Sweet Caroline

another tooth bites the dust

2012-02-10T18:56:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday to Daddy (karaoke style)

2012-02-05T21:19:00.000-06:00

She prefers math to recess

2012-02-05T21:10:00.001-06:00

Post-tonsillectomy, Caroline had a wonderful two weeks at home! We watched her ants thrive in their space-age ant farm. She was even able to participate in the class's science fair project from home (thanks to her long-term sub making sure she was included!). When she returned to school, not yet quite full of energy yet, she told me she didn't like recess. She preferred rainy days when they had to stay indoors and choose what to work on. She chose math. She'd rather do math than go to recess, she told me. And she'd bring home pages of multiplication problems she wrote out for herself and then solved herself. She has her energy back now, and I think likes recess well enough (though she prefers math, she claims). She also loves Lego creating with the neighbor, as long as her sister doesn't get involved.

ritual childhood mutilation

2012-01-15T21:30:00.000-06:00

Pierced ears!

2012-01-15T21:28:00.001-06:00

So long, tonsils!

2012-01-10T21:02:00.001-06:00

She was all smiles, even as the nurse wheeled her away from us on her bed. She has been excited for weeks! Even her doctor commented when he came out to talk to us after surgery that she had no anxiety whatsoever. Brave girl loves an adventure!

The first few minutes post-op were not so happy. She woke up disoriented and hurting and cranky. She couldn't swallow, so she'd just spit into a tissue and breath through her oxygen mask. She was not willing to give up the mask for quite a while -- longer than the nurses said she needed it -- but she said it hurt to breath without it. The nurse gave her a shot of pain medicine and within moments, she was better.

We had to hang out for two hours post-op. Caroline had a Popsicle and her dad and I took turns reading to her.

At home, she wanted to eat much more than I let her. She had some mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup, jello, pudding, ice cream, and mac and cheese. I pushed water and pain meds. We were surprised (having stocked up on ice cream and pudding) that she could not have dairy for six to eight hours post-op. And we are supposed to limit dairy for the next week (hmmm...)

Happy Epiphany!

2012-01-06T20:47:00.001-06:00

roller skates -- as requested and expected

Knitting

2012-01-06T20:38:00.001-06:00

Caroline learns to knit on her Knit Kit with our sweet friend.

Christmas Fun!

2012-01-03T12:12:00.001-06:00

Our tradition is to have as much family fun as we can the first days of Christmas before school and work are back in full swing. We enjoyed a trip to Six Flags, a trip to the Austin Children's Museum's new Dinosaur: Land of Fire and Ice exhibit, and a trip to the zoo. We also had library trips and play time with the neighbors and a full day at home in pjs.

Christmas

2011-12-25T18:02:00.001-06:00

Besides briefly trying on her prairie dress and putting her DS stuff in her new case, she has been Wii'ing all day.

A few pre-Christmas videos

2011-12-24T22:53:00.000-06:00

Caroline and the big sister cousins caroling:

Uncle Coach giving the girls some tackling practice:

Pre-Christmas Cheer

2011-12-24T22:30:00.001-06:00

I love the week after school is out before Christmas. And I also love the week school is out after Christmas day! The week before, we spent a day with our cousins at Six Flags. And we decorated our Gingerbread House. And we hung out and played. And went to Wichita Falls. Next week will be fun, too!

Caroline's computer

2011-12-24T22:26:00.002-06:00

John has been planning for quite some time (perhaps since I showed him the positive pregnancy test) when he'd start teaching his child to program. I told him we'd wait until she was reading well. And then time got away from us. With Christmas break upon us and a week or two homebound after she has her tonsils taken out in January, we figured now was the perfect time. John set up an Apple //C for her to learn some BASIC programming. So far, she enjoys copying her first program that daddy wrote out for her.

Christmas Eve Pageant

2011-12-24T22:21:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T22:18:00.001-06:00

Santa has visited, and once again, mommy feel like this will be the best Christmas ever!

