Aesope's Adventures

Every year the elementary classes at May River Montessori put on an "opera" production.  They are more like musicals than operas, but I think the children feel more sophisticated to have it called an opera.  Anyway, this was Shelby's first year to be a part of the production and she was so excited!  I loved listening to her just randomly busting out in song through out the day and then saying some lines and telling me how funny so and so was when they said their line. 

Shelby played two parts in the opera.  Her first part was to say, "And the moral of the fable is...", after which another little girl would say the moral.  Her other part was an actual line in The Fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

She was so much shorter than the other girl who said the morals that she had to sit on a stool.  She looked so grown up on the stage, but she also seemed so little at the same time sitting on her stool.

Getting ready to sing a song.  She hardly could keep attention through the whole thing.  Most of the time she was looking all around at her classmates and watching them rather than looking at the audience and doing the motions to the songs, but occasionally she would really like a song and get in the groove.



Daddy's girl...actually more like, "Mom, seriously!!!  No more pictures"  I can't blame her too much, I hate getting my picture taken too.



It was a super cute performance and I am really excited to see next years.  That night as I was tucking Shelby in and spending a few minutes cuddling with my ever growing and changing baby she said, "Mom, I think I am going to cry."  I said, "Why sweet pea?"  She said, "Because I am so sad my opera is over.  It was fun."

Hot Pink

As relayed from my mom while she was watching the children for me:

Shelby and JP were playing "builder" (can you tell we live in a real estate and builder community?).  JP was the builder and he was building a house for Shelby.  When he asked her what color she wanted the house to be she said she wanted hot pink; to which JP replied, "You mean sweaty pink?"

Got to love the difference between boys and girls:)

The Difference a Week Makes

Two weekends ago was hopefully our last little cold snap until Fall!!!  Pratt had to work so the children and I hung out like the old days and made ourselves busy doing stuff.  What stuff you ask, well, that was nearly two weeks ago and I can hardly remember what happened yesterday so I have no idea.  At any rate, one thing I do remember is pulling out the trusty old Easy Bake Oven.  Shelby got it for Christmas a few years ago and it hasn't seen much use, but we had fun with it on Sunday.  Shelby and JP made some yummy S'more Cookies with it.  The hardest thing about baking is being patient to finish the project and so I ended up finishing it all, but the children reappeared when it was time to decorate and eat.

I did sneak a bit of the batter and grab a small nibble of the finished product and while it can't even come close to comparing to the delicious goo of a real s'more, they weren't all that bad and we had a fun afternoon making them together so that counts for something.

While the previous weekend we were trying to find things to do inside because it was quite chilly, this past weekend we spent as much time outdoors as possible!!!  Saturday morning started out slow (we are still adjusting to day light savings time-it seems to be taking longer this year), but we were moving fast enough to get out the door in time for our morning activities.  JP and Pratt went to JP's tball practice and Shelby and I went to the school's Saturday morning fun run.  They have been doing 1/4 mile runs for the children every Saturday for the Presidential Fitness Challenge and this was the first one that Shelby was able to go to.  I so wish that I had a camera.  Shelby did great for her first run and she had a great time.

After JP's practice was done we came home for a bit of a rest.  The children were up rather late Friday night due to the fact that we had a crazy lightening storm move through.  Let me tell you, it was AMAZING!!  I have never seen lightening like that in all my life! 

Since it was the most perfect March day Pratt and I decided to take a family trip to the beach.  Normally this time of the year it is still a little too chilly to get on your suit and head down to the water, but this day was the most gorgeous day!  And to top it off, we spent the whole day just the four of us and I couldn't have asked for anything more.  Shelby and JP got along so well.  They enjoyed playing together and playing with Pratt and I.  Pratt and I enjoyed watching them, playing with them and just relaxing.



JP working on his sandcastles and sea animals



Shelby digging a big hole



Teamwork makes the job light



Quick pic of Pratt

And.....oh no, our day wasn't over after that.  When we got home Pratt and Shelby planted some wildflower seeds in our backyard.  They were rather old seed packets and chances are we might not get any flowers from them, but they did inspire and by the end of Sunday we had a vegetable garden box built with vegetables planted.  I am so thankful for a handy husband who loves to spend time with his family and do fun things with our children!  What a blessing!!! 



Best Weekend EVER!!!

JP's Masterpiece

JP-Mom, this is my masterpiece.

Mom-It is a beautiful masterpiece buddy.  I love all the colors and the design.  You have a wonderful imagination to make something like that.

