SANDBOX!!!

At long last, the kids finally have a sandbox.  They are avid diggers, and we were tired of them digging in the mulch of the flower beds.  It was not nearly as cheap as we thought it would be (the sand alone cost about $130!), but it's made so solid that it should last until they have their own kids.  Corey did a great job designing and building it, while I did background support like feeding and bathing his "helpers".

It was nice to see Corey doing woodworking again, even if it was just a simple box.

It took about a day to get it all sealed and stained, but then we were ready to staple some landscaping cloth to the bottom and fill it with sand!

24 bags of sand later . . .

. . . and the kids were ready to rock.  Peter wanted to keep putting sand on his sunglasses.  I have no idea what goes through that little goofball's brain.  He also picked out his own outfit today, in case you were wondering.

Gotta put 800 toys in there at once, of course.  (The grass is due to be cut tomorrow, and it's really long and soggy because of all the rain we had last week.  That's why it looks all icky around the sandbox.)

Corey put seat on the corners in the vain hope that the kids might actually sit there instead of in the sand.  Silly Daddy.  Sitting in the sand is way more fun.

Modeling the seat, upon my request.  Notice Connie coming up from behind to take up her post close to wherever the kids are currently playing.

And this is the view from my kitchen window.  I love how Connie hangs out nearby to keep an eye on her puppies.

The kids played for over four hours straight (with only a brief break for lunch on the deck at their little picnic table) before I made them come inside to chill out for a while.  Now, Charlotte is bossing Peter around enlisting Peter's help in throwing a party for a group of stuffed animals, complete with decorative signs drawn on Post-It Notes and stuck up all over the house.  So much for resting.

Higgins Lake

This weekend, Niki, the kids, and NanaB, GrandDad, and I went camping at South Higgins Lake State Park . . .

It's late on Sunday, so this will be a short post . . .  here are some pictures of the campers . . .

Wedding bells for Charlotte?

A couple of months ago, Charlotte came home from school with this:

She calmly told me that it was a marriage proposal from a boy named Brody.  She has long been a huge fan of Brody because, as she told me, he is funny and his name reminds her of brownies.  Fair enough.  I giggled about the paper, posted a picture of it on Facebook, and joked with her grandmothers that they had better start dress shopping.  For all I knew, Charlotte had made the creation herself and invented the whole story about the proposal.  I knew Brody from the times I volunteered in Charlotte's classroom, and I thought he was a nice enough little boy -- tall, very goofy, and in love with marine animals.

Fast forward to yesterday's preschool graduation ceremony, and Corey and I noticed in the ceremony program that Brody (who said he wanted to be a marine biologist when he grew up) was one of the few kids from Charlotte's class headed to kindergarten at Baldwin next fall.  Fun!  We had thought only one other girl from First Friends would be there with Charlotte.  I stopped Brody's mom on the way out of the graduation and said something like "so glad to hear Brody and Charlotte will both be going to Baldwin together this fall!"

She laughed and said she hadn't realized it either that they would be together until she saw the program.  She then told me the story about how Brody had recently asked her "is it against the law to marry someone from your class?"  She had answered no, and then asked him what girl he had in mind.  "Charlotte," Brody replied.

GOOD LORD.  Who knows where this marriage idea originated, but it appears they are both on board with the plan.  Should I book the Duke Chapel now, or wait until there is an actual ring on her finger?  She really likes ring pops, and you can buy one at any local gas station.

Time to start dress shopping.  Maybe I can upcycle one of Corey's old work shirts into a wedding dress?

Preschool graduation

Yes, it's kind of silly to have a preschool graduation ceremony.  It's probably even sillier to hold it at a church with a stage and a magic show afterward, but that's how Mrs. Mann rolls at First Friends.  We dutifully dressed up and enlisted a multi-generation group to watch the spectacle.  We got there about 10 minutes ahead of time, but I am still a rookie mommy and forgot that you need to show up about three days early to get a good seat at something as amazingly important as a preschool graduation ceremony.  Here is half of our group in the very last row:

This is Mrs. Mann's daughter, who had Barb as a preschool teacher many years ago!

Waiting for the spectacle to begin . . .  It's tough to smile while sucking on your finger.

Peter is one goofy little dude.  He looked quite snappy in his favorite polo shirt (he considers anything with an anchor on it to be a "pirate shirt", so it wasn't tough to get him dressed up today).

More paparazzi (with Charlotte's buddy Lauren's little sister photobombing in the background).

Let the show begin!  The kids walked in and I was too flustered to get a shot.  One of the first things mrs. Mann did was call up on stage all of the older siblings of the graduates who were graduates of First Friends themselves.  That will be Charlotte in two years when we are there for Peter's preschool graduation!

Mrs. Mann told the now familiar story about how Barb taught Mrs. Mann's youngest daughter in preschool and then encouraged Mrs. Mann to take Barb's place at the preschool when Barb left to become a children's librarian.  She called Barb up to give her a thank you present.

Luckily, there were no valedictorian speeches or inspirational messages from any special speakers.  Mrs. Mann said some nice things about childhood and growing up, and then she got down to business.

