May

Well, the chronological gap between when actual events occur and when they are posted on the blog has now lengthened into three months...so let's crack on, before it gets any worse!

Anyone with kids in school knows that May is a blitzkrieg of programs, graduations, concerts, recitals and other activities. No doubt about it, May was an exciting month. Behold:

 Preschool Field Trip

Antonia and her buddy Reagan at Anderson Dairy,
a locally-run company that generously offers free tours
which either educate kids about how ice cream is made,
or indoctrinate kids into an unnecessary passion for milk drinking,
depending on your perspective. 

The story of how milk is made into ice cream is not a
particularly gripping tale to the preschool crowd, apparently.

Actual ice cream is brilliant, however

Field Day

    Charlie's first Field Day was the first field day I've attended since my own field days of yesteryear. I have to say, field day certainly has a lot more pizzazz than it used to. They had a bounce house, sno cones, and live entertainment (a magician!), for heavens' sake. With school offering so many thrills and treats, it's no wonder that kids have high expectations or feel a little entitled in other areas of life. For example, birthday parties, I have noticed, can be ridiculously lavish affairs around here... But that's just the opinion of someone whose own childhood was practically a spartan experience. In fact, I don't think I ever even had a birthday party...or presents...and also I was raised by wolves...

I got suckered into buying this "official" Field Day t-shirt.
On the bright side, appearances indicate it will fit him for the next five
years, so I think I'll get my money's worth

Eve's favorite field day game (she played by herself): repeatedly, with her eyes partially closed, she slowly lowered her face into the grass until the ticklishness became to much to bear, then snapped it back up  

Antonia felt much the some way that I did about some of the 
entertainment. I am thinking about a specific high school choir with an 
ill-advised choice of material. Really? "Dirty Little Freaks" 
is appropriate for elementary-aged children?
. 

Right after I took this picture, Antonia bolted back to where I was sitting. I think there was just too much hair competition from the luxurious blond locks of the BOY next to her. 

Walkabout Night at Charlie's school
  I'm not really sure about the origin of the name "Walkabout Night," but the event features each class representing the cuisine, dance, music etc. of a particular country. Charlie's kindergarten class did Mexico, so we made salsa, ate salsa, and the kids danced the Mexican Hat Dance (obviously.)

I don't really know what's going on in this picture,
except that Dorothea is doing something quite piquant.

Charlie had consistently expressed his desire to skip the event,
right up until we walked into the room and this cute little girl exclaimed
"Charlie is my dance partner!" Thereafter he was as giddy
 as I've ever seen him, and he never left her side.

Charlie and Cyann. Dance Partners 4-EVA

The Mexican Hat Dance: watching Charlie doing this dance with Cyann
was unquestionably one of the top twenty moments in my career as a mom.
So delightful. I mean, look at the expression on the boy's face!

 Antonia's Preschool Graduation
  This was actually more like Antonia's Pre-Preschool graduation, because she still has another year of preschool. The last day of preschool happened to fall on my day in the rotation, so I put together a few fun "graduation activities" and made some graduation treats. I have completely forgotten what fun and exciting graduation-themed actvities we did, but I'm sure I found them on pinterest, so check there if you're curious. I also took a picture of all the graduates with their parents, wearing graduation caps. Except for my own graduate. I neglected even to take one with her wearing the hat. I DO have this one picture of the cute Reese's Peanut Butter Cup graduate cap treat I made from an idea that I also found on pinterest, the fountainhead of all ideas.

"Mom, can I eat this now? Please?"

Eve's 7-Month Graduation
 Eight is great! By May, Eve could finally manage the tricky task of sitting and playing with toys well enough to feel like a participant in Antonia and Charlie's antics, which made my life a whole lot easier because I could stop moving her from room to room with me, and leave her with them. Hauling her portly thighs up and down the stairs all day just isn't always as much fun as it sounds.

Eve sports this bewitching expression approximately 90% of the time. 

 ...And this very winsome one the rest of the time. Love those ears!

Will made these under-bed storage drawers and I
wanted to publicly acknowledge what a fabulous job he did
 (because I think it might help me convince him to get
on board with some other not intricate, totally manageable
project ideas that I have cooked up...) He put them
on furniture movers so the kids can slide them in and out
with ease, and now Charlie has a place to keep his
hoards of legos and Star Wars paraphernelia. 

Finally, rounding out this picture-heavy post, a few funnies:

See if you can figure out these Antonia-isms.
   -What are little dogs called? Oh yeah, puffies.
   -My Miss Piggie is my favorite Muffet.
   -Mom, I see a tag! A tag like the one at Charlie's school! (Hint: it rhymes with 'tag' and it kind of looks like a tag, but bigger)

Charlie: (after I mentioned his pillowcase needed to be washed) Yeah, sometimes a whole bunch of water comes out of my mouth when I'm sleeping.

Eve: (tongue click)...(tongue click)...(tongue click)

Me: So, what did you learn about at church today?
Antonia: (very matter-of-fact) Knees and toes.

Me:  (instructing Will on Eve's outfit) Make sure you put her bloomers on under her dress. Do you know what I'm talking about when I say 'bloomers?'
Will: Um, I've seen enough musicals to know what bloomers are.