Church Musicals

We had our spring musicals at church on May 21st.  The Play and Praise Choir (3-year-olds - Kindergarten) sang 4 songs and then the big kids choir (1st -5th graders) did their play.  Both groups worked so hard this spring to learn their songs and lines and they did such an amazing job!

The kids start going to Play and Praise when they turn 3, so this was Claire's first performance since she started back in January.  And it will be memorable!  Claire has warmed up A LOT from when she first started back in January.  At first she refused to even stand when the other kids were singing, much less sing.  When I asked her why she wouldn't sing or stand she said it was because she didn't know the songs.  Along the way she started standing with us and would sing and do the hand movements (sometimes).  I think a lot of it was nervousness in that new setting with some bigger kids, but I have no doubt that Claire has a stubborn streak that we will probably be seeing more of as she grows:). 

I took this picture of the Play and Praise group just before they headed out to perform their songs.  Claire's scowl makes me chuckle. One little boy is behind me because he wasn't in the picture taking mood and another little boy got sick the day of the performance and wasn't able to make it.  

Claire and Gabe kept holding hands that night as they were getting ready to sing.  They love playing together but I usually don't see them holding hands like this.  That night I caught them doing this several different times unprompted.  I thought it was the sweetest.  Gabe was probably trying to keep Claire calm.:)  

Waiting their turn to sing...

Bert took this picture as soon as they got on stage and you can see Claire was all smiles.  

But her expression quickly changed to this and she stayed in this position and with this facial expression for most of the first song.  She had the whole church chuckling.  

The video of this performance is one that we'll pull back out again and again, I'm sure.  They were all precious and hilarious.  

Hannah did an awesome job!  She knew her words and her motions and had fun while she was singing!  

I was the assistant Play and Praise director again this year and we had such a fun year working with these kids.  They really were the sweetest!!

The Kids Praise Choir spent hours and hours learning lines and practicing songs and solos.  They did an AMAZING job!!  

Bert and I had a very small scene during  this play.  We each had 3 lines.  Bert has been in several of the kids performances, playing different parts, but this was my debut.  Even though this type thing isn't usually in my comfort zone, it was fun and not too stressful! 

Mimi got a picture of Emily laughing at our scene...Bert was hamming it up.  

Emily had a solo part that she did a great job on.  She has a beautiful voice!  She also had 7 or 8 small lines and did great with those too.  Proud of her hard work!  

The whole group!  

We're thankful for the ladies who worked so hard with Emily's choir and for our church that supports our kids activities like this so well, and we love that it helps our kids grow to know God and have such great friends!!  

Strawberry Pickin'

I love love love fresh strawberries, so the month of May makes me happy!  We were out in the field picking not long after the strawberry patch nearby said the fields were ready.  Hannah, Claire, Abby and I went out with Mary Pat and Gabe one morning when the guys were working and Emily and Haley were in school.  

Abby was content to stay in the wagon for almost the whole time we were there.  She only got annoyed at the very end. Claire just got in the wagon for the picture.  

The next week we decided to go back and pick with everyone.  We went one evening and it was beautiful and peaceful out there in the strawberry field.  

This year, of my 4 girls, Claire was probably my "best" picker.  She was just really excited about picking and did a great job finding the best strawberries, I can't think of one time I had to tell her that the one she picked wasn't a good one.  Impressive for a 3 year old!

During this trip Abby got to ride on her Daddy's back, which she enjoyed even more than she did the wagon.  

Watts and Flemings

We have a strawberry patch about 15 minutes from our house so I've been about once a week during the month of May.  This week they had a whole gallon of strawberries that the strawberry patch picked for $8...can't beat that price.  We all SIX love strawberries, so a bucket disappears quickly at our house.  We've enjoyed strawberry season and I'm a little sad to see it go, but it's probably good for my wallet that it's so short.:)

Hannah's Last Day of Preschool

Hannah's last day of preschool was a couple weeks ago.  She was sad that she isn't going to get to see her friends and Mrs. Wentzel every week this summer, but she's had such a great year!  This year she's gone Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings for 3 hours each day and I can't think of a day when she wasn't excited about going!  Hannah went through a phase this year when she was scared of elevators and they have to ride one every once in awhile when it is raining outside and they can't go on the playground.  Mrs. Wentzel was so patient with her and talked to her about her fear and now she doesn't complain when she has to get one (big change from the beginning of the year). At the end of the year parent/teacher conference Mrs. Wentzel had the sweetest things to say about our girl.  We're so proud of her!!  

This picture was taken on the day before her last day.  The artwork that Hannah is holding says this summer she wants to "go to Disney World, go to Mimi's house, and go swimming with my family at the beach."  We will definitely make two of the three happen! :)

I took this picture in car line drop off on her last day of preschool.  She loves getting to crawl up in the front seat as soon as we get in the car line each day.  Our school asks for the kids to already be unbuckled when we get to the front of the line so that the line moves along quickly.  She thinks she's such a big girl getting to sit up in the front with us.  

Mrs. Wentzel has been Hannah's teacher this year and I couldn't imagine a better teacher for her.  She was patient and loving but also ran a tight ship.  Mrs. Wentzel did an amazing job of posting pictures each week and keeping the parents informed.  We are super thankful for all the ways she poured into our Hannah this year! 

