Kate's Singing Performance Debut

This is how it went:

The first songs were Halloween songs. She refused to put on her hat and didn't sing one word or do any of the actions.

This song used a rubber snake as a prop. She didn't sing one word or do any of the actions. She was rather annoyed to have to hold the snake as you can see by her facial expression.

She gave a few dirty looks throughout the show.
And a few odd looks towards me.
And found some down time to suck her thumb.
Yep- not one word or action the entire program! If you care to see more of her fabulous debut, please feel free to watch the video. At least Jamie will enjoy watching her kids. They were having a great time.
Tonight we talked about why she didn't want to sing. She just said

"because I was grumpy"

Our next performance will be in December. Hopefully she won't be grumpy. I did talk with her teacher afterwards and she assures me she has never been like that in class- that she is always having a good time and participating. So maybe it was just a bad day for my little sunshine.

Kate's Day of 1st's

Not only was today Kate's first day of preschool- but it was also her first day of her singing group. (Technically they both started last week- but we were out of town last week and she was still sick on Tues.)

She did well for both. I thought it was interesting that when we left her at school this morning- she didn't cry, but her brother did. All the way home he kept asking for "Tate"( he pronounces his "k" as a "t") When it was time to go pick her up he was so excited.

I also signed her up for a dance class again-but that won't start until October.

You Know He's Tired When..

..he couldn't even finish his sucker!

Poor girl- that can't be comfortable!
( We were on our way home from swimming at grandma and grandpas house.)

You are my Sunshine

A cool monsoon rain

So what do you get when you combine:

1. many HOT AZ summer days

2. Kids that have been couped up in the house

3. A 15 minute monsoon down pour

4. A backyard that is half dead grass and half dirt

Yep- two exited kids who can actually go outside to play- in the mud no less. I didn't care- I was just happy to see them be able to go outside And boy did they have fun.

Kate thought it would be funny to paint her brother with mud! It is kinda funny!! These pictures crack me up. If you look closely you can even see mud on his teeth.

Last night we had another little party for Kate. We had all her grandparents come over. She got to open their gifts and then we went to dinner at Streamers Ice Cream Parlor and Diner.

Grandma and Grandpa Kersey got her this Barbie computer- which she loves.

Grandma Standage gave her clothes, a lunch box, and this make-up- which Kate insisted on taking to the restaurant. They played with it until the food came.

They sang to Kate and gave her this sundae. She thought that was pretty cool that they sang to her.

Her great grandparents gave her this lamp

Kate's Princess Party
All the girls arrived and I quickly got a picture of each of them individually. I want to send it with the thank you cards.

The first thing we did was our craft project. The decorated foam tiaras.

Then we had lunch. Thank goodness for my sister Tracy who stayed to help. I don't know what I was thinking- I thought I would be OK with 10 girls on my own! I was wrong. I sure needed and appreciated her help!!

Then we opened presents.

I made cupcakes. I really wanted to do the princess castle cake- but I ran out of time. So I made cupcakes and let them decorate them themselves. Yes- it was a mess. These were my invitations. I found these princess crowns out of wood and already painted at Micheal's. I just mod podged the invitation to the back of it.

These were the goody bags. Each one had a tiara, a princess wand, a princess pencil with notebook, a ring, and candy.

MY BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

Happy Birthday my little Princess!

I can't believe she is already 4 years old! Oh how we love you sweet pea. What a joy you are to us!

This morning I captured this shot of her sleeping- not ready yet to wake her. She is so excited about her birthday party today. I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday before all this craziness starts today. She invited 9 little girlfriends over today for a princess party. I will post later about that.

Swimming- Day 3

Well- I had to hand her off to her teacher today crying. Doesn't bother me one bit. I just felt sorry for her teacher Shelley who had all 4 of her students screaming the ENTIRE lesson. She was earning her money today. I felt as if I should actually pay her more for what she has to put up with! This was Kate the entire time. This was supposed to be monkey crawling around the edge of the pool. Kate kept trying to crawl out and Shelley kept pulling her back in. By the way- you can't tell-but they are all crying! I sure hope she gets this swimming down

Tomorrow class was canceled so I will be taking her over to my moms pool and we will be working on this. Next week I go to girls camp and I can't have Kate telling Grandma no all week!

Speaking of Girls Camp- I have been so busy with that. I am feeling a bit stressed out now that we are down to less than a week away. I am excited and nervous. I hope everything goes as well as it plays out in my head!

2nd day of swimming lesson

It didn't happen. I came home from work and asked Kate how swimming lessons went. She said:
" I told grandma No"

Yep- she threw a fit. She wouldn't even put her bathing suit on. So grandma drove her over there hoping she would change her mind. They walked back to the pool and Kate began to cry. Her teacher came over to try to get her and she threw herself on the ground. So grandma took her home- but not before stopping at Sonic for lunch! Grandma said to Kate-

"Your mom is going to be disappointed in us."

Kates reply was "We don't tell her. It's a secret!"

Tomorrow she will not win this battle with me!

First day of Swim Lessons

Today was Kate's first day of swimming lessons. She was excited. She quickly got into the pool with the other kids. The teacher asked who wanted to go first and Kate eagerly volunteered. This is her first moment of swimming lessons. Smile on the face and proud of herself. This is where I noticed the change first happen. The moment she realized this included putting her head under water. She was getting nervous now and tensing up a bit.

She was trying to stay calm while she practiced kicking her feet.

Then when her turn was over- she began to cry and crawled out of the pool and sat at the fence begging me to get her. Her teacher had to drag her back into the pool.

The rest of the time her teacher spent pulling Kate's arm off from around her neck and coaxing her back in to try some more kicking.

I want my mom! I want to go home! Don't let me go! I'm scared!
This is her reluctantly doing her kicking. She is crying- but doing it. By the end of class- she was feeling a bit better and wants to go back tomorrow! Which I hope is true because Grandma has to take her tomorrow and I don't think she will do well when Kate looks through the gate at her crying and begging for rescue.

swimming

After Kate's dance recital we went over to grandma's to go swimming. The temperature here has now reached over 104 degrees this week. Augh! Here comes summer.

At about where the shadow is on this picture is where the step reaches. Kate doesn't leave this area at all. She swims back and forth. She has mastered this step that is only about a foot deep. Chris had told her that she couldn't ride in grandpa's boat until she learns to swim. So according to her- she can swim now. She said to grandpa- "Look grandpa, I can swim. I ride in your boat now?"

(She starts swim classes June 5th. I bet she will be surprised to find out what it means to know how to swim!)

Wyatt thought it was fun to splash mom.

His reaction to getting me wet!

kate's dance recital

This morning was Kate's recital at her dance class. She takes classes that last 8 weeks and at the end of every eight weeks they let parents and family- or whoever- come sit in the class in front of their child and watch them perform a routine they have been working on. I love having her take class at the Gilbert Parks and Recreation because the recital is in her class room and only last about 20 min. We don't have to buy costumes and we don't have to sit through 2 hours of dances to see her do her 5 min routine. Maybe down the road we she is bigger and is serious about dance we will give her lessons from a dance studio. But for now- this is perfect. Grandma Standage came to watch her too. They did a little ballet routine then they had all the mothers come up and have a mother/daughter dance. It was cute.

bath time

This is what happens when dad is in charge of bath time!