School's (Almost) Out!

The last week of June has finally arrived, and in two days Kyle will be a Kindergartener no more. This week has been full of dress-down days, hot dogs, and bouncy castles. It has also been completely void of homework.

As far as we know we'll still be in St. John's for the next school year, so Kyle will continue to spend his time with all of these nutters:

Bring on First Grade!

Retiring The Snow Log--For Now

Here it is, once again--the official record of snowfall for this past winter. I refuse to believe that we'll have any more snow. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT. Winter is done, so I'm taking the snow log out of the sidebar until next winter. I'm sure it'll snow tomorrow as punishment for such a reckless act, but I don't really care. It's not like the weather we've had so far has been much better than snow, with the exception of about three days over the last two months.

Winter '09/'10 Snow Log

November 11 - 1/2 in.
December 4 - 1/2 in.
December 6 - 12 in.
December 10 - 3 in.
December 11 - 2 in.
December 12 - 1 in.
December 17 - 2 in.
December 19 - 4 in.
December 28 - 1 in.
January 9 - 6 in.
January 17 - 4 in.
January 21 - 3 1/2 in.
January 30 - 3 in.
January 31 - 1 in.
February 4 - 1 in.
February 5 - 15 in.
February 6 - 6 in.
February 9 - 1 in.
February 10 - 1 in.
February 21 - 2 in.
March 12 - 2 in.
March 27 - 4in.
April 15 - 3in.

Total = 78 1/2 in.
Total Snow Day Count = 2

This is entirely approximate. I am not the weather service. My measurements are conducted from inside the house as I look out the window and estimate how much snow is piled on my back porch.

Good-bye, snow log. See you in October.

Heavy

It's official. I need to lose 10 pounds.

Brandon: "I like you bedroom, Mommy."
Me: "Really? You like my bedroom?"
Brandon: "Yes. I like to lay your bedroom."
Me: "Oh, you like to lay in my bedroom. Well, I like your bedroom, too."
Brandon: "Mommy! You no lay my bedroom! You too heavy!"
Me: "I'm too heavy for your bedroom?!"
Brandon: "Yes. That's so funny, Mommy."

If it's that funny I might just need to lose 15 or 20 pounds.

Superstar!

I should have guessed what we were in for when I woke up at 6:30 on Friday morning, walked into Natalie's room, and found her on the floor, lying on her belly, pushing up with her arms.

"Um, Sweetie... are you doing push-ups?" I asked, slightly puzzled.

"Yes! I'm getting ready for my show! It's going to be great!" she replied, as she bounced up onto her feet and clapped her little hands, an enormous grin on her face.

It was her last day of preschool and the day of the big end-of-year concert. Calling it a concert was a bit of a stretch, but I wasn't going to argue with a four-year-old. It was more like four songs and two nursery rhymes, but whatever. Natalie was excited, and thanks to her push-ups she was ready to perform!

Shaun and I couldn't wait to see our timid little girl stand up with her classmates and mumble a few cute little songs.

We were totally unprepared, however, for the little show-stealer Natalie turned out to be. She sang--loudly and in tune. She danced--with rhythm and hip action. She knew all the words, and projected her little voice across the roomful of amused parents. I've never heard sounds that loud come out of my child in public before. At home, yes. (I believe I've mentioned the iron fist with which Natalie rules her brothers.) But I had no idea she was a little actress in the making. She carried the show! And all Shaun and I could do was stare in amazement, occasionally turning to each other in bewilderment (Where on Earth did this come from? Where did she get the performance gene? Not from either of us!) before we had to turn back to the front of the room and gape at our four-year-old diva.

Natalie was also chosen to play the part of the spider in both 'Little Miss Muffett' and 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider', and I don't think I've seen many things cuter in my life.

I can't believe the school year is over, and I can't believe how Natalie has grown from the little girl with tears in her eyes on the first day to the superstar that I witnessed two days ago. I'm so proud of her! And, frankly, I'm awed that Shaun and I could make such a creature. Go figure.