Awesomeness

May she always find herself to be this Awesome.

Scarlett's Dance Recital - 2012

This past weekend was Scarlett's dance recital. She did such a good job! We had so much fun together - both at the dress rehearsal and the dance recital. She had a costume change in the middle of the performance (going from tap to ballet) so there was a lot of excitement running her around and trying to get her changed before she went on again. I love how much she loves to dance! She's already talking about next year...though she's actually taking a Hip Hop class in the summer. (Hopefully I'll be able to get some video of that!) Below are some pictures from the weekend.

And here are the videos of her performances! These were taken at the dress rehearsal so you can tell a bit that the girls are trying to figure out the stage for the first time. (We're unfortunately not allowed to film the actual recital.)

Adorable, right?! And here is the proud family after the show!

Preschool graduation! (Sigh)

Well...that's it for Pre-K. Scarlett's graduation ceremony was last week and it was so bittersweet as she "stepped up" to kindergarten. We all loved her class. We were so close with the students and her teachers. (And we've got our fingers crossed the Holden will get to have the same teachers next year!!) Here are some pictures from the celebration.

Here is a marking they did on the wall to show how much all the kids grew over the year. Scarlett's symbol is a flower - the black flower was where she started in September and the red flower was how tall she had gotten by the end of the year. It was just over 2 inches! (YOu can click the pictures to make them bigger.)

And here is Miss Judie presenting Scarlett with her medal (sob).

 And shaking her hand (double sob). Notice the big grin on Scarlett's face?!

 Goodbye, Miss Judie! We'll miss you tons!

 Here is Scarlett on her first day of Pre-K 4...

 And here she is on her last!

 Congratulations on your graduation, goose! You're about as cool of a kid as we could have ever hoped for! Muah!

New Tire Swing!

Captain's Cove

Good food, stuff to climb on, boats to look at -

what more could you want from from a pier?

Holden's drawing!

Holden has suddenly started drawing people! He was very nonchalant about the whole thing - I don't think he was prepared for anyone to get excited about the fact. This has to be my favorite milestone and, actually, Holden reached this one before Scarlett did (see her first drawing here). Okay...these guys can stop getting big now. (Sigh.)

The Fashion Club Shoe Store

Scarlett's class has been doing a shoe study. They're learning about all the different types of shoes and where you would typically wear them...like ballet slippers to dance class and rain boots in the rain, etc. I chaperoned a field trip to a local shoe store where we did a shoe scavenger hunt. It was very cute. We had a big checklist of all kinds of shoes and, when we couldn't find two on the list, Scarlett went up and asked an employee for help all by herself. Here is a picture of the "big kids" of Scarlett's class at the shoe store (only the 4s went on this trip):

 A few days after the trip, Scarlett's class opened their own shoe store called Fashion Club Shoe Store. Scarlett was asked to be the store manager (go figure). Her job was to greet everyone as they came in and to make sure all the customers were happy. On my lunch break from work that day, I decided that I needed to do some shoe shopping. I stopped over at the Fashion Club Shoe Store to see what they had to offer. I was greeted by this lovely manager:

 She said, "Welcome to the Fashion Club Shoe Store - right this way please" like she didn't even know me. (She took her job very seriously.)

 The rest of the shoe store staff were very pleasant and helpful, too.

And before I left, the manager insisted on cleaning my shoes. (And I mean insisted.) Fantastic service!

Scarlett turns five!

5…I can’t believe it. 5 – We’re talking pierced ears and love letters from boys, here. We’re talking being enrolled in elementary school and asking for high heels (even if they are only the “little ones”). Five is the age parents anticipate…to me, it's always felt like the start of real kidhood. And while something undeniably feels like it’s ending by you turning 5, there’s a whole heck of a lot that’s just beginning, goose.

I know they say that you’re not supposed to be friends with your kids – but you’re my friend, kid. I like hanging out with you. You’re funny and gregarious – you’re smart and beautiful and you put my sense of fashion to shame. I’m so proud you’re my kid. You are way more awesome than I ever hoped you could be. I like our daily commutes. I like when you think I said something funny because you make me say it over and over and over again (and I like that you always laugh as though you've just heard it for the first time). I like that you cry when your “heart is just so happy” (actually, I like that a lot). I like singing along to the radio with you (and I secretly like when you mess up on lyrics – just so you know, all the other kids with those pumped up kicks do not, in fact, run “faster than the udders”). I think that’s what makes it easy for me to pick your song for the year – I see you singing so much. I see the songs that are important to you…the ones that clearly move you. This year's song is no exception.

So, goose, please know that tonight - you are young. Light this world on fire, kid...burn brighter than the sun. Please know that this world is forever on your side. I know that I won't always be all that you've got - but if you ever (ever, EVER) feel like falling down - I'll carry you home. Tonight and always. Happy birthday, goose.