Caroline is getting a Spy Kids DS game along with a DS carrying case, a Star Wars Lego Wii game, and a Little House on the Prairie dress/bonnet/apron. She and her sister are sharing the beautiful large wooden rainbow, that big peppermint hatbox filled with arts and crafts supplies, and the big family gift -- a Wii -- along with Mario and Just Dance 3 games.

After opening gifts today from Poppy and Nana, the Boatners, and the Bindels, these girls have hours and hours -- make that days and days worth of new fun to have with this stuff! Fun times!

Merry Bindel Christmas

2011-12-24T22:03:00.001-06:00

Christmas with the Bindels was riotous fun, as always. This year, Uncle Adam returned, so the girls enjoyed a new horse. . . I mean, uncle to play with. A failed attempt at a sleepover with Granda was preceded by matching pajamas (notice, already, two of the seven are missing. Only two, the two whose mom was already staying at the sleepover, stayed the whole night.) The big sisters caroled for us, too. (Videos in next post.)

Swimming and Dancing -- two of her favorite things

2011-12-18T10:02:00.001-06:00

Caroline had fun at the Tango Christmas party -- she played and ate with friends, swam in the heated pool, and then danced in her pajamas when she'd normally be asleep!

All I want for Christmas . . .

2011-12-11T20:51:00.001-06:00

I do think by Christmas both front bottom teeth will be missing. :-)

Caroline has been anticipating losing a tooth for more than four years! When her cousin Megan lost her first tooth, Caroline became fascinated with the whole concept. She decided then (around Thanksgiving) that she wanted to be a loose tooth the next Halloween. And she stuck with the idea to be a loose tooth Halloween when she was three. Her first day of preschool when she was four, she came home to tell me someone lost a tooth at school that day. I didn't believe her that a four year old lost a tooth, but sure enough, it happened! And guess what happened the first week of kindergarten. Yup, another classmate lost a tooth. (Funny side note: this friend has a heart condition and has some PE modifications. Caroline told me one day that the coaches walked next to this girl when they ran the track because she has a problem where her teeth fall out easily. A little confused.) Caroline's three same-age cousins (who are actually five to six months younger than she is) have all lost teeth. She's been eagerly waiting, wiggling, insisting her tooth is loose, for a year now. And this week, I finally felt it wiggle, too! All weekend, her tooth has been barely hanging on, and today during Sunday School (where I am her teacher), she pulled it! She is so excited. She told me she could hardly sleep. She'll awake to two dollar coins.

Videos

2011-12-10T21:40:00.000-06:00

Russian Peppermints from The Nutcracker
(Caroline is second from the right)

Singing Stars at Breakfast with Santa
(Caroline is to the left of the screen with white sleeves)

A performance-filled day

2011-12-10T21:14:00.001-06:00

Caroline (and the rest of us!) had a full day of shows today. She sang at her school's Breakfast with Santa this morning. Then the whole family watched a performance of the Nutcracker. And we finished off the day with Caroline's dance troupe's performance of excerpts from the Nutcracker at the Zilker Holiday Festival. (videos to come of both.)

Of course, her daddy had to get in on the performing himself when we were home for a bit this afternoon. The girls loved it!

Sweet Smile

2011-12-09T21:19:00.000-06:00

This sweet smile is not for much longer. Caroline has her first loose tooth. It is very loose! I don't think it will make it to Monday.

Jolly Old St. Nick

2011-11-30T15:48:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving Fun

2011-11-26T20:43:00.000-06:00

Paper-shredding good time

2011-11-21T15:55:00.001-06:00

Soccer trophy

2011-11-16T07:33:00.001-06:00

Cute Chick

2011-11-16T07:31:00.001-06:00

Hey big spender

2011-11-01T22:18:00.001-05:00

I am so proud of Caroline! She made her first *big* purchase with her own money this weekend. We started giving her an allowance this summer -- $6 a week. She "shares" ten percent of that -- tithing it at church. She chose to invest the rest (to be matched dollar for dollar by the Bank of Mom and Dad) to save for a Nintendo DS. She had enough this weekend to buy a DS Lite. And the timing was just right that the Halloween Fairy could bring her a game for that new DS in exchange for her candy.

