Dance Class

Phew! I am almost at the end of September. I have been busy and still have more to go! I started a dance class this year and am so glad I did. I love it! I take dance from Ms. Donna and am in class with friends Ava and Corinne. We are doing all sorts of things...do-si-dos, ballet positions, learning to skip, tap dancing, as well as, adding and subtracting and learning lots of other things. I have to wear my hair up and a leotard and tights. I have a little bag I carry my shoes in that is pink. Mommy and Daddy can't wait til the end of the year to see what all I have learned at my class demonstration.



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

More pictures from the beach

A few more shots from the beach....
Our pigtails, the smushy smush shirts unveiled that I made with Miss Kelsey, my golf shot, my celebration of my hole in one, and our "pool"

The Beach Trip

Just after school we went to the beach for our annual trip with friends Mr. Jim, Ms. Abby, Perry, Mr. Jamie, Ms. Emily, and Emma. We didn't have any hurricanes this year, but there was some rain but we made the best of it. We had a lot of fun building sand castles, playing in the "pool", finding shells, and well, just playing some more. Ms. Emily brought us all matching pajamas again which we loved to wear and look alike. She also put our hair in pigtails and bows when we went to the beach, and we all loved that too! One night it rained so we couldn't go out for a walk so to entertain us we had a glow stick party. Mr. Jamie provided the glow sticks and Mr. Jim was the DJ. I learned to "back that thing up" and other dance moves from Emma. One day Daddy and Mommy took me to play miniature golf, and I got my first hole in one. I sort of scooted most of my shots in but I am learning. We had a great time and I can't wait to go back to the beach!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Unicorns

My favorite thing these days, more than my babies and my toys, are my unicorns. My unicorns are my special unicorns stickers that I have colored and placed in my special book that has more stickers and colored pages. One day I tore out the unicorn page because I loved it so much that I wanted it with me all the time. I took it to the grocery store and lost it somewhere in one of the aisles. Well, I just cried and cried! Mommy abandoned her full cart of groceries at the check out, and we ran through the store looking for my unicorns. We found them on the card aisle. We were so thankful. I went home and got some tape and placed them back in my special book. I love to show everyone my special unicorn page. I don't understand though when they aren't as excited as I am about my special book.



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

First Day of 3 Year Old School

Finally the summer ended and school started. I was ready and excited to start my 3 year class at school. You see I am an old pro at school by now. Ms. Kathy is my teacher this year, and you want to know a secret? She's Miss Katelyn's mommy (my swim teacher)! Isn't that something?!? I have lots of friends in my class this year, but my two big buddies are Ava and Corinne.

My first day of school this year meant that I had to start going into class by myself and learning where to hang my bag in my cubbie and where to put my lunch box. My class is all the way at the back of the school so I have to walk a long way. I usually make Daddy carry my bag.

I am learning so many new things in my class...my letters and how to write my name; the sounds of letters; cutting with scissors; coloring in the lines; and responsibilities in the classroom. My favorite responsibilities are the line leader and the caboose of the line. I also really like my teacher Ms. Kathy. She makes everything fun. School is great!






Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

I went to see the Wiggles!!!

As I mentioned before, Mommy told me I could go see the Wiggles if I finished swimming lessons. They came to my town and I was so excited! I love the Wiggles! Murray is my favorite Wiggle because he plays the guitar. (For background information for those not followers of the Wiggles, one of the original Wiggles, Greg, is no longer with the group due to health reasons and Sam has taken his place. this has been hard news to take in our household.) I asked a lot before the concert when we were going and if Greg was going to be there. The day finally came to go and I dressed in my party outfit and bought roses for Dorothy the dinosaur because she loves roses. Uncle Andrew came with us to see the Wiggles. Once the show started, I was overwhelmed that the Wiggles were actually there. Even though I knew every song, I just sat and watched all the dancing and singing. There was lots of jumping and tumbling too. Sam even came out in the crowd and I waved at him. Uncle Andrew knew 2 songs which I didn't know he knew. I got to take my roses up to the Wiggles dancer for Dorothy. Mommy said that the Wiggles put on a good show.

I keep asking when we can go see the Wiggles again. Mommy says they live in Sydney and its a long plane ride to Sydney. I told her I would be ready when I am 10 to go to Sydney.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Miss Kelsey

Oh how I love Miss Kelsey! She watched me this summer while I was out of school. We did so many fun things like watch movies, play, go to the creek, make jewelry. But the best thing we did was make tie-dye shirts...for my whole family! Yes, that's right just like my favorite counselor from Monteagle - Smushy Smush. So now I request my "Smushy Smush Dress" often when asked what I want to wear. Miss Kesley went back to school at the end of the summer and I was sad. I talk about her a lot and can't wait to see her when she comes back.



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

The Fair

This summer in August we had a county fair in our area. Mommy and Daddy had never been and took me with Perry, Ms. Abby, and Mr. Jim. There were so many things to do. We fed some animals carrot chips. The goats liked them best. It felt funny when they tried to eat it out of my hands. Then Perry and I got to "work" on a farm and see what it takes to get food from the field to the store. First we had to get seed from the store and plant it and tend it. Then we had to pick our crops, milk the cow, and sell our goods at the farmers market. At the end I got a chocolate milk for my hard work and boy, was it hard work! Then I went to see all the prize animals...chickens, ducks, roosters, donkeys, rabbits. There was even a momma pig and her baby piglets. They were hungry! The best thing about the fair though were the rides! Where have these been all my life? I had to ride without Mommy and Daddy and be a big girl! I was even tall enough to ride the two "flying" rides - the bumble bee and the dragon. I got to pull a lever to make the animals go up and down while I spun in a circle but most of time I was too excited to pull the lever. I just giggled. During my last ride the fireworks started, and if you remember, I don't really care for fireworks. So my smile went away and I got scared and was glad to get off the ride. All in all I loved the fair and can't wait to go back next year because I will be tall enough to ride the Farris wheel!







Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Swimming Lessons

This summer Mommy signed me up for swimming lessons with Miss Katelyn. She lived near me and Mommy said I would love learning to swim because then I wouldn't have to use my floaties and could swim on my own. We went to buy goggles and everything to get ready for the first lesson. Mommy dropped me off and I tried really hard. I continued my lessons but really didn't like sticking my face in the water. Miss Katelyn said if I would stick my face in I could swim by myself. At one lesson Mommy heard me screaming from where she waited. So after much discussion, Miss Katelyn and Mommy agreed that if I stuck my face in the water, I got a treat at the end of each lesson AND if I completed swim lessons successfully, Mommy had a big surprise for me...a trip to see the WIGGLES! So I tried really hard (barely sticking my face in each lesson) and finished. These pictures are from showing Daddy all I had learned in my swim lessons.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Saved the best for last...

I almost forgot to tell you the best parts about going to Monteagle....2 things happened that were so great! The first one happened the day we arrived. Roger Day came and sang! Did you hear me? Roger Day CAME!!! I got to see him and sing in his microphone! He is one of my favorite singers. I sang all the songs and danced and danced. In the picture I am being Took, Took, Tookalamoga the Turtle. What a great concert!

Then Mommy and I went to see Mommy's friend Ms. Amy and her girls Piper and Stella. Piper and I played and played. She took me to a park that had squirting water, a carousel, and ice cream. How great is that? Here are pictures of Piper and I being sassy and sweet.

These two things made my trip to Monteagle complete.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

More Monteagle Pictures

More pictures from Monteagle.....





Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Monteagle SSA Round 2

In mid summer we went back to Monteagle Sunday School Assembly. Since I had already been there before, I was an expert at where to go and what to do. And since I was three years old, I got to actually participate this year. Daddy spoke everyday at the church and I tried to sit very while he talked. Most of the time Mommy and I had to sit outside and color but we still sang the songs they sung. The cottages at Monteagle have lots of fun lanterns hanging from them. We wanted to participate too so we brought our own. They were red. The cottage we stayed in had two screened porches where we ate and played. I loved it.

Some of the things I liked best about Monteagle were the walks we went on around the property. See we brought Bear dog this year and he had to go potty so we would walk him and go exploring. We also went on a couple of adventures and hikes outside MSSA. On one hike, I found a hiking stick (see picture) that helped us find our way. We also went on a hike to see some waterfalls. Daddy and I waded out into the water and went rock hoppin'.

I got to be a hummingbird this year which meant that I got to go have fun with other kids my age while Mommy and Daddy stayed home. I had big fun with one of my counselors named Smushy Smush. Mommy and Daddy aren't sure of her real name but she was fun and wore a tie-dye shirt which I thought was great. I really want a shirt like hers.

Monteagle was such a great place and my family had a wonderful time. Enjoy the pictures!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Gardening all summer

If you don't know it, I have a long line of gardening in my blood. Both of my grandmother's garden, plus many of my great grandparents. This summer I help mommy and daddy plant flowers (which they prefer) and tomatoes and basil. I really enjoyed checking the tomato plant for tomatoes, but I didn't enjoy eating them. I saved them for mommy since she really liked them. We also had the privilege of helping with my friend Lindy's garden while she was out of town. She had lots of yummy things in her garden to search for and find, including a big green worm!

In July we visited Granny and Grandpa and got to help out in her garden. Daddy helped Grandpa work on their deck, and I helped put the hammock together for when Grandpa was finished with his hard work. I really liked pushing the hammock like a swing and then I used a big stick to push once I was in the hammock like an oar on a boat. I also helped Granny in her garden picking vegetables and pointing out the pretty flowers.

Later in the summer Daddy and I discovered a new tomato plant in our yard. It was growing out of our compost pile! Mommy had been frustrated that her compost pile was not making compost and now we know why. It was making a tomato plant. I loved pointing out which ones were ready and which ones could be fed to the birds. I can't wait til next summer to see what fun things we will plant.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Oh my goodness!!!

Hello! Has it really been May since Mommy updated this thing? Wow is she behind! Well, she has had a reason but I will tell you that later. I have a lot to talk about. Since I last left you, I have had a full summer AND started a new school year.

After school ended, I started daycamp at my school and had Miss Katie and Ms. Laura who planned lots of fun things for me to do like play in shaving cream, water and sand. I also had Miss Kelsey stay with me during the summer some while Mommy worked. In June I celebrated Father's Day with my Daddy and I also got to see my Papa Nick for Father's Day. Mommy and I visited with Memie and Papa Nick at a local state park while Daddy stayed home (and made a surprise for me). Papa Nick took me paddle boating and to play on a playground. I found sticks which I turned into guitars much more interesting than the big slide and swings. Did you know that anything can be a guitar?

On Father's Day I spent the day with my daddy, playing and loving on him. He made this awesome swing for my playhouse. I really like to swing and have been asking for one for my backyard. Mommy said that we have parks nearby to go to. Daddy felt sorry for me so he made this swing. Isn't it great? I have such a great daddy!

Hope you all had a great Father's Day and loved on the daddy's in your life.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew