A Baby Shower for Penelope

Well, I ran out of time on getting this post together - just found out my sister-in-law, Julie, is going to be induced tomorrow! So, here's a random smattering of pictures from the baby shower. Ok, maybe not so random - my kids are featured in most of them. *sheepish grin*

Best of luck, Julie!!!! Daphne has been waiting for a cousin "for years and years!"

Swim Lessons (James' 1st)

For a kid's first session of swimming lessons (particularly a cautious type of kid), your expectations needn't be huge. All you can really hope for is a transition from this...
(sorry, the look on this guy's face cracks me up every time. He did this anytime he knew he was on camera.)

...to this...

Fearful dismay transformed into mild amusement/tolerance in 10 half-hour lessons. James' 1st swim lessons = success.



Year 3 for our little fish...


And she still belly-flops like a champ.

Preschool Graduation

Oh my. Weren't we just doing this?

Daphne has (had!!) a great preschool. But playing Pomp and Circumstance? Mortarboards? Diplomas? They WORKED us parents over. It's hard enough that our kids are becoming "big kids." The tears flowed.



As you may remember from that September post, the theme for the school this year was owls. The kids participated in all manner of owl and nature themed games and crafts at the graduation celebration.

It's an owl, see?
Commemorative plate

Egg toss
Camping


We're not empty-nesters quite yet. Whew!

Monday Art - Puzzles

We've been having fun with these create-your-own puzzles from the store where I work. They come in packs of 6. I let the kids use Sharpies (!!!) that I've kept from my teaching days because all the other markers, crayons, and paints we have are washable and I wouldn't want the puzzles to run. Then we take a picture (learned that the hard way), print it, and stick it on the side of an old glass jar to keep the pieces. I also recommend having them draw "something" on every piece so it's easier to put back together.

Below is one that James started - Daphne kindly helped him finish the drawing. It would have taken him about four days.

Monday Art - And, We're Back!

Took last week off. In honor of Memorial Day.
Yep. I forgot.

I'm pretty sure every single day of preschool this year, the first thing Daphne did when she walked in the classroom was draw a picture on the easel. As one of her teachers said to me about her drawings, "She always has a plan." She definitely came home every day with a picture in her bag.

Awhile back the preschool director told me they hung one of her daily pictures up in the classroom, so I had to come see (normally their work is displayed out in the halls on bulletin boards).
Is there anything better than a flying fairy mermaid? Maybe a flying fairy mermaid princess.

(OK, now that I'm looking closer, those may be jeans and elf shoes? I'll have to ask Daphne in the morning.)