Happy Halloween from Princess Leia

2011-10-22T15:30:00.000-05:00

Two sweet sisters, sitting in a tree

2011-10-20T15:28:00.000-05:00

Self-video in the dentist waiting room

2011-10-16T21:28:00.001-05:00

Sisterly moments

2011-10-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

Dr. Millar's newest wall

2011-10-01T14:24:00.000-05:00

Career Dress up Day -- Natural History Museum Docent

2011-10-01T14:23:00.000-05:00

Jump City!

2011-09-11T09:42:00.000-05:00

First Soccer Game

2011-09-10T11:32:00.000-05:00

Rain?

2011-09-06T19:26:00.001-05:00

After months of not seeing such a thing, my girls really enjoyed playing in the rain and mud at my family reunion on Lake Sam Rayburn.

Spotlight Stallion

2011-09-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

1st day 1st grade

2011-08-23T19:03:00.001-05:00

Caroline reported a good day the first day of first grade. She did mention that there are no toys in her classroom but there are lots of books. Her teacher is Mrs. Percefull and is new to Sommer this year. She's also a young teacher, expecting her first baby in November and married to a high school football coach. More than telling me about her first day (I did learn that she sits at the Padre Island table as her class is the Island or Islanders), she told me how much she wants to go visit her kindergarten teacher and hopes she sees her lots. We celebrated the first day with fro yo.

Curl Girl

2011-08-23T09:35:00.001-05:00

She longs for curls and was willing to sleep in the sponge rollers. It looked lovely. The last picture was taken about noon the morning the rollers were removed.

deck talk

2011-08-13T14:11:00.001-05:00

beach fun

2011-08-13T14:10:00.001-05:00

Sand castles

2011-08-13T14:07:00.000-05:00

testing out email blog posts

2011-08-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

vacation bed sweetness

Summer Dancin'

2011-08-09T18:18:00.000-05:00

Bourree

Surfin' Safari

The Curious Case of Rumplestilskin

2011-08-06T22:16:00.000-05:00

Museum Fun

2011-08-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

Ice skating

2011-08-06T14:00:00.001-05:00

I took Caroline to the ice skating rink today for a free skating lesson. First thing they learned: how to fall. :-) Top pic above is a self-portrait.

New School Uniform

2011-08-01T14:43:00.001-05:00

Caroline is not picky about her school clothes. When I headed out the other day to do some school shopping for her, she chose to stay home and let me pick. But the *one* item she asked for last year was a uniform. We got her this and she wore it often. It was her go-to outfit when she picked out her own clothes (which, again, she rarely did because that just isn't her thing.) So, she asked for another one this year. She is on to something in the fashion world, though, as Justice has a similar design for much more money and much lower quality than I found at French Toast, a school uniform supplier. As for back-to-school clothes, I cleaned out her drawers and bought her a couple of new T-shirts to go with skirts and shorts and a few dresses from summer. We'll save our new clothes shopping beyond that for actual fall clothes when it is no longer 108 degrees outside!

Mayborn Museum Waco

2011-07-30T19:58:00.000-05:00

Cousin Summer 2011

2011-07-30T19:51:00.001-05:00

We made a short road trip to visit the daddy-side cousins this week -- a stop in Keller to see the Boatners and a stop in Sherman to see the Foleys and other Bindels. Lots of swimming and playing and fun!

Tiny Dancers

2011-07-27T14:33:00.000-05:00

Creative Playscape and Mel's Bowling -- free summer fun right across the street from each other

2011-07-27T14:31:00.000-05:00

New Splash Park

2011-07-26T21:35:00.000-05:00

My Ballerinas

2011-07-26T21:20:00.000-05:00

Fiesta Texas

2011-07-25T09:46:00.000-05:00

Caroline as "Tessie" in Annie

2011-07-15T20:04:00.001-05:00

Caroline went to Annie camp this week with Theatrikids. She had a great time and wants to do every camp they offer. (This whole summer camp phenomenon is interesting. . . perhaps a future blog on somanyjoys about it.)

Here are a few clips:
Opening Scene

It's a Hard Knock Life

You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile

Hoopster

2011-07-06T09:57:00.001-05:00

4th of July Weekend

2011-07-04T19:26:00.001-05:00

Fishing and boating and getting plum wore out!

Reading Walker

2011-06-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

VBS

2011-06-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

after-dinner swing

2011-06-26T14:33:00.001-05:00

Do, a deer!

2011-06-26T13:52:00.002-05:00

(my iphone makes capturing videos so easy, you'll likely see lots more of these.)

Staying Alive

2011-06-23T17:06:00.000-05:00

My dancing queens

2011-06-23T13:09:00.001-05:00

Children's Museum

2011-06-21T18:05:00.000-05:00

Summer Swims

2011-06-20T13:56:00.001-05:00

Since we spent the first week of summer vacation on our road trip vacation and the second week in VBS, today is our first free summer day! Caroline slept until 9:30 and then went to HEB with me. After a quick lunch, we headed for a short swim.

Summer Vacation 2011

2011-06-12T16:34:00.001-05:00

Summer of Six

2011-06-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

On Caroline's birthday, we hung out at home with Poppy and Nana for the morning and then headed to the skate park for a quick run. Then we went to see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the theater. On her second day of being six, she had her six year portrait made and then had her six year well check. Since she frequently complains of stomach aches, I mentioned it to the doctor who sent us for an x-ray and lab work. We have bowling plans for later this afternoon. The summer of six is full of fun!

Her stats:
Height -- 47 inches (85th percentile)
Weight -- 50 pounds (75th percentile)

The mixing of the Oobleck

2011-05-30T22:31:00.000-05:00

Birthday Party Backyard Science

2011-05-30T22:19:00.000-05:00

Caroline wanted a NOVA theme (as in the PBS series) for her birthday. I suggested a similar adaption of backyard science. So today we had about fifty people in our backyard for a Memorial Day cookout and backyard science birthday fun. The kids made bracelets from beads that change in UV light, played in fake snow polymers, and walked on Oobleck. And we feasted on a yummy brisket that John smoked. It was fun. Caroline has some great friends. (And like every year post-birthday party, at this moment, I am going to tell Caroline she can invite her closest couple of friends for a small party next year. We'll see.

Here are some of the kids running across the Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid.

Birthday Party Oobleck

2011-05-30T21:30:00.001-05:00

She got a bit stuck with one foot -- didn't move fast enough

Happy Birthday (at school)

2011-05-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

A year of learning

2011-05-27T07:32:00.001-05:00

She hasn't changed all that much in appearance, but she has really grown up this year!
And she has learned so much -- even more than just the dramatic reading and writing advancement she's made.
She learned to ride a bike, tie her shoes, and stand up to bullies. Really, everything I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten.

Kindergarten cuteness alert

2011-05-26T20:28:00.001-05:00

Kindergarten Graduation

2011-05-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

Recital (jumpily taped by her daddy)

2011-05-15T19:38:00.001-05:00

Recital

2011-05-15T18:31:00.001-05:00

Caroline's buddy Ananya is in her kindergarten class, and their teacher came to their recital to watch!

Dress Rehearsal

2011-05-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

Nitro Swimmer

2011-05-13T22:46:00.001-05:00

Caroline finished off Nitro One yesterday. So proud of my swimmer!

Kindergarten

2011-05-13T22:44:00.002-05:00

Just ten more days of kindergarten! Caroline's teacher sent home a progress report today where Caroline ranks at above-grade-level expectations for the end-of-the-year. First grade, here we come! I love Caroline's teacher's comments. I hope we get such a gem next year, too.

"Caroline has truly been a pleasure to teach this year. She strives to follow directions and meet expectations at all times. Within the classroom, she has a quiet manner about her and manages to pay attention to instruction, even if someone is deliberately trying to distract her. Caroline has performed solidly this year in academics. She has shown the greatest growth in her writing skills. It sometimes takes her a while to complete a writing assignment, but she produces good results. Caroline has no shortage of friends, she treats them fairly, and has become an excellent conflict mediator. She is ready for first grade!"

Caroline's Project

2011-04-29T21:43:00.001-05:00

Caroline worked quietly in her room last night making paper airplanes to fill two cubbies. By bedtime, she has filled a third.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

Easter lists and wasp stings

2011-04-23T20:41:00.000-05:00

Caroline was stung by a wasp today.
The girl who does not cry for vaccinations BAWLED about the pain. Poor thing! It hurts!

