Puppet Show

I took Charlotte to the puppet show at our local library. We got there about 20 minutes early to beat the crowd but then we had to fill 20 minutes with sitting quietly in a library so we didn't lose our seat. If we had been even five minutes later we definitely would have been standing so I grabbed the nearest book and we hunkered down. This is definitely a popular outing, there were a ton of kids there. Charlotte wasn't so sure about the puppet show at first. I tried to tell her it was like watching TV but she just looked at me like I was crazy. Mainly, I don't think she liked the crowd. She did sit still through the whole puppet show though, and all day long kept talking about "sock puppets" and the pigs (from the show) so it must have made an impression on her. The plays were so cute and funny though so we will certainly be going back.






The 30 seconds that she sat on the floor I grabbed a shot of her...the rest of the time she was clambered up in my lap with her arm around my neck.

Sweet summer time

Monkey Joe's

We met Mrs. D for our first Monkey Joe's experience. She brought her girls along and they were SUCH a big help! Between following Charlotte around, climbing up all the big slides, jumping, and keeping her from getting trampled it was a full time job for all of us! Charlotte is still talking about Monkey Joe's even though it is over a week later! She had a blast!

Washing Daddy's Car

Some times we have to find a way to fill time in the evenings. We've already been out and about during the day, used up our alloted TV time, read all our books. And it has been so hot! Charlotte loves to strip down and play in her little pool in the backyard, but even that is starting to lose it's appeal. So...we washed Bryce's car. Charlotte loved it because it involved water and obviously Bryce loved it because he got a car wash out of the deal.

Super Smart

I mean seriously. I know she's my kid but I just can't get over how stinkin' smart she is. She has gotten to where she has memorized most of her books and can "read" them. Some times she'll sit down with one by herself and "reads" it just by looking at the pages. We've been working on her alphabet letters, and she's got them all down but "F, N, and G". She says that F is E, N is H, and G is Q, and I can see the similarities. We are also working on words. She recognizes her name, MOM, DAD, DOG, and BABY. She makes me so proud.

Lake Lanier

I had my heart set on taking Charlotte to the beach this year. I even agreed to teach a class for the county so that we would have some extra spending money on our trip to the beach this year. I bought Charlotte some water shoes, an extra big hat, and a tent for the beach this year. Then the horrible oil spill happened in the gulf and took away our beach trip this year. I searched and searched and finally had to accept that the hat and the tent will work next year too and she has already gotten my money's worth out of the water shoes.....
Enter Lake Lanier islands. They have a beach! We decided to venture out on a big kid trip today and took Charlotte to the water park. Like most things with Charlotte, she did not jump right in. She clung to my leg or my hand for awhile and finally decided this place was ok. We actually stayed for almost five hours and had a picnic lunch. She also tried her first taste of dippin' dots and was so excited she was dancing in her seat. It is definitely a place worth going to with a four or five year old, but I think Charlotte will need a little more swim confidence before we buy a season pass. We will definitely go back though. She thought playing in the sand on the beach was the best, especially going around and digging up rocks to give to strangers. She also liked the wave pool (Of course, only if the waves weren't actually on). All in all, she handled the day so well and fell into a deep contented slumber tonight. And all those things I bought for the beach were perfect for our adventure today. I'm going to have to look into buying Bryce and I a big hat for our beach trip next year, because we are both feeling the stings of the sun.

4th of July

Oh, fourth of July. We decided to try the Mall of Georgia for their fourth of July celebration this year. We were certain we would be home by 10:00 with Charlotte getting a full nights rest. We just couldn't resist. The appeal of the cool night sky with fireworks and the reminder that it's summer time and we don't have to work for awhile longer got us in the car before we knew it. Well, the fireworks didn't even start until 10:00. We had a great time in the parking lot, Charlotte was dancing and playing with a light up necklace we bought her. I used my super-mom skills and brought out some bubbles that entertained her for awhile longer. Then we had some icecream. Then we started looking at the clock. Of course, by this point we've waited too long to leave. The fireworks start and Charlotte is not impressed. She's not terrified, but she is scared of the loud noises. She thought the actual colors were cool after I put my hands over her ears, but she was clutching my necklace and my shirt like there was no tomorrow. We don't live very far from the Mall but what should have been a short ride home turned into an hour and a half. Yes, that's right. We weren't back until after midnight. The whole way home Charlotte whined and cried and of course fell asleep when we got within five minutes of the house. The whole next day she kept going "firecrackers go BOOM BOOM". So she must have gotten something from them. We are still reeling from the experience though, she still hasn't gotten back on her normal sleep schedule. She has not been wanting to fall asleep at all!
Maybe next year we'll watch from our back porch.