Claire's Walk Around The Sun

Back to Claire's birthday. :)  At school, when someone has their birthday, they do their "Walk Around The Sun" to mark their special day.  It's a great way to help the kids understand that one year is a revolution of the earth around the sun.  Claire looked forward to her "Walk Around The Sun" for weeks, and thought long and hard about what treat she wanted to bring for her friends.  She decided on Twizzlers licorice.

The "Walk Around The Sun" starts with all the kids sitting in a circle, with the birthday kid in the center.  Grandma did Claire's, and so joined her in the center of the circle.  A lit candle represents the sun, and there is a globe for the earth.  There is also a counting board for keeping track of how many times the birthday kid walks around the sun.

Grandma told something special about each of the 5 years that Claire has been here, and Claire dutifully carried the earth around the sun with a smile on her face.  She loved being the center of attention!  

But she had to share a little of the spotlight.  For months, Johnny came with me to drop off and pick up his sisters.  And for months, he cried that he didn't get to go to school, too.  But this time, he got to go in!  And he was beyond stoked.  So much so, that he couldn't help but be the class clown.  He made silly faces and played peek-a-boo with the girls closest to him.  That boy is a born flirt.

After Claire's 5 revolutions around the sun, all of her classmates and teachers joined together to sing "Happy Birthday" to her, and then she blew out the sun. ;)

Since Claire's "Walk Around The Sun" was the last order of business for the day, the kids returned to their "lines" to wait for their parents.  During this time, Mrs. Winfrey led the kids in singing songs.  It was fun for me to see my girls at school, and see how happy and engaged they were.

I've mentioned it before, but I had to include some visual proof.  Sophie is a little worker when she's at school.  After the kids all left for home, we stayed for a few minutes visiting with Grandma and letting the kids play with Braxton and Tavin.  And by kids, I mean Claire and Johnny.  Sophie was still at school, after all.  So she got right to work.  That girl will never cease to amaze me.

Claire's "Walk Around The Sun" was only the first of a few installments of birthday celebration for our adorable five-year-old.  There's more to come! ;)