Preschool Graduation

Rachel's daycare center held preschool graduation this evening.  Rachel was quite excited about the event.

Rae stood by her buddy, Isaac.

I must say the construction paper graduation caps were adorable!

They were a bit tricky to keep on, though.

The kids sang a few songs, recited Chick Chicka Boom Boom, and counted in Spanish, Chinese, and Swahili.  Rachel sang along and did the actions this time!

Near the end of the program, the kids all sat down to watch each other cross the stage and graduate.  Rachel enjoyed this much more than the singing.

There's my happy girl!

Finally, it was Rachel's turn.  She marched across the stage, shook her teachers' hands, and grabbed her "diploma" with a smile!

Our little graduate is pretty proud of herself.  We're proud of her, too!

Ladybug Love

I went out this morning to weed a flower bed and Rachel came along to help.  "Helping" disappeared as soon as we got there because Rae spotted one of her favorite things in the world - a ladybug.

With pink ladybug decorations in her hair from yesterday's ladybug outfit...

...and a huge red ladybug on today's outfit, she was perfectly dressed for an encounter with a real, live orange ladybug!

She talked to her ladybug, sang to it, and let it crawl all over her.

[Look!  A ladybug on my ladybug!]

This is some serious ladybug love!

Katherine watched Rachel playing and said to her, "Aunt Winnie would have loved you."  My beloved Great Aunt Winnie died the winter before Rachel came home.  She loved ladybugs and her house was full of ladybug themed mugs and magnets and bath mats.  One of my great sorrows is that she and Rae never had a chance to meet.  Kate was right, Aunt Winnie would have loved her.  And their shared ladybug love always makes me smile.

School's Out

Rachel's last day of preschool was today.  I am now the mother of a 4th grader and a kindergartener!  I am still a bit startled by that thought...  Yeah, I know life keeps rolling along and the girls have been growing, but when did they get this big???  I've spent the day feeling alternately wistful and excited.  I love the stages my girls are in right now, happy and eager to learn, fun to be around, more independent every day.  I can't wait to see who they will become.  But I'm also a little sad to think that I don't have little girls anymore.  I was relieved to get past the baby and toddler days, but I loved having a preschooler.  And now I won't ever have one again.  I suppose I have until August to get used to the idea!

In any case, it is SUMMER!  I always look forward to our laid-back, slower paced summer life.  I've have time to read all I want (which is a lot).  I don't have to get up at 5:45 (and I won't!).  I'll have time to scrapbook again.  I'll have days and weeks and months of time to spend with my family, especially my girls.  I'll have a chance to re-fill myself.  Summer...

Play Day

Katherine's last day of school was on Monday.  I finished yesterday.  Rachel's last day is tomorrow.  And Steve still has 4 days to go.  Summer is nearly here!

Rachel's preschool had a Play Day at the park this morning.  I am never able to take her to school or pick her up or meet all of her friends.  (One of the biggest disadvantages of working in a different town than where we live...)  So I jumped at the chance to visit Play Day today!  Rachel was SO excited to have me there, even if all I did was follow her around as she played.

There were cool comet balls to throw.

And a drinking fountain to investigate.

The park has lots of great climbing equipment, but Rae never touched it.  She was too busy swinging with her friends - her favorite thing to do!

Rachel had a wonderful time.  And I was grateful to be a part of it.

The 3rd Time Is (still not) the Charm

Rachel had her annual Spring Sing music concert tonight.  She has been talking about it for weeks.  We have heard every song dozens of times.  She stood in the living the room the other night and ran through the entire performance for Grandma and Grandpa.  But for Rachel, the idea of a concert and the actual reality are two entirely different things.

When she was 3, Rachel stood with her hands in her pockets and stared at the audience.  For the entire concert.

When she was 4, Rachel stood with her fingers in her mouth for the first half of the concert and finally sang part of the last two songs.

When she was 5, Rachel started out okay.  She paraded through the gym with her classmates.

She walked through the school cutout and even gave a little smile.

But then the singing began.  And she got scared.

Oh, she sang.  Just very, very quietly.

And she did the actions.  Just very small.  And she was not happy about it.

No matter how much she loves a song (and she LOVES some of these) she just can't let loose and sing in front of a crowd.

But I'll love her all the same.

There is a certain irony in my children.  I have one girl who is quiet and kind of shy and often won't answer when people she knows tell her "hi".  But put her on stage and she shines.  She has no problem singing and dancing and acting in front of a crowd.  I have one girl who is outgoing and wildly social and happily talks to total strangers.  But when she has to perform in front of an audience she completely shuts down.  Neither one acts in the way you'd imagine!

Rock 'n Roll Concert

Katherine's spring music concert was tonight.  Her concerts are always fun and tonight's was especially cute, as it was a rock 'n roll theme with lots of familiar songs.

The kids were supposed to wear 50's clothing.  Kate didn't think her white shirt and rolled up jeans was authentic, but I assured her it would work.  (I think she was relieved when her teacher showed up in matching attire.)

The music was straight from the oldies station, starting with Blue Suede Shoes.  There was even an "Elvis"!

Then followed Stand By Me, Surfin' USA, and Tutti Frutti.

We've heard these songs at home for weeks and they always make me smile.  Rachel has picked up some of the tunes and I crack up every time I hear her belt out "A-wop-bop-a-loo-ba-a-wop-bam-boo!"

There were auditions for parts earlier this spring and Katherine tried out, although she wouldn't say which part she wanted.  So I wasn't too surprised when she came home and announced "I'm going to be a Beatlette!"  That would be a female Beatle.  I asked which Beatle and she shrugged.  "Not the drummer,"  she said. 

Judging from the round glasses and cool hat on her buddy Trent, I'm guessing that she wasn't John!

But she was happy to strum her inflatable guitar...

...and sing I Wanna Hold Your Hand while her "fans" screamed in appreciation.  And her grin says it was all a lot of fun!

Our Beatlette had quite the family fan club in the audience.  It's not every day that your parents and your sister and both sets of grandparents come to see you perform rock 'n roll!

Remembering the Phone Call

4 years ago today we got a phone call from our social worker about a 17 month old named Chen Fu Shen.  I knew before she even finished talking that THIS was our daughter.  That was one of the best days ever.  And Rachel Fu Shen has brought us so much joy and laughter.  Happy Referral Day, Rachel!