More Ballet Pictures

"Point to where you came from...."

"And spin!"

The butterflies emerge from their cocoon (Caroline is in the center)


Erin and Caroline flap their wings

Clapping when the teacher said they could keep the butterfly wings...

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Boy were we RELIEVED when the ballet performance went off without a problem. Caroline had decided to skip a nap that day (I normally require it on ballet days just to have her in a better mood) so was running on pure adrenaline, making her prone to a meltdown. She was so nervous about what to do if she forgot what to be doing, but did so well that some of the other girls were looking at her to help them remember what to do!

The Ballet Recital!

My little ballerina!

Stretching

Showing off their rhythm learning

Poise and balance. They had to balance the beanbag on their head while walking on tiptoe down a line on the floor, then make a nice finish. All the parents agreed it rather uncomfortably resembled sobriety field testing! But at least Caroline's beanbag didn't fall...

Easter Pics

Caroline loved coloring Easter eggs again - she thinks it is MAGIC to pull a white egg out of the cup and find it a different color!

This bright blue one is my favorite...

With her Easter basket after finding eggs hidden around the living room

Caroline on St. Patrick's Day - she told her class that her panties even had green stripes on them! hahahaha

My new favorite picture - it's nice to be able to put her hair up and get it off her neck!

Picture Day at Montessori School - "I'm so glad you're at my class, Mom!"

Enjoying the warm weather at the park

Caroline the roller skating diva!

(practicing in the basement because it was about 28 degrees outside)

Caroline's artwork - she is the purple person at the bottom, yellow sun at the top left, blue clouds, purple squiggles are lightning, black spiky things are thunder, and pink swirls are wind.

Had to report for all family members to read: You aren't the only ones. Caroline READ me a book last week! A simple little book maybe 4 pages long, about the elves helping get Santa's sleigh ready for Christmas. She read the ENTIRE thing, with the exception of words like "brimming" and "although". (and I know she's not doing it from memory because I've only read it to her once or twice around Christmas time) Her teachers said that she has been working on her letter sounds at school and doing well, with minor confusion of lower case b/p/d/g/q/etc, but that's a normal developmental thing, not a sign of dyslexia.

Some overdue pictures

Flopping down in the 16 inches of snow - it's really hard to walk in that much snow when your legs are so short!

L-R is Ellie, Caroline, and Ellie's big sister Erin. We met up with them outside and had fun stomping snow lumps, sitting in the snow, and Ellie just liked eating it...

Only a week and a half later, the snow was totally gone and it was warm enough for some "hanging around" outside.

Practicing some soccer kicks

Random Thoughts from Caroline

Coming home from school today, she saw a big smear of white on a stop sign. She asked me what it is, and I said I didn't know.

C - Mom, maybe it was bird poo.
M - You might be right.
C - But it was alot.
M - Yes, it was.
C - Maybe it was a big bird!
M - It could have been.
C - Mom, bird poo is white but human-type poo is brown.

Today she said she wanted pancakes for lunch. For some reason I went ahead, knowing full well she hasn't eaten pancakes the last few times, but she said she thought she might like them after all. So I made *real* pancakes (not even frozen-in-a-box brand!) and after one bite she said she didn't like them after all.

M: Well, why did you say you wanted them if you didn't like them?
C: I know what they taste like but I forgot how they feel in my mouth.

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And the most important thought of the day?

Happy Birthday, Gram!!!

First Soccer Lesson

The first rule of soccer - always listening to the coach!

Waiting her turn to kick for a goal - the boy in the black shirt is the brother of one of Caroline's school friends.

"I'm doing it, Mom!"

"Gooooooooo, Team Freedom!"

Soccer was fabulous! There will be four weeks of practices and four weeks of games, one of which they will also get a team photo taken and receive Participation Certificates. The coaches spent the first 40 minutes or so having the kids practice "steering" the ball with their feet, taking turns playing goalie, and then the last 20 minutes was actually chasing/kicking the ball. Caroline had a wonderful time (as evidenced by the multiple thumbs up! signs), said she really liked doing it and can't wait to go back. In the space of a week, my clinging vine has disappeared - ballet class, big girl storytime, and now soccer!

Ballet Photos

"C'mon Mom, is it time to go to ballet now? How about now? Now is it time?"


Dancing with streamers - to get their eyes to follow what their hands were doing.

"Strike a pose, there's nothing to it..." Waiting her turn to practice dancing with her group.

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Okay, let me just say there is nothing cuter in the entire world than a classful of 4-year old ballerinas, especially when one of them is your own kid! Caroline was so thrilled to get ready and put her hair up (it was apparently a BIG DEAL that I used hairspray on her hair - "I thought that was only for special occasions!" hahahaha) She did a wonderful job of listening to the teacher and paying attention to what she was told. Every time the teacher complimented her on doing something well or having nice straight legs for stretching or whatever, Caroline would turn around and give me a big grin and a thumbs up!

Mademoiselle Artiste working at her easel. After two sick days, Mommy was ready to let her do just about anything!

Helping to cut up butter for melting when making brownies - she's always astonished when I let her use a "real" knife.

Modeling her leotard "with a floaty skirt, Mom!" - ballet class starts 2/7!