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!

Photos from bowling and playing outside

The crazy "I knocked down lots of pins" dance (bowling on my birthday)

Rolling it right down the middle - she actually beat me by three pins the first game!

Playing outside today, taking advantage of the somewhat-warm weather.

That's all, folks!

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This is Caroline's first week at the local Montessori school! We were very worried about it because it's such a departure from "traditional" learning; but then, what the heck, Caroline's not exactly your traditional 4-year old! At her 4-year checkup the pediatrician said that knowing what she knows about Montessori methods and knowing what she knows of Caroline, she has no doubt at all that Caroline will be reading by the end of the school year. On the first day she got out of the car with the teacher without a backward glance, although she did have an expression like she was going to face the firing squad. Caroline reported later that she liked seeing the fishtank in the classroom, got her own snack and drink - "I didn't even spill a tiny drip!" - and liked playing on the playground. Just recently we were talking about new friends in her class and I asked about another little boy that started the same day she did. She said that he was nice, but she didn't like playing with him because all he does is cry about being there and she likes being there, so she goes and does other stuff. Needless to say, Mommy and Daddy are considerably relieved!

Christmas Pictures

12/24 Ready for Santa! In her cute Christmas pajamas which were traded in favor of cooler pajamas because they were making her sweaty.



Santa came and left a note! (Santa was hitting the sauce, I believe he had a headache after removing all the twist ties from all the toys....)

"Hey, let's see what this is!" She was really into opening presents and shredding off the paper, from confetti sized pieces to whole sheets.

Santa's Little Helper - "Let me get a present for you, Daddy!"

Santa's annual letter to Caroline

December 24, 2005

Dear Caroline –

I can’t believe you are 4 years old this Christmas – I still remember bringing Christmas presents to a little tiny new baby! Thank you so much for the wonderful snacks. The cookies were delicious. Did you help make them? The chocolate ones were my favorite. And the hot chocolate was a perfect way to warm up before I have to go back outside! Thanks again for thinking of me. I wish I had gotten to talk to you earlier in December when you came to see me, but I know you feel a little shy sometimes. So I’m really glad I got your letter telling me what you wanted. I hope you are surprised!

What a year it has been for you. This was the first year you went to summer camp, wasn’t it? And then you started at Chipmunks School again in Ms. Bittner’s class. I bet you learned so much, and made lots of friends too. (I’ve already been to Sam’s house and Kristina’s house!) Then you went to Disney for your birthday. I’m sure it was great to see all the princesses. Do you like riding the rides?

And there’s still more to happen – I hear you’re going to go to a new school after Christmas, right? I bet it will be great. You’ll make even more friends and learn so much stuff! I think there’s even a fishtank in your classroom. You’ll get to check it out soon.

I hope you didn’t think I would skip you this year. Everyone has bad days sometimes, but the important part is that you are trying to be good. That’s all I ever ask in order for you to make it on the Good Kids List so I know who to bring presents to.

I have to head off to Erin and Sarah’s houses now so they all have gifts to open too, but I just wanted to leave a note to let you know how yummy your cookies were. You’re the best!

More Disney Photos

One day we even hit the Princess Trifecta! We thought we were in line to see Mickey or someone, but then another person in line mentioned that it was princesses. Caroline was so happy to see some of her favorites up close even earlier than expected.

Our new Disney tradition - pictures with the statues at the pin store in Downtown Disney. We have one from our visit last year so it's a neat way to see how much she has grown.

Some Disney Pictures

There are too many to post at once, but here's a general overview.

First day at the park. Castle is all fancied up for "Cinderellabration", where Cinderella officially becomes a princess.

Her very first princess meeting was with Jasmine! By the end of the trip it was like Caroline had princess radar - she could spot anything pink/sparkly/tiaraed at 10 paces.

Meeting Minnie outside the park - she made a very big deal over Caroline's birthday.

Welcome to CarolineWorld! Please gather all your belongings and take small children by the hand when exiting the Monorail. hahahaha

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Caroline returned from a weekend with Gram and Pop fully excited to decorate our tree!

So proud of herself for doing a good job!

Our beautiful tree - we will have to do some "redistributing" though; Caroline was so excited about some ornaments that she was hanging them all together, resulting in 3 or 4 ornaments on one branch!

The Thanksgiving Feast at Chipmunks School! Food consisted of rolled-up turkey lunchmeat, corn muffins, and mini "pumpkin pies" (tasted like pie filling mixed with vanilla pudding or something....)

Caroline and her "favorite friend" Sam. He's so stinkin' cute!

"Let me get you another pumpkin pie, Mommy!"

See, Pilgrims and Indians can so be friends! (Caroline and Morgan)