Each kid was announced, marched across the stage, and then said into the microphone what he or she wanted to be she he or she grew up.  Charlotte said she wanted to be a librarian like her NanaB and to work at the same library with NanaB.  Sorry Barb, looks like you're not retiring for another 20 years or so.  Other kids said such entertaining things as "Sonic the Hedgehog" or "a princess AND a scientist".  A whole slew of little copy cat girls wanted to be "horse back riders".  Charlotte's bestie, Shelby, was uncharacteristically stumped but eventually announced she wanted to be an architect.

After switching their tassels over to the "graduated" side, the kids got to go hug their families.  They were invited back up to the front to watch a magic show by Baffling Bill, but Charlotte chose to stay back by us.  Charlotte and Peter were MESMERIZED by the magic show and have been incessantly performing their own magic tricks ever since.

The graduated all wore one of their daddies' white work shirts with short sleeved.  It was ridiculously adorable.  I had to resist the urge to add a little ruffle along the bottom.

Charlotte still isn't quite sure what graduation means, or why she should go through all this rigamarole just to turn right around and start kindergarten.  But she dutifully posed for pictures and looked awfully cute in her little getup.

We told Petey to go and stand next to her, and he suddenly got all snuggly.

We told them to look up at the camera, and Mr. Sensitive Eyes struck his signature "the sun makes my eyes hurt" pose.

NanaB with her future coworker:

Happy preschool graduation, Charlie Jo.  Congratulations on finishing all those alphabet pages and making 4,986,253 art projects.  Next stop: kindergarten!

A boy and his dog

Last day of preschool

This may have been the last official day of preschool, but since they still have a class picnic, Father's Day (a little program on Saturday morning), and even a "graduation" ceremony, Charlotte didn't seem too broken up about it.  We decided to put her in her "first day of school skirt" (I guess it needs a new name now -- the "first AND last day of school skirt"?) and take a photo of her in the same spot in the house.  I'm just not organized enough to make a cool sign for her to hold.  Someday, maybe.

First day

Last day

I'm not sure CJ and Shelby fully grasp the fact that they won't be going to the same school next year, but then again, I'm trying not to hammer on it too hard for fear of major tears.

There will be lots to miss about preschool, like peeking in the window while waiting for Mrs. Mann to open the door . . .

and bum-rushing poor Mrs. Mann when she does.

A couple of the moms arranged to get each student's photo taken with a different letter/word of Mrs. Mann's school motto -- "First Friends Are Best Friends".  Then, someone photoshopped it altogether and got it printed on a nice canvas.  It looks very cool and Mrs. Mann was very tickled to open it.

It's hard to tell, but Charlotte is holding the "I" in the word "FIRST".

After class, the kids took one last spin up the "highway" to get picked up by the moms.  Again, no real tears because the kids will be back together a bunch of times over the next few days.  I have many, many more times ahead to claim a child off the "highway" since Petey will be going to First Friends for the next couple of years, but it did make me a little sad to know it would never again be for Charlotte.

Goodbye, First Friends Preschool, and hello Baldwin Elementary School!

Illi-noise

The kids and I headed out to Illinois to crash the party at Sonia's house -- my parents were there to attend her ballet/tap recital, and although we couldn't stay long enough to see the recital we decided to come anyway.  Poor Corey had to work pretty much all weekend, but we hope to bring him next time.  I didn't bring my camera, but I stole some shots from Erin.

I know someday these girls will rather die than wear something made by Mommy/Auntie Niki, but until then I'm going to make them as many things as possible.

On Saturday, we went to the Arboretum to let the kids work out some energy.  Grandma JoJo found some blossoms she liked.

Charlotte took photos of EVERYTHING.  She was like the paparazzi at a red carpet event.  It was a little ridiculous, actually.  Thank goodness for digital cameras.  We would be broke if we had to buy that child film and develop those pictures.

Grandpa Spike and his little cuties!

I have no idea what was going on here.

We made the kids wear their age shirts.  Again, I resolve to be thankful for every day that they will wear one of my creations, because I know those days are numbered!

I love it when Petey actually wants to walk holding my hand.  It's a rare treat.  (Sidenote: wow -- I have a LOT of hair.)

Sonia got a little love from Petey, too.

Yes, Erin and I dressed all matchy matchy as well.  We are twins, you know.  We did it on purpose that day, but then we accidentally both wore nearly identical outfits the next day.

Dandelions by Zach's tree!

 Another one of Grandpa Spike and his darlings.

Possible Christmas card photo?  Maybe if they go into Witness Protection . . .

We hauled our bikes 300 miles, but Peter only had eyes for Sonia's scooter (and her cool cape).

At least SOMEONE rode her bike!

NUTBURGER!!!!

Grandma JoJo got the kids all some vinyl sticker books.  Charlotte really loves her dress-up book and every day asks me if she can "do the book where I can dress up my girls".  Sonia was very helpful in teaching Charlotte the wonders of the vinyl stickers.