It's Official...I'm a Soccer Mom!

There's Only One First Piano Recital

Audrey's was this past weekend. She did great! She played a duet with her teacher. Why was this not an option when I was a child? My entire piano career was scarred by the terrible recital in which I forgot the last half of "Glow Little Glow Worm". I spent the next six years of my life begging my mom to find a piano teacher who didn't have recitals. But enough about me.

Here is a video of her playing, "Go Tell it on the Mountain". As I told my friend later, she was the first 90 seconds of a 90 minute event.

She waited patiently for the remaining 88.5 minutes with her buddies.

Benton was riveted by the whole affair.

A few more poses at the end.

Nice job, Audrey!

Catchy Playground Rhymes

First grade is turning out to be serious. Spelling homework, every night. Math homework, every night. Every night means Friday too! I think there is more of everything except recess.

When I asked Audrey what she learned at school today, this was her response

"Boys go to Jupiter
To get more stupider.
Girls go to college,
To get more knowledge."

Do you think this will be on the spelling test next week?

First Day of the First Grade

Hey Mom! I'm not in kindergarten anymore!

Guess who's starting preschool tomorrow?

Golf Camp

There is a public golf course less that two miles from our house. The course is having a golf camp this week for kids Audrey's age. It's four mornings, two hours a morning, not that expensive. Lee asked Audrey if she was interested. Of course, she's intersted.

To prepare her for the week, Lee took her to the driving range Saturday and Sunday this weekend. She's hooked. She likes her driver the best. In her words, "It's the best because I get to do a full swing, use a tee, and it's shiny and red." I'm pretty sure this is how Tiger selects his clubs.

This all seemed like innocent fun until she returned this morning from camp. One of the instructors told her that her clubs are too short. (Sidenote: They were purchased for Benton's birthday, but held back in the midst of gift overload.) And, all the other kids have bags for their clubs, and golf gloves and cool hats.

So tonight, we went shopping and spent exactly DOUBLE the cost of the camp on a new set of clubs with a matching bag, new glove and cool pink hat. Benton now is the sole owner of the original short clubs (without a bag!) and new green golf hat from the pro shop.

Truth be told, I don't think there is a price her daddy would not have paid for this. He's pretty proud...and aware that he will never have a quiet afternoon alone at the golf course again!

Memorial Day

Audrey is quite comfortable with life and death. (Maybe all six year olds are, she's my first.) One evening a few months ago, the TV was on Animal Planet. The show was in the African plains and showed a tiger run down some rabbit and bite down on it. I immediately asked Lee to turn the channel.

Audrey turns to me, shrugs, and says, "Mom, that's its prey."

Well, glad we have that settled.

Yesterday, my family got together for the holiday weekend. Part of the day included my mom and my uncle decorating gravesites for my grandparents and other relatives. Audrey was fascinated to tag along.

She came home full of information about all of the interesting names she saw. She is named for my grandmother, so it was exciting to find her middle name on the "big rock". There were other great stories about relatives and then one random headstone with the last name, "Tinkle." Lots of jokes for the rest of the evening on that one. Her burning questions after the trip, "How big is Elvis' rock? And when can I go to Memphis and see it?"

Sunday afternoon -- after church, lunch, rest, crafts, etc. -- we were both having a snack at the table. Audrey pipes up, "Mom, I guess you have to be careful when you fall in love."

In my mind, "Oh my goodness, she has been listening! She knows how important it is to find some kind, Christian young man to start a family with, and one her mother approves of!! I AM a good mother after all."

But out loud I respond, "Why is that?"

Audrey, "Tinkle."

Picture Perfect

Audrey's dance recital was this past weekend. I think I've just now recovered enough to talk about it. There is no experience like being the "helping mom" for a 4.5 hour dress rehearsal in the morning and and 4 hour recital that evening! Here is the little ballerina backstage.


Here is her class with their student teacher. I could watch her dance all day; she's fantastic!

I was wondering if Audrey would want to take dance lessons again next year. On the way home from the dress rehearsal, she said, "I just can't wait!"

Me, "For the performance tonight?"

"No, to find out what my costume will be next year!"

I guess she's in!