Hannah's class had an end of the year picnic on the last day of school.  Bert was at field day with Emily so I ended up needing to bring Claire and Abby with me.  At first Hannah wasn't excited about this, but then she got VERY excited about it because she realized she would get to show Claire her classroom and playground.  Claire will be going to school there next year so Hannah made it her mission to show her all the fun slides and fun things to do on the playground.  Claire was super excited about being at the picnic and at "Hannah's school" as you can see from her squinty eyes. 

I was excited about being there too!  

I cannot believe this sweet girl is going to kindergarten next year.  The preschool years went by way too fast, but I am purposefully enjoying every stage.  I'm excited for her and so so proud of the beautiful and precious little girl that she is.  

We love our preschool and the teachers there.  We've been there 4 years and we'll be there 4 more! 

These Days

Emily and Hannah and I went to see Beauty and the Beast live-action movie one afternoon. We actually got Emily out of school about an hour early so we could make the mid-afternoon show!  The girls were SO excited when I told them where we were going!  It was a fun date with my babies!  

This is what Abby does if she doesn't want what you are feeding her.  She is a good eater, but will absolutely let you know if she doesn't want any more.  Mouth clamped, nose up and face pressed into the side of her chair.  You just go ahead and try to get anything past her defenses.  Ha!  

Hannah's teacher took this picture of Hannah one day at school and I thought she looked so beautiful!  

Emily lost one of her top teeth the day of her school play, which was a few days before Bert went on his trip.  It had been loose for awhile and was really starting to bother her.  She's loving her toothless smile and I do too! Bert pulled it of course...I don't pull teeth.  We've only lost 3 so far and have about a million more teeth to go between all 4 children so I may become a tooth puller but right now it gives me the heebeejeebees.  

Emily was in the 1st grade play.  She (and about 20 other kids) got to school 15 minutes early each day for over a month to practice their speaking parts.  We were super proud of her hard work!  

She was a butterfly! 

The whole first grade!  The play was called "Swamped" and they did such a great job!  

One of our friends got a picture of Emily saying one of her lines.  We didn't get there early enough to get seats like this....we'll know for next time.  

Mimi and Papa left work early and drove over to watch the play!  

You can't see Claire's face because of Emily's wing, but she was there too!  

Emily and one of her classmates and her amazing teacher.  We love Mrs. Poe!!  

Bert got to go to Hannah's Easter party at school!  She has a fun class this year and has some sweet friends in there!  

Emily got her very own library card and is soooo proud of it!  She feels like such a big girl!  

I was feeding Abby cheerios one morning and I just thought she looked too adorable to not take a picture of her.

A couple weeks ago Claire, Abby and I had picked Hannah up from school and driven home.  As Hannah was about to open the door to get out Claire reached and grabbed her to give her a hug. Claire was still buckled in so she couldn't really move, so she made Hannah stay there too!  Claire's big hug (attack) had Hannah laughing so hard.  

Mimi bought the girls new dresses from Carter's during spring break and Claire was modeling it for me.  They especially like that it is long.  

I got to got to go on an ice cream date with my Hannah Beth last weekend we had fun!!  I would venture to say that we are the two biggest ice cream fans in our family so it was fitting that we went there.  Bert and Hannah actually went on a date the weekend before up to Travelers Rest and had a great time too.  I don't believe he took a picture, but it still happened.  

Hannah is our puddle jumper.  She finds every puddle around and jumps in it no matter what she's wearing.  The other day we had had lots of rain and so I got them dressed and told them they could go out and just jump.   They came back soaking but had lots of fun!  

I went with Emily's class on a field trip to Paris Mountain State Park a few weeks ago. The State Park is right behind our church, basically, but we never think about spending a day there. Glad we got to enjoy it together!

Emily has a fun class and a fun teacher.  The sweet little girl on the right didn't want to be in the picture.  

We had a group from North Greenville University come to our church a couple weeks ago and do a concert on Sunday night.  I knew it was going to be great so I decided to let Claire stay in the sanctuary with us instead of leaving her in the nursery.  But I guess sitting in Bert's lap and being still for so long made her sleepy and she ended up falling asleep and slept through most of it.  After holding her for a while, Bert finally laid her down on the pew beside us and she didn't even flinch. That night she stayed awake until after 10pm because she had had such a late nap and I was wishing I'd left her in the nursery.  Ha!  

I wouldn't trade these days!  

Family Day

Greenville county schools were out of school on the Monday after spring break as well (the day after Easter) so we decided that would be a family day.  Bert took off work and spent the day with us since he had been gone the week before.  We mostly just enjoyed a relaxing day at home and being together, but decided to head down to Falls Park for a picnic that afternoon.  

This picture was the best I group shot I could get. Ha!  You can see a bit of my hair and you can see Bert's leg and shoe.  

Also, I forgot our blankets for the picnic, but remembered all the children and food and drinks so I guess we'll call it a success!  

I snuck a picture of Emily and Hannah watching the water fall at the top of the amphitheater where we were.  They were sitting in the same position and their hair was blowing in the wind and I just thought they looked so grown up!  

They were wearing the dresses that Bert got them from Nicaragua.  Claire and Abby have the same dress in different colors and they all 4 look adorable in them!  

I had gotten a picture of Emily and Hannah and wanted a picture of Claire and Abby so I told Claire to hold Abby's hand, but just after I said that, Abby took off (which she was proud of as you can see from her face).  Claire was determined to grab her hand again though....she wasn't going to let a 1 year old beat her! :)  

Got it!  

We loved our family day and our time at the park!  I love spring!