Adorableness

Mornings are so fun!

I love the greeting that I get after her every sleep.

Caroline celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday at school this past week. It was "Mixed-up Monday." I let her pick out everything - inside out and backwards dress, two different shoes, unmatched hair barrette. How can she be all mixed up and still so adorable?

Mermaid

Caroline passed Level 1 swimming lessons! On to Level 2...

Mommy: Caroline! You swim like a fish! I'm so proud!

Caroline: No, Mommy. I swim like a mermaid!

Prima ballerina

Last week was Parents' Day at Caroline's dance class. Luckily, Kevin worked nights last week, so he was able to come with me. We were so enchanted by our oldest girl's dancing. We were proud, proud parents that afternoon! We took some video, but now need to figure out how to get it off the video camera. Hopefully, I can figure that out soon!

There was a lot of singing, which was nice. This is "I'm a Little Teapot."

Their last tap dance routine was to "Mama Mia" and was adorable!


And this is Caroline's favorite part every week: the Choo-Choo Train.

Swimming lessons

In addition to dance class, I enrolled Caroline in swimming lessons. Her first lesson was last week. I hung around just to see what went on. She did great! I was so proud of her! Her instructor told me that she follows directions very well. I can't wait to see how far she progresses by the end of her lessons!

Ballerina

Caroline started dance class this fall. It's a combination of ballet and tap. She has been so excited for them to start. Thankfully, the class didn't disappoint! She had so much fun! She hasn't stopped talking about class and showing me all her new dance "tricks". She says she loves tap the best. I didn't get to see any of the class. I can't wait for the first parent day!

My favorite part of the first day happened when we got home. Kevin came in right behind us and Caroline went right up to him and said, "Daddy. I have a secret for you. I love to dance!"

First day of preschool

We've enrolled Caroline in Redeemer Episcopal Preschool, which is right around the corner from our house. She had a great first day. She loves school - just like her mommy and daddy!




Helen and I walk Caroline to and from school most days.

She is so excited to learn!

Easter project

Caroline's class at school is having an Easter party and egg hunt. She has to bring 15 eggs with candy inside. So I counted out 15 eggs and let her handle the rest. The power to delegate is something I take very seriously. She did a great job!


And my favorite picture of the little peanut so far... She's such a darling!

School days

Caroline started school this week! We've enrolled her in a sweet little mother's day out program at a church not too far away from our house. She had the best day. Her teacher (Ms. Emily) filled out a report sheet that had all kinds of activities she had participated in - play-doh, puzzles, numbers, ABCs, colors, Spanish, playground... The sheet also said that she had a very good time sliding on the playground with her friends. She even took a nap there, which impressed me since naps are hit-or-miss at home. After I picked her up, we went to McDonald's to redeem our free ice cream cones from our last dentist visit. What a busy day! I'm so proud of her... She hasn't stopped talking about school (and the ice cream cone) since!

(As an aside, I made her dress - an adorable new apron dress with a little smocked birdie. I had a great time making this one. I hope I can make another before I have to return the pattern to my friend.)

Thank you, Crayola

Crayola has so many neat products for kids these days. The Color Wonder things are fantastic for toddlers. Last week I picked up some Crayola paints for Caroline. I thought about getting the fingerpaints. But my little princess is a bit skittish about getting her hands dirty. (Wonder who she gets that from?) So I decided to pick up the washable paints instead, which will work fine for fingerpainting or stamping. At one point I looked up and noticed that she had gotten a little dramatic with the paintbrush and there was paint on the wall. Eeek! But I got a moist rag and it came off immediately. And it didn't stain her clothes, either. Impressive. These get a 5-star rating in my book!

The playground and fall festival

The weather was wonderfully sunny on Saturday morning. So in celebration, we decided to take a bike ride. Caroline patiently waited in her carriage while we got everything ready - taking a bike ride is not the spontaneous event it used to be! We rode up to a school nearby and played on the playground there. It was great - we had the whole place to ourselves. Caroline had the best time on the slides. So did Daddy! Then we had lunch at Holiday Ham, where Caroline ate like a champ. All that sliding makes a girl hungry.

Saturday night was our church's Fall Festival. I didn't get many pictures - I was too busy chasing a running toddler. She and Elizabeth enjoyed the moonbounce for a total of 30 seconds, and I did get a picture of that. We had dinner with Elizabeth and her mommy and daddy. The girls haven't stopped talking about each other since. Then it was home for a fun scrub in the tub and a cartoon before bed. I doubt that toddler life gets any better than that.

Artist

I like how she picked a pencil that coordinated with her shirt.

She really gets into it!

Pondering her next masterpiece...

Made in the shade

The swimsuit issue

It's hot enough for swimming! Hooray!


Even Tigger gets to cool off. This really reminds me of my childhood...a bubble-blowing terrier always got to share our plastic pool!

Ride on the slide

Caroline wanted to slide at the neighborhood Springfest. How can a dad refuse that request?

Random moments from our week

I found this neat little online photo tool. I think it's kind of fun. It's a good way to showcase more than a couple of photos. There are two pages of photos here - just click on the downward-pointing caret to navigate between the two. When you click on a photo, you can get some additional info about it.

I'm also putting the photos in an online album just in case a Mimi/Lee-Lee/Grammy wants to save one or two!

Walking

Warm weather at last

Ready to go

My entourage

"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."
Nehemiah 9:6

A day at our house

Play, read, (nap) eat, enjoy nature, swing, (nap) snack