Strawberry Picking

 We had our annual strawberry picking evening. We went later in the season, so the berries were smaller, but still very sweet. 

 I decided that we needed twice what we usually pick because I wanted Chris to make strawberry jam. It ended up being a little more complicated and time consuming than I remembered. But, I think it still turned out pretty good. I made a pie and it did not turn out AT ALL. I don't know where I went wrong because it was the same recipe I always use. 

They had a lot of fun picking, and I feel like that's the most important thing. 

Dance Recital!

 Look at this girl! She had an amazing year. Leah took Ballet and Lyrical this year. This was her fourth year of ballet and her first in Lyrical. Lyrical was, by far and away, her favorite dance class of all time. She is already telling me that she HAS to be in Lyrical next year, hopefully with her same teacher. She's had 2 dance classes for 2 years now, and because she has done so well with it, and continues to love it, we told her that she could do 3 next year. Girlfriend is pumped. 

 This little chicky had a great year, too. She also did 2 dance classes. I feel like that number is still her "just right" number, so we will stay at that for next year. She was a little nervous, but did her best on stage. There were a few times that she TOTALLY forgot the movements and was just on stage kind of swaying. However, she was in good company, and most the other kids from her class were doing the same. I just about died laughing in the audience. I was totaling how much we had spent on the classes and costumes, and how awful the final product of her tap number was.  Of course, I wasn't serious and wasn't angry or anything, but it was just SO BAD (so bad it was good, of course!). The "Dancing Poodle" number was much better. 

 Juliet was insistent that she could lift her leg just like Leah. 

 These girls have had a lot of activities in the past few years. Dance is the ONLY one that I NEVER hear complaints about. They love it. We will stick with it as long as each girl is interested. Leah sometimes talks about wanting to join their team because she has 2 friends on it. I don't think I am quite ready for that. 

 Miss Leah Bean. 

 J. Boo!

 I love this little 4-some. 

 I'm glad Anna and Juliet got to do this together. They love each other so much. 

 Afterward, each girl got roses and some stuffed animals from their Grandma and Aunt Renee. We got ice cream at 10:30 and then went home and to bed. It was a fun night!

Graduation Girl

 Juliet Graduated! First they took the stage.

 Then they said the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 Then they prayed. This was Juliet's favorite part. This girl loves to pray. One time someone teased her for praying at school. Juliet still talks bitterly about this. Real Life taught Juliet to love God and Jesus, and she takes it very seriously. One time Leah got something random that she didn't and she wondered a loud, "Why did Leah get that? I'm the one who prays!" 

 Looking like she thinks that she's pretty darn cute.

 The big moment! 

 Juliet had the best group of teachers. Leah had the same ones for Kindergarten Readiness. These teachers pushed her and loved her and adored her. Juliet has randomly cried many times already this summer about how she misses her teachers, and they were the best she has ever had. When they did a rehearsal for the graduation, they showed a slide show of the year, set to sad music (it made me cry). Juliet started crying and saying how sad that it was that she had to move on and go to a new school. She said, "I just keep wishing I had one more year here, with my teacher and my friends!" She made her teachers cry, too, and they stopped the slideshow. J Boo is such a tenderhearted girl. 

 Leah will miss picking up Juliet everyday and reading books in her classroom each afternoon as we packed up Juliet's things (that girl brought home A TON of art and papers every day). One of my favorite things about picking up Juliet was when we went outside to get her each afternoon--they were almost always having recess. Leah would run up to Juliet and try to get her to hug her first. Juliet would always dart away and say, "I hugged you first last time!" and try to get to me. It was the same thing every day. I will miss that! 

 Juliet had such a great year. I credit her teachers for a lot. Within a few weeks of starting, Juliet immediately showed much more interest in drawing, writing,  reading, and counting than she ever had before. She made a close group of girl friends, and one "boyfriend" that she always played with. Many of those girls will be at her school next year which I am glad about. 

 Juliet learned several sight words, reads beginning books, counts by one's and tens,  writes her first and last name as well as sentences now (with some support). She loves to play teacher. At princess camp, she actively tried to help the little ones who wanted help and rolled her eyes when they didn't pay attention to the teacher and said, "Maybe these girls just aren't ready for camp." We hear over and over how funny Juliet is and the random comments she makes to make others laugh. We also hear that she is a lover and always is kind and nice to others. 

 We are SO PROUD of this girl, and can't wait to see what she does next!

Girl Scout Bridging

Last month Leah "bridged" from Daisies to Brownies for next year. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting at the computer trying to figure out a budget  for our troop and wondering what the hell I got myself into. I had a lot of fun as one of her leaders. It's been fun to watch her interact with the other girls and plan activities that they all love. Now that I'm at her school, I always appreciate when the other girls come up to me and say, "When is Girl Scouts meeting again?" or "I love Girl Scouts!". 

 Leah's vest kinda fell apart a few months ago (I washed it in too hot of water) and many of her badges came off, but because she wasn't going to wear it much, I never bothered to put them back on. I probably should have since it looked like she wasn't an active badge earner when she stood with her friends. Oh well. 

 This is almost our entire troop. I think 2 girls were missing. Our troop almost doubled in size this year. These girls have had a lot of fun together. 

 We parked in the wrong place at the park, so we had to walk a long time to find where we were supposed to be. We didn't haul the chairs we had packed. Juliet wasn't happy about that, but liked sitting on Daddy's shoulders. 

 Leah and one of her besties. They've been friends since Young 5's. 

 After Leah bridged, Juliet insisted that her vest was now hers, since she will be a Daisy next year. She is very excited about it!

Some Random Pictures

 There was a fabulous double rainbow in the sky a few weeks ago. Leah had lots of rainbow facts from her love of "Weird But True" books. Such as: If you see a rainbow from an airplane, it will look like a complete circle. 

 Juliet got Wellie Wisher boots for her birthday and had a couple of weeks where she wore them almost daily with tall socks. As it got hotter, she tried to wear them without socks, but they would fill with condensation from her feet. It was kind of gross.