Charlotte's first field trip

Today was Charlotte's first field trip...ever. I didn't know that field trips in preschool were even a thing, but they are and Charlotte and I had a blast. Melissa had to be at work today, so we got Melissa's mom to watch Ollie so Charlotte and I could have a special day together. If you live in the Cincinnati area, I'd highly recommend Burger Farms over in the Newtown area. We met all of Charlotte's school mates this morning and had a great time hanging out together. First we tried out the hay maze. It was tall enough that the kids couldn't tell where they were going, but short enough that parent's could cheat and navigate their way out after so many dead ends led to by 3 and 4 year olds. This is Charlotte after encountering her first dead end.

Obligatory face in hole picture.

There was a large play set that at times had a few too many kids on it, but no one fell or got hurt....amazingly.

Hot off the slide pic!

On our way up the hill on a hayride to pick out a pumpkin.

Charlotte's choice after reading a book called The Littlest Pumpkin a few times in the past week or two.

Some of Charlotte's friends from church and school. As you can see she really wanted to be a part of this particular picture.

Quick selfie shot before the puppet show began. Every kid got a cup of popcorn and a little hug juice drink. Charlotte was in heaven.

Waiting for the show to begin...

That's Mr. Burger of Burger Farms up on statge. It was a cute little show for the kids with singing, dancing and of course the snacks.

Luckily they had ponies, Charlotte's new favorite animal. She keeps on asking when she's gonna get one of these of her own.

And we couldn't leave the farm without getting a shot of the cutest little farmer on her tractor.

sissy goes to school

As soon as we moved into our new house, we started asking around about preschools. It seemed like everyone we asked came back with the same answer, "Happy Days". It's located at a church just up the road from us, so in May we enrolled Charlotte and she's been counting down the days ever since. She has been so excited about school for a long time and today she got to actually go. We took some pictures along the way.

This is Charlotte's best thumbs up!

And her best smile!

And her best hands up in the sky. And isn't that little blue belt the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Had to get a nice close up of course.

And a rocking chair shot.

Here she is outside the entrance to her school.

And her backpack.

She looks a little unsure here, but there were about 11 kids and 20 parents in the room and it was a bit busy in there.

That looks a little better.

This is a shot of her classroom door while we were waiting to pick her up.

And outside by the sign.

We put her mark on our growth chart to remember the occasion.

Ollie can't wait for his sister to go back to school tomorrow. Actually, he napped the whole time she was at school, so he didn't even notice that she was gone. It's hard to believe that she'll graduate high school in 2029. Surely we will have flying cars by then. Can't wait to see how much she grows inside and out this year. We love you Charlotte Gray and we're so proud of you.

a very merry mermaid party

We celebrated Charlotte Gray's third birthday last weekend in merry mermaid style!  This is the first time that she actually knew that her birthday was coming and what all came with your big day. Charlotte is the one that chose the theme and after I had tapped out all of my creativity and craftiness (pinterest), I asked her what she wanted at her birthday and she replied in a very Charlotte way with her hands in her clasped in her lap, "just a wot of bawoons and cake."  Man, all my decorations and what was the one thing that I did not have, balloons.  So needless to say, that morning we picked up some balloons!  Her special day was made even more special because her favorite family, The Smiths, drove all the way from Virginia to come to her birthday party.  It was a great weekend that I think any three year old mermaid would have loved, and ours sure did!

Here are some shots from the day!

Decorations: we kept with the beach mermaid theme with shells and all of our favorite sea creatures.

Food: our mermaid and mermen guests dined on an assortment of nautical treats!  Complete with crab sandwiches, sea weed grapes, driftwood, sea shells and cheese, sea snails, goldfish and gold coins and some fishy sweets like marshmallow starfish grahams, sand dollar cookies and clam cookies.

Fun Activities: I always feel the teacher in me over plans everything, but with a good group of active kids with a crazy ring leader mermaid the activities were just right!  As always, Jay read a book, we chose Three Little Mermaids, everyone decorated a cookie or two to take home (I loved the google eyes I ordered) and the kids enjoyed painting fish sun catchers and receiving fishy temporary tattoos from my crazy tattooing aunties! (thanks Paula and Teresa!)

Of course we had all the fun activities that all birthday bashes include like cake and gifts.  I think it came to a big shock to both Jay and I how she reacted to her group of loved ones singing happy birthday to her.... we sing happy birthday to at least five things a day (everything from clouds and bugs to brooms and dustpans to people she met in the grocery store) so when it was her time for the birthday song and her smile turned to a nervous cry we were a little surprised.  Thanks to a willing crowd that sang to her not once, or twice but a lucky three times and a loving Auntie Dee that helped her get through her big moment.  She blew all her candles out with shockingly no singed hair and enjoyed some cake and presents!

Happy Birthday to our favorite little "worm maid" we hope you had as much day on your big day as we did planning for it!  We love you!

-melissa

charlotte is three

Today we celebrate Charlotte's 3rd birthday. She is no longer a baby, but a little girl who has us wrapped around her finger. Enjoy the pictures!