All the classes parade around the church two times while the parents smile, wave and snap photos! Gretchen did much better than she did last year! Just the fact that she paraded around two times was amazing! She was really excited about her outfit. At first, she wanted no part of wearing something of mine - she wanted to wear her "gardening dress". I have no idea why she refers to it as that, but it's just a blue flowery sundress. I told her they want her to wear one of Mommy's blouses and she cried, "It will cover my pretty dress!" But, I showed her a couple potential shirts and once I mentioned a belt to wear with it... she was on board!!! She even agreed to wear some dress-up shoes! 
Carl was also very excited to wear his "Daddy shoes" and a "shirt like Daddy". We threw in a tie, too. Now, it happens to be the same shirt he wore last year (check that link above if you haven't already), but last year I had to fold the bottom of the shirt up and tape it on the inside. This year, it didn't get near the ground at all! 
After the wonderful parade, we had a class picnic over by the cemetery. Lew had picked up lunch from Wendy's before getting to the parade, so the kids were very happy to sit on teh grass and eat. OK, we didn't sit on the grass... I totally forgot the blanket I had planned to bring and it had rained early in the morning. We sat on the big cement cross that is laid into the grass like a sidewalk. Luckily, lightning did not strike us as we ate burgers on a cross. Diane had to tell us not to let the kids play on the gravestones. I figure, if she had to mention it, it must be something people have done before. Hmmm... no problem, I'll keep my kids off the graves.
Here they are running around with their friends and a few siblings playing tag. This went on until one child discovered, by accident, the fire ants. Yikes! That kind of calmed down the free play over there. Luckily, he only received a few bites on his leg. Those ants are nasty! Another class mate stepped on an any hill (at home) last year and ended up missing school because his legs were so swollen and sore! I hear they get into your shoes and bite you like crazy before you can get the shoe off! Still, they are also the reason we don't run amuck in bare feet on the lawn. Damned if you "shoe", damned if you don't... I guess.
Crafting..... Last Nov, I made the kids their #4 sweatshirts and when they came into school, Miss Diane kept saying, "Next March! Fifty-two! Fifty-two!" (Please read that with your best raised in the south southern accent to get the full effect. You know, the accent where my name is GEEEEE-EEEELL) So, I tucked that away, but wasn't sure if I'd do anything for her. It did seem kind of funny to broadcast your age like that. Plus, I didn't do anything for the other teachers' birthdays. Well, then a week or two ago, I decided yes, I'd make her a shirt. Well, by then, my favorite sweatshirt store was no longer stocking sweatshirts because it is too warm now. So, I figured they were on to something and I shouldn't make her a sweatshirt anyway. So instead, I found a nice tee shirt. I brought Carl with me to the fabric store. Oh, I love and hate that place! It is a quilter's shop, so they always have the best things hanging up - and the fabrics are gorgeous!! I love seeing all of them ... but, I then realize I don't have enough time, money or space to justify buying the yards and yards I long for! D'oh! But, they'll sell you a Fat Quarter for $2.50. Perfect for cutting out large numbers and reverse applique-ing them onto shirts. Carl picked the cloth out! I kept showing him ones and he stuck with "Blue polka dots" the whole time. Good call, Buddy!
We brought the shirt in for her the day before her birthday, just in case she really did want to wear it the next day. But, I didn't get to see her open it. Carl's speech therapist was there, though and she called me to tell me about Diane's reaction. "Jill, she cried! She broke out in tears because she thought it was so sweet of you to do!" And that right there is why I love being crafty! But, it also fully explains how I work. I made that shirt for Diane. For someone. We knew in the store who we were choosing a color for. I knew as I stitched and cut just who was receiving the shirt. That is what makes it fun for me. That is why my cousin Beth & I do not currently run a boutique. Because, I cannot "get into it" and make things for strangers, or blindly crank them out. I can easily make 7 Christmas ornaments knowing who is getting them. I can even knit hats over and over if I know who is going to be wearing them. But, I can't sit down every night and make myself knit for 3 hours just to stock pile them. If I could, that boutique would be one full place!!! And now, my niece is getting into cake decorating... I can even picture the tea room we'd have!!
Happy Birthday to the kids' teacher, Miss Diane!!
You see her outfit, right???? I took this picture yesterday when we got home from shopping. While we were out shopping - when she was dressed like that - a woman actually asked me how old my SON is.
