Most organized Easter egg hunt ever

Charlotte's preschool Easter party and egg hunt was last Thursday.  Peter and I showed up and found Charlotte's class playing on the playground before the festivities.

Peter and I joined everyone for a little fun.  A couple of the boys Charlotte was playing with took an interest in Peter and Peter started hamming it up.  Charlotte told Peter to dance to show all the kids his move, which he did to the kids' great amusement.

Charlotte's beloved Miss Sally then led the class around to the hunt site and reminded the class of the "procedure".  The other moms and I looked at each other in amazement -- you mean this wasn't going to be a free-for-all hunt that was over in 2 minutes flat?

That crafty Miss Sally had a method for keeping the hunt under control while maximizing hunt time and the child exercise quotient -- each child was allowed to pick up exactly ONE egg at a time.

Then, the egg was to be returned to the "nest" (a wicker basket) unopened before another egg could be procured.  Charlotte and her classmates had been practicing this, and they did an amazing job.  Imagine the self-control that takes for a greedy four-year-old!  Peter, however, just kept opening the eggs and dumping the contents on the ground.  Oh, Peter.  Miss Sally just laughed and said that every year there is always a younger sibling who does the same.

After the hunt, the kids returned back to the classroom for lunch.  I took this photo of Charlotte actually drinking milk (something she refused to do until she started preschool and was given only this option for lunch) because I never thought I would see it happen.

While the kids ate, Miss Sally distributed the eggs among the kids' "bunny bags" that they had made earlier in the day.  Charlotte happened to be the "Star of the Day" (the kid who gets to lead everyone in line, distribute the milk cartons, and do other little jobs for the teacher), a fact she was SUPER proud of, as you might imagine.

Now, Charlotte is on Spring Break.  Is she heading to Key West with her sorority like Mommy did in college?  Um, no.  We're preparing for the arrival of Granny Great and Grandpa Great on their way home from wintering in Florida.  More fun to come!!

Premature sprinklering

So what if it was only 82 degrees and a little breezy last Tuesday?  I was so desperate to keep the kids occupied outside that I busted out our old baby pool and tried to fill it.

Note the duct tape that I used in a vain attempt to plug the hole . . .

And note the copious amounts of water spilling out on to the driveway.

We gave up on the pool and busted out the lawn sprinkler instead.  Our neighbor, Emery, joined in on the fun.

The kids finally started shivering and their blue lips told me it was time for a little break in the warm garage.

Summer is knocking on the door, and we're ready!

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!