A Day at the Fair

Carli had so much fun at the fair this year!  Austin got us tickets through a friend of his in the City.  She sent three tickets to get in and a pass for Carli to ride up to 15 rides.

When we first got to the fair, Carli seemed a little overwhelmed by all the rides and things going on.  We asked her if she wanted to ride many rides, but she kept saying no. She was a little daunted that she had to ride them by herself.  Finally we found one she liked.  After that, she was excited to ride most any ride.

She wasn't crazy about the slide for some reason.

Carli's first roller coaster.  She enjoyed it.  She rode it twice and laughed the whole time!

Several sheep were being sheared.  She wanted to pet one and the lady let her.

We watched one round of goats being judged.  This was Carli's favorite, but she came in second though.

Carli's favorite ride was the swings.  She rode them three times.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Last week in preschool, they learned the letter B...how to make it, the sound it makes, things that start with the letter B...  They also read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  They must have it read it a lot since Carli can now "read" it.

A Special Surprise

Yesterday, while at the mall, I spotted Claire's while Carli and I were riding the Carousel.  We decide to go inside and look around.  A two year old was getting her ears pierced.  We asked Carli if she would like hers done.  She watched and then said, "No," when the little girl cried.  We looked around and Carli spotted Hello Kitty earrings.  That is all it took.

She hopped into the chair and held on for dear life to the stuffed bear they had in the store.

  The lady marked her ears and told Carli she would pinch her ear.

After the first pinch, Carli started a small cry.  I quickly took her hands and face and told her it would only hurt for a second.  Carli wanted to see her new earring, so I snapped this picture to show her.  She was all smiles then!

We were afraid Carli would jump during the second ear so Joe held her head still.  Carli braced for the pinch, but never cried.

 She was all smiles with her new Hello Kitty earrings and couldn't wait to show them off to everyone.  She even talked to people she didn't know.

The next night, we got together with family and she showed everyone.

Moving on up....

Last week was Carli last week in the three year old class.  It has been a great year with Ms. Judy, Ms. Charlene and Ms. Mary.  She has learned so much from them. And the friendships she is forming with not only the girls in the class, but the boys as well.  She will play with anyone.   Thursday morning, I took this picture with Ms. Judy, her teacher.  We will always be grateful for the learning that happened in that class!

 first day of the three year old class

last day of three year old class with Ms. Judy

This week, Carli moved to the four year old class with Ms. Cathie and Ms. Ann.  Carli has known Ann since she arrived at Holy Cross.  She is typically the first teacher to show up and Carli  would be about to listen to her and get to know her in the mornings.  She was so excited to move up.  When she went inside Monday, she ran up to Ms. Ann and gave her a BIG hug.  She came home from school and had a "great day" and then proceeded to tell us everything she had done that day. I can't wait to see all the things she is going to learn this year!

first day in four year old class

Just think in 365 days, she will start kindergarten!!!

Later that day, we helped Poppie celebrate his 73rd birthday.

Barbie, Carli & Poppie

 Thursday night, Carli was so wiped out by the week and swimming lessons, she fell asleep on the couch.  What a beautiful sight!

Vacation Bible School 2014

Sunday kicked off VBS at Morris Chapel.  Carli LOVES Bible school and couldn't wait.  In fact, Sunday morning, she was up at 6:30 and the first words out of her mouth were, "Is it time for Bible School?"  She was so excited that her friends, Cora and Rory, would be joining her this year.

The theme for this year was Weird Animals.  It is about how God loves us no matter what we look like...

The Three Muskateers

craft time

besties

great friends!

fun on the playground

those eyes

Look who showed up for the fire truck water palooza!

Swimming Lessons

After Carli's dance recital, I gave her three choices for the summer:  a dance camp, gymnastics only, or swimming lessons.  Without hesitation she answered swimming lessons.  I contacted the YMCA and signed her up for lessons.  How great that one of my former students, Michaela Shaw, is her teacher!

I was afraid that she wouldn't go into the pool without me (especially since I had to stay in the pool area).  After a few kisses though, off she went with Michaela.  I went to the far end to watch. Carli called my name several times, "Look at me, Mama!" and "Hey, Mama!" and had so much fun.  

There are several things that the group does while learning.  They play "Ring Around the Rosy" but they all blow bubbles instead of falling down.  They "swim" to the rope on pool noodles and Carli's favorite, they jump into the pool.

This week, lessons end.  Carli will be sad indeed....until she learns there are more in two weeks.

strike a pose

ring around the rosy

airborne!

Lightning Bugs

One night, Joe and I were sitting on the porch watching Carli play in the front yard.  All of a sudden, she started yelling and running to the porch, "They are after me!"  We couldn't figure out what she was talking about since there was nothing outside.  Finally we were able to figure out she was talking about a "bug that had fire coming out of his butt".  LIGHTNING BUGS!  Once Joe and I quit laughing, we showed her how much fun it was to catch them.  We then ran around with her catching them and letting them go.