And she also made herself an Easter list a few weeks ago. It was front and back of a mini-note pad and included a Nintentdo DS amongst other nick-naks like clay, spray confetti, necklace, bracelet, arts and crafts supplies, etc. Oh, and a baton.

She does have an overstuffed basket waiting for her with her favorite gum, a chocolate bunny, bubbles, sunglasses, a new water bottle, a bracelet, spray confetti, some craft stuff, and clay. And a baton.

Happy Easter, Avery Ranch!

2011-04-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

Downtown Afternoon

2011-04-22T21:13:00.000-05:00

Pirate Night

2011-04-21T20:59:00.000-05:00

Caving

2011-04-16T15:03:00.001-05:00

Caroline went through the crawl-space in the Dies Ranch cave twice today. Sam Bass's loot from a bank robbery is rumored to be somewhere in the cave. Caroline didn't find it.

T-Ball

2011-04-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

Waking up is hard to do!

2011-04-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

just a note

2011-03-31T09:35:00.000-05:00

(I got Caroline some personalized stationery yesterday. She put it to use right away.)

Dere A. . .
I no you put that caterpillar in the water thing. I am not hapee. That was mene. I love caterpillars.

My Little Monkey

2011-03-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

I am SO glad to see Caroline has mastered the monkey bars. The monkey bars are my first memory of inadequacy in my own childhood (but the happy part of that memory is I remember my dad driving me all the way to my school playground to work with me on learning them.)

at school

2011-03-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

I continue to be amazed at all that is to be learned at every "age" or "stage". This week, Caroline mastered tying her shoes!

Velma and Scooby Snacks

2011-03-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

Caroline was invited to a Scooby Doo themed birthday party this weekend -- for a boy I had never met, a boy whose mom I had never met, a boy not in her class. But a special friend whe made on the playground at school. I've heard about this boy since the first week of school, when Caroline complained about him chasing her. I told her to tell him to stop, tell him she didn't want to play that way, go play something else and ignore him, tell her teacher as a last resort. Eventually she decided she kind of liked it and didn't want him to stop chasing her. When I picked her up a few weeks ago, she excitedly pulled an adorable invitation with a package of scooby snacks attached from her backpack. I asked her how she had gotten the invitation since she isn't even in the boy's class. She said he asked his teacher to come into her class and give it to her. So sweet! The kids dressed at one of the gang or a monster. Caroline was a very cute Velma.

Spring Break Friday

2011-03-18T21:12:00.001-05:00

After our hard winter, this may be the only bluebonnet pic we get this year. :-)

More Spring Break

2011-03-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

(needing pics with Satoro cousins from Aunt Mary or Poppy's cameras. . . )

Fun with the fishies daddy caught

Spring Break Pt. One

2011-03-18T21:05:00.000-05:00

Fun with the Boatners -- the geo dome provides HOURS of fun!

Spotlight Stallion times Two

2011-03-18T21:04:00.000-05:00

So proud! Caroline was chosen as her class's Spotlight Stallion again the week before spring break. The first time she was chosen (last semester) her name was drawn in the PTA's fundraiser drawing. This time, her name was drawn to get a prize for riding her bike to school. Go Caroline!

Pre-Spring Break

2011-03-18T20:57:00.000-05:00

As we waited for our Keller Cousins to arrive, we had some fun with bubble wrap from a package mommy received. Let the Spring Break Par-tay begin!

We are the Aggies

2011-03-06T09:38:00.001-06:00

We are the Aggies.
The Aggies are we.
(But yesterday, we explored ut.)

My little geologist

2011-02-28T20:29:00.000-06:00

She collect rocks wherever she goes--outdoors and in stores. She came up with the idea of using egg cartons to organize her rocks, and I spraypainted a couple for her (and need to do more already!) I found a placemat that classifies rocks and minerals for her to use, too. Since she does not yet read her own blog, I will share that John and I are considering a rock tumbler for her birthday. My sweet scientist.