Happy (Pretend) Birthday to you...

Today was Charlie's pretend birthday at school.  The official school year ends this week and so they are giving the kids with summer birthdays a party.  Typically, parents order cupcakes from the school or bring in doughnuts or ice cream.  Because Prince Charles doesn't like any of those normally delicious items, I asked the teacher if I could bring in cookies.  She said yes but that they needed to be Kosher.  Well silly me, I did a 2-minute Google search on the topic and thought I was good to do anything I wanted.  He requested "Heart cookies" which was from a memory of some yummy frosted suger cookies Grandma sent for Valentine's Day.  I couldn't find a heart cookie cutter but found something way more exciting... planes, trains and race cars!  Charlie helped to make the cookie dough but them I finished them up after he went to bed the night before the party.  He was sooo excited the next morning when we saw them and as we carted them into school.  Of course I learned later that they were in no way Kosher so the teacher couldn't serve them.  I was so bummed.  Charlie got to have 3 at the party though and they had plenty of other treats for the other kids.  I hear the teachers enjoyed the other 17 cookies that were left over too :)

"Um, can I have one of these?"

"Like right now?"

My masterpeice

In his birthday crown! (picture from his teacher)

And a birthday mustache was added at some point during the day

I'm (almost) three!

Big Boy Bed

The final piece of babyhood we've been clinging to is finally gone.  While it breaks my heart, we could not be having more fun with a expressive, thoughtful, sweet-as-sugar almost 3-year-old big boy.  After getting to sleep in a big boy bed at Papa and Nana's house last weekend, Charlie asked us to give him one at home. So after naptime on Sunday James brought the wrench upstairs and took off the front of the crib.  Charlie was soooo excited!  I had bought him a new set of big-boy sheets complete with a top sheet and pillow case and we went to Target to pick out a little pillow just his size to go in it.  They are sports themed so right up his alley.  It is almost midnight and so far, so good.  I've only been up twice to check on him and the next time I head up I've decided to lay an old comforter on the side of the bed in case he falls out :)

Last nap in the crib...

"Do you like it Charlie?"

"Yes!!!"

New dinosaur towel (the camera was there so why not)

"I think this'll work"

Ready for bed

Practicing laying down for the camera... actual laying down went well too :)

Charlie's End-of-the-Year Show

Charlie's first year in preschool ends next week then he will move on to "camp" (which sounds exactly like preshool so I'm unsure yet of the difference... more sunscreen from what I can tell so far).  He has been practicing with his class for their big end of the year show and we were so excited to get to hear them sing up on stage.  Again he was great!  A little shy at first but then he was singing his heart out and doing the hand motions with everyone.  He also sat so patiently as all the other classes did their songs too. So, so proud.

2-year-old Processional

Lining up on stage

His whole class

Doing hand motions

Exiting the stage

Afterwards in his class

Posing at home with a necklace he made

Big boy!

Visiting Cary

We spent a long weekend in North Carolina to celebrate Eric and Alicia's wedding in Chapel Hill.  While there, we of course visited family and I also was able to catch Emily's baby shower!  Charlie had a big time playing with Sam all day Friday, visiting Izzie and Allison on Friday night and Papa and Nana on Saturday.  We were all exhausted when we got home on Sunday!  We didn't take pictures of all the festivities but below are a few...

Riding bikes with Sam

They spent 20 minutes collecting all the little sticks in the yard and dropping them into the creek.  What fun!

Best buddies

Both shots are so cute, I can't decide which one I like the best.  Love Charlie's hand in his pocket on this one.

Making a train

Sam is the boxcar and Charlie is the caboose

Pre-wedding groomsmen fun

Emily testing out my demo car (just sitting) at her shower

The new couple

First dance

Andrew and Gaby

Forrest and Rebekah

Keri and Kevin (the next ones to go)

Being silly

At the end of the night.  James danced his tux off :)

Mother's Day Weekend

Another big haircut

Practicing his "modeling"

(I just thought this was a cute face)

Finally ready for the big basketball hoop from Papa

Sad face

Happy face