Preschool Mother's Day Tea

Charlotte's preschool held a Mother's Day Tea on Wednesday.  (It couldn't be on Friday, because that's the day of the annual field trip to the fire station.)  Forty-five minutes before the end of the school day, the mommies all returned to be treated to a little show, cookies, and tea.  First, we were called in one by one to have our picture taken with our respective kid, wearing an amazingly gorgeous hat (made by the kid, of course).  Here is mine:

I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you that I looked AMAZING in it.  Apparently, the preschool is going to frame the photo of us with our kid and give it to us another time.

Next, the kids sang us a song.  How does Charlotte always end up in the back?

My friend, Kim, looked terrific in her hat.

Then, the kids each came out one at a time and said something nice about his or her mommy in words that began with one or more letters of the alphabet.  Charlotte had "C" and "D", so she said I "cook good dinners".

After the alphabet presentation, Mrs. Mann read each child's response to the question "What does Mom do all day?"  Charlotte's answer was "she does dishes, she also plays with me sometimes, she sometimes rides a little tricycle, and she talks to Daddy about work work work."  Huh?  Maybe she's talking about the photo Corey posted on last Mother's Day of me on Peter's "Super Super Fast Bike"?  Most kids said some variation of "she cleans, she talks to Daddy, and she plays with me", but Charlotte was the only one who mentioned that her mom sometimes rides a little tricycle.

Next, the mommies all filed into the back of the classroom to have our tea and cookies.  The kids chose that moment to pile on Mrs. Mann in a crazy rugby scrum-style hug that is apparently a common occurrence at this school.  I am predicting Mrs. Mann will be completely trampled at some point and in traction for weeks.

At each mommy's place at the tables, there were all sorts of goodies.  On the rolled up piece of paper was instructions on how to be a "Mean Mommy" (making your kids do chores, eat right, etc.).  Our kids decorated the cookies for us.  Charlotte told me she was trying to draw me in icing, but that it didn't work out so well.  It was still very tasty.

When it was time to go, they took a group photo of all the mommies in our lovely hats.  I'm pretty much smack dab in the middle, wearing a black top.

The next part was hysterical.  Usually, the moms wait to pick up the kids at the end of each class at the top of a long switchback ramp around the side of the building.  The kids love running up to meet us, and it's sweet to see them all clutching whatever amazing piece of artwork they made that day in school.  Today, though, it was the kids' turn to wait at the top of the ramp while we mommies made our way up to greet them.  Such a simple thing, but it really tickled us all to death.  Here we are, making our way up to find our kiddos.

Here is a closeup of the beautiful planter (full of grass?) Charlotte made for me.

And here is the requisite "turn your kid's handprints into some sort of picture" project: