Charlotte's Preschool Graduation

We've had a sick couple of days in the Brooks' house.  After my crazy allergy attack on Saturday night, Hunter was up all night throwing up.  We both felt pretty crummy Sunday morning, and James was exhausted from being up with Hunter most of the night, so we stayed home from church.  Then Sunday afternoon Charlotte was acting funny, so I took her temp and it was 102.2.  Monday morning, she told me her mouth hurt while we were out running errands, so I looked in her throat and it was red.  I made a doctor's appointment for later that morning, and when we got there her temp was 103.  Her strep test was negative, so the nurse practitioner just said to give Motrin and Tylenol for that.  I was thankful that she didn't have strep, but was really hoping she'd feel better by this morning so she wouldn't have to miss her graduation today.

 

James got sick last night with the stomach bug, but Char was better this morning, so we went ahead and let her go to the graduation.  As usual we had a big crew there for the graduation.  The woman behind us even commented on how impressed she was with our row of fans!  Nanny, Grandad, Nana, Grandpa, Jennifer, James, me and Grey all came to watch our big girl graduate...

We are so proud of our Charlotte!!

Charlotte got to stand right by her good friend, Porter...

Those girls are so cute!

Grey really liked listening and watching during all of the songs...

We love Graham Cracker Express!  I will definitely miss Charlotte getting Biblical teaching while at school next year when she's in Kindergarten, but I'm thankful we have a church that has such strong teaching to supplement our teaching at home.  GCE has been such a great school for Hunter and Charlotte.  Next year will be the first time in four years that we haven't had a student there.  I'm so thankful for the teachers that have loved and taught Charlotte so well.  And for all of the sweet friends she's made along the way!!

I can't believe I will have 2 kiddos in big school next year...

 

Time really flies, sweet Kindergartener, so soak up every second of your precious childhood!

 

Tap Recital

We had so much fun watching Charlotte dance last night.  She loves to perform, and we love to watch her! It gives me so much joy.

 

Once again, she posed like this when I pulled out the camera...

So! CUTE!

I was one of the backstage moms, so we had to get there a little early.  I took some pictures by the stage during our short meeting...

Char's class was second from the last during the recital, so we had a loooong time to hang out in the choir room.  The girls did really well while we waited.  Charlotte and Jocelyn had a blast laughing and playing together...

Most of the girls colored for a while...

I took lots of pictures to help pass the time...

Madison and Charlotte became friends last year during ballet.  Sweet friends...

There was a class of older girls in our room, and they were so great!  They made our job much easier because they entertained the little girls all on their own.  We didn't even ask them to do anything to help!  First they played duck duck goose, then London bridges...

Then they grouped the girls up to play another little game...

(I was too busy chatting with the other moms at this point to figure out what the game was;).)

Of course they also spent a lot of time dancing...

Finally it was time!!  The girls lined up in the hallway...

 

They were so cute on stage!  I didn't get to watch from the audience, but saw from backstage and Charlotte did awesome.  She has a natural talent for flashing that stage smile;)

 

I had to wait for all of the parents to pick up the girls in my room, so we met the rest of the family (Nana, Rich, Nanny, Grandad, Aunt Katie, Vanesa, Zack, James, Hunter, and Grey) at Siciliano's.  Unfortunately, I had an allergy attack pretty soon after we got there.  James brought flowers to Charlotte and gave them to her at the restaurant.  She was so happy and wanted everyone to smell them.  I think when she excitedly shoved them in my face, it must've set off my allergies.  I was miserable, so I didn't think about taking any other pictures.  Good thing I got so many earlier in the night;)

 

I'm already excited for next year's recital!!

Mother's Day Tea

Charlotte and I were both so excited about her preschool's Mother's Day Tea last Thursday.  Several days before the tea she started saying, "I get to serve you!"  She was really excited about that part and so proud of herself when she made my plate for me and brought it over to our table.

 

When I got there, I found my placecard and Charlotte's gifts were already laying on the table.  The blue cross that she made (you can kind of see the side of it!) and the card...

 

When we got home, I found Hunter's card from when he was in Pre-K and was surprised to see a lot of the answers were the same...

 

The 4's classes came out pretty soon after I sat down and sang some songs for us...

Our Charlotte stole the show once again...

 

After the performances, the kids fixed plates for us moms and then for themselves.  And we all sat and ate together...

 

It was such  great time with Charlotte.  I can't believe she graduates next week! 

AWANA Awards Night

Wednesday was our last night of Awana for the year.  This was my first year since Hunter started Cubbies at age 3 that I haven't led for at least part of the year.  Grey sat with me in the audience throughout the ceremony.  He's definitely my happiest baby of the three, but after about 45 minutes, he had had it.  Luckily, my friend Shanna took him to the back for me so I could get all the pictures of Hunter that I needed.

This was Charlotte's last year as a Cubbie.  If we decide to do Awana again next year, she'll be in Sparks with Hunter.

They sang the usual Cubbies and Gospel Fuzzies songs before getting their awards...

The lighting from the stained glass window kind of blocked her out (and totally blocked Hunter out when he was getting his, so I didn't even keep that picture)...

Then the Sparks were up...

Hunter was ready for his award.  He finished his book again this year!

After all of the Sparks walked the stage, they sang a couple of songs, too...

After the ceremony a bunch of us went to Braum's for ice cream. The kids had a blast with their friends!  We love our church:)

Look how much Charlotte has grown since September...

(She actually doesn't look that different to me:)).

Tap Pictures

I was out of town for work the day of Charlotte's professional tap pictures, so I had to call in lots of reinforcements.  I am so thankful for friends, neighbors, and family who all helped her to look beautiful for her picture day!

My friend and neighbor, Aimee put Charlotte's hair in sponge rollers, and then several hours later, Aunt Katie came over to do hair, make up and get her dressed...

James took all 3 kids up to Huffhines for the pictures...

Last year, we were in a morning class, so we were one of the first groups to go on picture day.  So I didn't realize how backed up it got as the day went on.  Poor James had to sit with all 3 kids for hours!!  I felt really bad...

Thankfully, they all did pretty well.  I think the tv and coloring sheets helped a little:)


My ballet mom friend, Jennifer, made sure Charlotte's make up was fresh right before pictures, and even let Char borrow her lip stick...

Ready for her picture!

 

We're so excited for recital in a couple of weeks!  From what I've seen, peeking through the window during practice, that tap routine is pretty sassy!