Beauty and the Beast

Last night Clara and I went out for a girls' night. I didn't tell her what we were doing as usual (the mounting excitement is more than I can take when she knows all the details). She was puzzled as to why we were going out on a school night. She thought she had it figured out Monday when she said, "Oh, I know! It's because the next day is Veterinarian's Day, so I won't have school." Unfortunately, when I bought the tickets, I hadn't realized that Thursday is, in fact, Veteran's Day, and she doesn't have school, or we would've gone tonight instead. I was trying to fit into my neighbor's schedule, increasing the odds that she'd be available to watch the boys for me. I did great with that aspect.

Anyway, we got dressed up and headed out for a night on the town to see the Broadway Musical Production of Beauty and the Beast here in Fresno! Clara was excited about having a reason to wear her Christmas dress from 2 years ago one last time before it's retired with the rest of the outgrown clothes. (We won't even address the day and a half I spent in search of black shoes that fit Clara properly to match the dress. We ended up borrowing them from a great friend!) When Clara saw I planned on wearing the outfit that I'd worn all day she said, "Hmmm, I guess that could be fancy enough." So I changed. She was pleased with my new choices.

All dressed up and ready to go!

We got there JUST in time! Not a minute to spare.

Clara loved it, but it started at Clara's bed time. She was tired. She so wanted to stay awake and not miss anything that she kept shifting in her seat throughout the first half so as not to fall asleep!

Intermission. We went out to the lobby to walk around to help wake her up a little. It worked! She was wide awake for the second half. She loved watching Belle dance with her prince at the end. What's not to love?

Back in our seats, ready for the show to start.

When we pulled into the driveway at 11:20pm! Poor thing, but such a good sport.

She was tired today at school. I explained the reason to her teacher when I went to volunteer. We had a great time, a little one on one time was just what she needed. Now Jonathan is asking for a special night with me as well...Let's see what I can come up with!

What are you thankful for?

Our family Thanksgiving project.

We take turns; each day we add one feather. We even call Chris on his days. The kids love it, and it gives them a chance to really stop and think about what Thanksgiving is all about!

Uh-oh!

I'm in trouble when 'Uh-oh' makes it the 'Top 5' of 1st words!

Jonathan's Preschool Pic

We got Jonathan's class picture back today. I'm not much for the background, but the picture is cute!

Jonathan insisted on having a 'mohawk' for his pictures.

The class picture. If you enlarge you'll see some hilarious photoshop work. There is a child in Jonathan's class who is extremely shy. His mother stays for a good 30 minutes every morning after drop off, until he's situated. For much of that time, he's sitting on her lap. Once she leaves, he's OK - at least that's how it worked the week I volunteered. On picture day, he wanted nothing to do with getting his picture taken. Not for individual, or class photo. His mother tried all morning to get him to pose for an individual picture. The teachers only tried once for the class picture, then allowed him to come back in the schoolhouse with his mom while they took the class photo. However, if you enlarge the photo, you'll find him peeking out from behind his classmates, just in front of Mrs. Mary (the blonde teacher)! Notice that even with all that, my child is the only one not looking at the camera!

4th Tooth

After the Fall Festival, we headed home for dinner and began getting ready for bed. Clara's been nursing a couple loose teeth for a while now, but a recent visit to the dentist made her more adamant about getting them out. The hygienist showed Clara her x-ray and how those permanent teeth are ready to take their place in her mouth, but she needs to make room for them first. Clara's always been of logical mind, and now that she understood the reason for getting those baby teeth out, she was gonna do anything she could to make it happen.

Before the festival she'd shown me and our neighbors how loose the one tooth had gotten, and we told her to yank it on out. She kept playing with it, but in true fashion she waited until it was bed time to really give it a go!

Working up the courage to yank it out!

First good yank, but no luck!

She tried for a good 20 minutes and finally, I sent her off to bed. A few minutes later she emerged from her room excited. She had pulled it out! This was the first one she had done on her own. She said she was afraid she'd lose it in her sleep and swallow it!

She was extremely impressed and proud of herself. She said, "I pulled it out myself! I'm so cool!"

The new smile. If she keeps working on that second one, she'll be asking for her 2 front teeth for Chrithmath!

Fall Festival

This afternoon, the other school on base organized a Fall Festival, so we walked over to check it out.

They had some huge inflatables and bounce houses. For some reason Jonathan wasn't interested in doing any of them. He typically likes them, but I think these were just too huge with too many people around. Clara, on the other hand, had no problem with them!

We found a tractor pulled train that Jonathan was interested in.

Riding with Clara in the Caboose!

Clara through the ping pong in a winning cup and got a coupon for a free fish!

Jonathan walked just about close enough to set the ball in a winning cup, but still didn't win a fish!

Picking a duck. Everyone was a winner here!

They had many other games, but as it started getting dark, it was too difficult to get a good picture. The festival was well planned. I'm sure the school raised a lot of money. The kids had a lot of fun and I got cool points for braving one of these busy events without backup (Chris)!

Spirit Assembly

As much as I feel I have to miss now that I have two school age kids and still only one me, I received a note from Clara's teacher last week letting me know I might want to attend the Spirit Assembly this afternoon with my camera. So I did.

Clara at the Assembly

Turns out, Clara was selected to receive the Kestrel Award for her class in October! Here she is on stage with the other Kestrel Award winners from other classes.

'Kestrel Award for Excellence in recognition of outstanding student achievement'! Need I say more?
We're SO proud.

I asked Clara if she knew she was getting something before today. She said she knew when Mrs. Cope (her teacher) told her she could come give me a hug and kiss. (That was after she'd come down from the stage.) In other words, the whole time she stood up on stage, she had NO idea why she was up there, besides that they had called her name!

After all the awards were given, it was time to rev up the spirits with a pie eating contest. 1st with the students, then it was the teachers' turn. Mrs. Cope was a willing participant!

Trying to eat it in the tin

Trying to flip it out (it took a couple tries!)

Once she flipped it out on the table, she made quick work of it!

Unfortunately, she came in 2nd, but she was such a good sport. She won MAJOR cool points with her class by doing this!

We are so lucky to have Mrs. Cope as Clara's teacher this year. Clara is excelling, but not just academically. Her spirit and her confidence is up. Mrs. Cope possesses the fine balance of control and support. She is able to challenge and encourage all at the same time, no matter the academic level of the student. It has been a pleasure to start to really see Clara gain confidence in herself and become more independent. We owe a lot of that to Mrs. Cope.