tunnel slide there that she just adored. The kids (and I) were flying out of this slide right into the sand!
We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed leaving the play area and going to sit under a tree for some shade (88 deg this day), then it was potties and right back to playing. Charlotte was very excited then when another friend showed up, Avery. They exchanged big hello hugs and then were hand in hand playing the rest of the afternoon. So cute.
The only flaws for this Mommy at the park was that it was hard to keep my eyes on more than one child, and to decide what shoes your kids should wear. The place is just tremendous, and as wonderful as it was there are always possible hazards around every corner, so the girls and I had to have a talk about staying together in the same "nest", and moving on together. I just kept thinking "How would I watch more than these 2?" The four "nests" have three different ground coverings, so for the sand play flip flops were great, but then to run on the rubbery ground, and climb the ropes and ladders, sneakers would be best. Luckily, Charlotte (always prethinking) wore sneakers (in case of wood chip ground) and packed a pair of flip flops. Madi wore her mary jane sneakers with socks, but ended up cutting the socks out the equation.
When we left I was exhausted, the kids were excited still, and it was time for me to get ready for work. Such a fun day, and I'm sure only the first of many, at this amazing new Memphis location.
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