Star of the Week!

This week, Tanner Kay Hurliman is STAR OF THE WEEK!
This is big news in the life of a Pre-K student (or maybe just a Pre-K parent?!?!?!? :)

As many of you may know, a few weeks ago my oldest "baby" girl (she would correct me if she knew I typed "baby") started Pre-K! (every Mom's lament - WHERE DID THE TIME GO???!!??!)  We made a big deal about moving up to the Pre-K Bumble Bees class and becoming a big "Pre-Kindergarten student." 

Celebratory "First Day of School" Dance.
(otherwise known to parents around the world as "I can't stand still for a picture")

The question you should be asking yourself is "Why NOT a silly-face?"

In reality, she "only" moved up to the next class at her daycare facility (from Marching Ants to Bumble Bees, quite the transition! :) and started going four days a week - Monday and Tuesday full-days (when her and Ellery both go - and have always gone - because I work), and Wednesday and Thursday half-days.  I knew the 4-days-a-week would be a big change for her, and in the process she's started to drop naps.  So it's been a bit of a transition for all of us, I'd say (her pediatrician calmly says, "She doesn't need naps, they're just for mood adjustment."  As if it's not the same thing.)  However, after a few weeks we're all getting in the groove of our new family schedule.

A few more pics from her first day of Pre-K, just to tide you over from all my jabber.

I love this pic.  She looks so grown up, though.

Obligatory porch photo...next to my rabbit(?)-eaten flowers.

It was a silly-face kinda morning, what can I say.

NOTE: John pulled together Tanner's hair, dress, and pictures all by himself - AND wrestling a 19 month old - all while I was at work!  Kudos, Hurliman!

Right after school started, we got a note that Tanner would be the "Star of the Week" starting September 12.  From the time she first found this out, she has been SOOOO excited.  We have gone over the "paperwork" no less than fifty-nine times:

My name is...Tanner Kay Hurliman
My birthday is...August 5, 2007
I am...4 years old.
My hair is...brown.
The people in my family are...Mommy, Daddy, Ellery, & Tanner.
I have a pet named...Illie Cat (because we got her from Grandpa Doc in Illinois).
My favorite TV show is...Phineas & Ferb.
My favorite food is...chicken nuggets & macaroni.
My favorite color is...pink, purple, gold, & silver.
My favorite sport is...Rockies baseball and swinging.
My favorite book is...Mommy's Princess Kate magazine, Ladybug Girl, & Pinkalicious.
(I wonder if all 4-year-olds are as indecisive.  FOUR favorite colors?  Really?)
When I grow up I want to be a...nurse like Mommy and work at the same place as Mommy (flattered :)

These questions are the most exciting thing ever when you are FOUR.

In addition to all this riveting Q&A, we also prepared a poster board with pictures of our family and of all the things Tanner likes to do.

Tanner helped make her poster by writing the words "Tanner," "Family," & "Love," slicing pictures, gluing everything on, and individually placing each of the stars.  She also traced her hands, colored them, and cut them out - just as a side project - then we included them on her board.  She tried to help with the picture-choosing process, but she wanted to include ALL the pictures.  However, it was her idea to make the "square" of stars around our family picture because it was her favorite :)

According to Tanner, she is the SECOND Star of the Week - Kenny was first, and he didn't have as many pictures.  But he likes to swim, like her, AND ride his bike, which is kindof exciting (because these two things are obviously unique to only Tanner and Kenny.  As the weeks go by, she'll either be more excited that all 4-year-olds like to swim and ride bikes, or less enthused that she's not as unique as she once believed :)

Tanner often gets a bad wrap because she acts like a 4-year-old, but truth be told, she really is a pretty good kid.  She spends about 92% of her time being helpful to me, eager to learn, and being the best big sister Ellery could hope for.  She is really gentle with Ellery, and is convinced that she knows each and every one of Elle's needs and/or wants.  She loves to play toys and games with Elle, and is usually pretty fair (I did say 92% of the time:)  When Ellery is upset, Tanner immediately goes to her and tries to sing her back to calmness - and it usually works.  It is very evident that Ellery absolutely adores her Big Sass; every moment of every day, Ellery wants to be just like her sister (for better or worse :)  Tanner also loves to "help" me cook, do laundry, mop, vacuum - she just enjoys being part of what I'm doing.  Going outside to the garden with her Daddy is also a favorite activity, especially when it turns into showing off her new-found swinging talents. 

It just so happens that the other 8% of the time she knows how to push each and every one of my (and Ellery's!) buttons. :)  Despite that 8%, she definitely deserves to be the Star of the Week, and I hope she enjoys her week of showcasing herself at school!  Congratulations, my BIG girl!

Just for those of you who have read this far (and because I haven't posted in, like, ELEVEN WHOLE DAYS!...AND because the husbo was nice enough to give me/you TWO videos from tonight!), I'm going to include a bonus clip:

And yes, that horrid schreech is what I hear no less than 836 times a day, when Ellery decides she doesn't like what is going on/wants something she can't have/hears the word no/etc, etc, etc.  But the hula-hooping is cute!  Further evidence of what a good big sister Tanner is! :)

Enjoy, and have a star-esque week! :)