JP-Sometimes my masterpiece is dump trucks, sometimes it is firetrucks, and sometimes it is other things.

Mom-You are very creative buddy.  I love all your masterpieces.

JP-Mom, mom, please try not to interrupt me because this is hard work and I need to concentrate.  Shelby, look at my masterpiece.

Shelby-What's that, what is a masterpiece?

JP-It's something that is really cool that you can make.

JP-Now look at my masterpiece. It is handsome because I put in more sticks.

When I have the finished product I will try to remember to post a picture:)

Basketball

This is the first year that we participated in basketball.  Many children are over loaded with after school activities and sports and we have generally taken the "hey, you want to try it, sure, but you have to finish your commitment" track.  Mostly the children decide if they want to do some after school activity and once they do we require that they follow through with the activity until the end.  I think that it is safe to say that at least for the foreseeable future, basketball will not be in our line up.  While both children really seemed to enjoy themselves at the games, it was a pain to get them there with all the complaining they did, especially our blond child and it was all her idea from the start.

I have to say this was definitely an eye opening experience.  It is the first time that we had participated in a team like sport where we didn't know the coach or hardly any of the other families that were on the team; and well, I have decided that I kind of like our little bubble of friends and as far as I am concerned could live in it for the rest of my life.  There are some strange people out there and some strange parenting techniques going on.

JP's experience was better than Shelby's.  He was so cute and looked so little out there running up and down the court.  I loved how the boys played defense without tearing each other's faces off and how intently they listened to their coaches.

This is JP in his defensive stance.  He mostly stayed out of the pack and stood in his spot where he was safe from harm. 

 After he made a shot during warm ups.  He was always so proud after every game announcing how many rebounds, assists and points he thought he had.  Of course he had a tendency to exaggerate, but for now as long as he was having fun who were we to correct him.  We just told him he did a great job and we were proud of him.

I should have known we were in for a ride when Shelby's first practice ended with three suicides.  Her coach was SERIOUS!!!  He totally kept track of the score during every game (there is no official scoring this young; the idea is to get the children exposed and for them to have fun) and always left in the best players while the others rotated in and out each quarter.

Here is Shelby doing her favorite thing, sitting on the bench.  I can hardly blame her for wanting to be there safe from all the girls.  These girls were totally crazy and very physical!  Shelby loves her personal space and was quite content to stay out of all that clawing and hitting that was going on around her.  I am serious, they were out of control.



This is Shelby playing offense.  She usually hung back around center court and would sort of hop over the line to the other side depending on where the ball was, but never jumping in on the action.  She was a true point guard in that she brought the ball up, set up the play and then watched from the safety of the top of the court while the other girls duked it out with each other.

It was a wild ride but I am so proud of both of my children.  They did great and despite wanting to quit they both stuck it out.  By the end JP was really enjoying it and Shelby, well, at least we got her to finish the season.

Yearly Check-Ups

The stats:

Shelby Brennan Reed
Age: 7
Weight: 54 lbs (67%)
Height: 49 in (67-70%)
Blood Pressure: 114/78
Pulse: 95

John Pratt Reed, III
Age: 5
Weight: 45 lbs (75%)
Height: 44 in (69%)
Blood Pressure: 104/57
Pulse: 86

Both of our well visits went great this year.  Shelby and JP are right on track and growing into wonderful, healthy children.  We are so thankful for a wonderful team of doctors and nurses to care for our children.

Flying Time

They say that time flies when you are having fun and they (whoever they are) couldn't be more right. Seven years ago the Lord saw fit to bless Pratt and I with our first sweet and precious baby girl. I don't think we could have dreamed of anything more wonderful if we could. These past seven years have brought many challenges and we have grown immeasurably through the good times, but mostly through the tough times. It is hard to remember what life was like before our precious girl and it is hard to see how there was purpose to our days before we had Shelby to love and care for.

We knew you were a girl who operates on your own time when you were born lighting fast, surprising us, but mostly the doctor who raced in to just barely catch you as you entered this world.  Then you made sure that everyone knew that you had arrived. 

I miss this little tush:(



Now as you grow and learn we are exploring a whole new world that involves sleep overs.  I hope that you enjoyed your first sleep over and I am so excited for many more to come.



Happy Birthday my sweet girl.  You will always be my baby and I will love you forever and ever!!!  I can't wait to see all the wonderful adventures God has laid out for your life and am blessed beyond measure that I get to experience them with you.