Development update

Charlotte's teacher sent home a copy of a report done on Charlotte's development.  As part of the evaluation, they asked Charlotte to draw a person:

Separate head and body this time!  I also love the hair. Hopefully she wasn't drawing me.

Then, they asked her to write her name.  I'm actually shocked at how well she did.  I know it doesn't look like much, but this is something I never work with her on at home.  I can actually recognize some of the letters!  Some kids in her class can already write their names, but I think Charlotte and I can have some fun writing this summer and develop her skills a little.  How exciting -- a step toward literacy!!

My sweetie, Petey

Best present ever?

Nothing makes Petey's day like a quesadilla, rice, and beans.  That's my boy!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Today our church had its annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Charlie and Peter got to participate for the first time.  We opened the doors to Big Red Van, and the kids raced down to the church's pavilion.

Before the egg hunt started, Charlie skipped around the pavilion.

And she's off!

Peter is on the hunt!

Peter shows us the spoils.

After the hunt, Charlie and Mom staked out front row seats to watch the sack races.  Peter came over to describe something to Mom.

Peter really wanted to try the sack race.  So, I put in him in a sack.  He's an ambitious little kid.

After we went home, we played for a while in the Tennessee sunshine.  Charlie pulled her best Roman Holiday pose, and Niki pulled her best Easy Rider pose.  Peter tried to stay out of the picture.

Lucky, lucky little girl

Who else has a great aunt who sews her stuff like this??

Charlotte is going to have the fanciest tea parties in town.  That little pedestal plate is also ridiculously adorable.  Thank you, Greatest Aunt Janet!

Such a big girl!

I took Charlie Jo to her four-year-old check-up on Monday.  I managed to con her into wearing her new headband (a gift from Alicia, Dan, Faith Carol, and David) and she actually kept it on for most of the morning.  Alert the media!  It's like pulling teeth to get her to wear anything in her hair, because she insists she doesn't look like Dora if she does.

Anyway, she and Peter were so sweet playing together in the waiting room.

Yes, she took the headband off during the exam, but we got it back on later.  She wore a little gown for her appointment even though I'm sure she wouldn't have minded cruising around in her undies.  Someday she may get some modesty, but I doubt that day is coming soon.  She still pulls up her shirt (or dress, and the case may be) all the way to her armpits in order to get to her belly button when she sucks her thumb.

Peter INSISTED on posing for a photo as well.  He is in love with his new little Spiderman snack cup I got him in the dollar bin at Target.  I have no idea where the superhero obsession is coming from, but I think it's hilarious.

Every appointment we go to involves jumping from square to square while we wait for the doctor.  Such a simple idea for a boring tile floor, but it entertains them every time!

After the exam (in which Charlie Jo was pronounced "perfect" by our beloved Dr. Hood), Charlie Jo took a hearing test and a vision test.  She passed both with flying colors, and then we returned to the exam room to await four(!) vaccinations.  This is before the shots:

And this is after.  Two in each arm, plus an extra band-aid to cover where the nurse accidentally scraped her with the needle.  Peter showed remarkably little concern for his sister while she went through her ordeal.

There was drama all day long about the boo-boos on her arms, and it took three days for me to finally break down and insist she peel off the band-aids.  I think she would have kept them on forever if she could have. If this kid ever gets an actual injury, she will be a total mess.

Charlie Jo's official stats are as follows:

Height: 3' 7" (75th percentile)
Weight: 35 lbs. (50th percentile)
Body mass index: 14.7 (25-30th percentile)

SPRING!!!!

I finally accepted the end of winter (several weeks after I should have) and took the flannel sheets off the beds.  I still am in denial about having to wear shorts and can't bring myself to even think about mulching the front flower beds (do you still call them flower beds if they only contain non-flowering bushes?), but the kids have embraced the new season with their typical enthusiasm.

As always, their first love in life is digging in the dirt.  They are mesmerized by it.  Thank goodness we don't have a perfectly manicured yard or else we would have to break down and actually invest in a sand box.

Tree hugger!

Running at full-tilt.

I'm stood at the very back of our yard to take this photo.  Our yard is less than a half of an acre, but it sure looks huge from this angle.

Please, summer -- hold off for a little while.  I have to mentally prepare myself to be a sweaty mess all day long, and I'm still in denial about moving my sweaters to the back of the closet.  Thank you.

High Tea with Charlotte

For Charlotte's "official" birthday party this year, we had High Tea.  

First step was putting Peter down for a nap . . .  with his scooter.  Serious business -- he slept with his scooter on the bed.

Charlotte and NanaB were dressed in their finest.

Niki finished setting up.  She accessorized to the hilt.

Cake, tea, lemonade, and chocolate-dipped strawberries for an afternoon tea.  We might do this EXACT SAME THING for Mother's Day.  Seriously.  Who's in? 

Pacey even decided to join.  He did not get to stay, though.

Faith Carol and Alicia joined us for High Tea.

Charlotte declared that I would be the King of the tea party.  She had me wear dress shoes, a shiny knock-off MSU jersey, and my "fighting trousers."  I added my epaulets, the sash, and my "medals" for that Central American dictator look.  

Conversation was delightful.

Charlotte kept us in stitches for most of our High Tea.  

After tea, Alicia and Faith Carol gave Charlotte her birthday present.

They gave her a ladybug lunch box and a beautiful headband.  Alicia tried on Charlotte's headband too.

After presents, CAKE!

Alicia always does an amazing job.

Our little girl is still talking about her High Tea!

Happy 4th Birthday, Charlotte!

Our sweet Charlotte made out like a bandit this year for her birthday!  First, she got her very own stage (made by Corey and me).  She is quite the little performer, and we figured she needed the proper venue.

NanaB and GrandDad flew in the morning of her birthday and brought all sorts of goodies.  Note the fabulous princess tea party dress and the awesome sparkly jeans.

Peter was especially impressed with the cool easel CJ got from her grandparents.  No, he didn't draw that car (GrandDad did), but I bet a vehicle will be his first artistic endeavor when he gains enough fine motor skills.

Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Don sent Cinderella's carriage!

And we gave Charlotte another Ladybug Girl book to add to her collection.

One of our more shameful parental moments came soon after we gave Charlotte this cool three-wheeled scooter.  It quickly became apparent that we were going to have a SERIOUS problem with Peter's jealousy and we made the command decision to change Charlotte's present to a scooter for her AND Peter.  Trust me -- the peace that purchase brought was worth every penny.  Peter calls it his "rescue scooter" and rides around with Baby Jaguar to pretend he's Diego.  (Also, notice the awesome picnic table behind him -- a present from Grandma JoJo and Grandpa Spike.)

Thank goodness for grandpas who humor their wacky granddaughters.  I think Charlotte was enlisting his help in some sort of adventure she had planned.  I wasn't sure what was going on because I was busy making the final preparations for Charlotte's tea party.  More on that to come!

People

I love love love watching how little kids' drawings of people evolve over time.  Right now, Charlotte is in the beginning stage where the head and body are all one.

Miscellaneous

Scenes from the cell phone camera from the past few weeks:

Charlotte is always asking me to draw our family.  This time, she insisted I take a picture of it so we could show everyone.  I'm a little embarrassed at my skills, considering my close relation to a commercially successful cartoonist.

To show solidarity with my sister-in-law, Stephanie, I took this shot to show her she wasn't alone spending time with a potty-training child in public restrooms while the younger sibling was corralled in a cart.  This is a recreation of a photo she had sent of Quinn and Maisie in similar positions.

And this is how Peter goes shopping.  Wish I could have such a cushy ride through Lowe's.

Charlotte insisted on having her toenails painted with red on one foot and pink on the other.  Now she's showing great concern as it chips off.

The other day, Charlotte struck this pose and then demanded I take a photo of her.  What are we in for with this child???

And this is how Petey relaxes after a rough breakfast.  He has gotten more use out of that pink pig pillow pet than any other pillow pet-owning child in the nation, I bet.  He is covered with the blanket off of his bed.  He keeps ripping it off and then dragging it all over the house.  I have fears that he will fall down the stairs entangled in it, but I haven't figured out a way to get him to leave the darn blanket on the bed yet.

You can't really tell from the photo, but Rocky was licking Connie all over her chin and neck one morning.  It was absurdly sweet.  In contrast to Pacey's strong disdain for all things canine, Rocky's adoration of Connie is a sight to behold.

Wild times in Franklin, Tennessee!