Dancing Princess

Baby Girl had her first dance class this morning!  As a mom of a little girl...experiencing all of this for the first time...there are almost no words to express how I was feeling...sooooo much fun!  It sure made my heart smile!

I have been wondering about when to start dance class.  It doesn't sit right with me to spend $256 for 10 classes for a 2 year old (I'm not judging if you do this - I promise!)...but that doesn't mean I'm not tempted.  Baby Girl loves to dance around our place and she actually is able to keep beat and rhythm.  AND she loves dresses...and anything foofy or fluffy she automatically assumes is for dancing (even though she has not been taught this).  Just seems like it's a natural thing to do for her.  I talked to a friend, who is a dance instructor, and she said she wouldn't bother until a girl is 7 or 8...that it's not worth the time and money.  Gymnastics, perhaps, but not dance.  She confirmed my thoughts about it...but that still doesn't mean I'm not tempted!

My nieces (and a nephew) have all had dance, so I've been able to watch their recitals at their various ages.  The latest was my youngest niece's first recital, and let me tell you...some of the moves they teach those wee little ones are so...well, hoochy mama (not for my niece's class, but several of the other dances were pretty shocking).  I asked around about other studios and found that some are more conservative than others.  A friend has her daughter in one that she says is pretty tame, but that she plans to place her in the ultra-conservative one when she's a little older.  And the fees to be in the recitals...youch!  So, I've just been gathering knowledge for when the time comes.

Enter Groupon.  They came up with a deal for 4 drop-in classes at the conservative dance studio for a really good deal...and my friend and I decided to try it for our 2 year-olds.  Fun!  No big financial hit.  No commitment...just the ability to try it out and have fun.  AWESOME!

I wasn't going to buy a new outfit...we have some hand-me-downs from my niece...but I can't find them!  When we were at the house I knew exactly where they were...but somehow, they have been misplaced in storage and I can't find them (just one in a series of things I can't find lately).  Yes, I did it.  I bought a dance outfit and ballet slippers for my 2 year-old to do 4 drop-in classes.  I couldn't help myself.

And oh my stars is she CUTE!!!  And she doesn't like to take the outfit off, by the way...  She can't wait until next time!  Frankly, I can't either... :o)

Started out jingling bells to the rhythm.

Reinforcing colors with bean bags.  And by the way, the teacher is french!!  I loved hearing her talk and teach...very cliche'!

Her "criss-cross-applesauce" stance...

Balancing beanbag on head for balance and posture.

Waiting for their turn at a solo.  I didn't get a picture of hers...I was video recording and giggling!

I think the class reads a little bit of this book each week...didn't catch the title.

Now they have tutus!

Love her hands!

Some partner work with her friend, Lucy.

My favorite shot of the whole day!  LOVE her pointed toe!  Look at her do what the teacher does...I LOVE IT!

Same shot - just cropped to show her better!

Having a blast!

I don't know what this pose is...but it was funny with all the tutus!

Extraction

During lunch I left the table for a moment to put some clothes into the dryer.  When I came back, Baby Girl was rubbing her nose.  This is something she does often, so why did I think anything was odd?  Mom-sense...  I just had this feeling.

I said, "What did you do?"  She said, "Nose..."  I said, "Did you put a raisin up your nose?"  "Yes..."

I tilted her head back, and sure enough, there it was.

I got her out of her high chair and had the little guy get me a flashlight.  He grabbed one of the Toy Story ones that talks when you press it on - it was either Hamm saying, "I hope I'm not too late for defeating the good guys..." or Rex saying, "Rooooooar! Were you scared?"  or Bulleseye neighing.  Any one is ridiculous when you are pointing it up your toddler's nose, armed with a pair of tweezers, ready to extract a raisin.

Two items of thanks.  First, like I said, rubbing her nose was not out of the ordinary...but I knew something was amiss.  I could just feel it.  Thanks, God!  Secondly, I was able to grab that snotty raisin on the very first try and did not push it further into her nose!  Thanks again, God!

Raisins in the nose.  I wish I could say this was my first experience...the little guy put a golden raisin up his nose when he was 3.  And a golden raisin, well, it just looks like a big booger up there.  Sorry, had to go there.

Big Brother

So, I didn't snap a photo of that precious moment my kids shared last month (since I was sharing in it myself!), but I did snap this one tonight since our little guy found himself going through the bedtime routine with Baby Girl again.  So precious.

Fat Lip

As I was doing dishes, I heard a bang, and then Baby Girl started screaming.  I ran to the living room to find her contorted under the piano - mouth bleeding.  After getting her cleaned up, I asked her what happened.  She then proceeded to reenact the whole thing for Hubby and me!  It was too funny!

She ran down the hallway, then ran back toward the living room and fell on the floor.  Then she did it a couple more times.  So, as far as we gathered, she was running in the hallway, then ran into the piano and ended up under it somehow.

Anyway...she had a massive fat lip after that!

Look at that face!

Endangered

On the way home tonight I had a conversation with my boys about JFK and how being president can be a very dangerous job (it came up b/c my dad asked me to return a movie for him, which was about JFK).

They asked why it was dangerous, and I said something like...because almost everyone knows who he is, and there are some bad people who make bad decisions and wish to hurt the president because they don't like some of his rules.

So, my little guy, who is hilarious and always likes to make a play on words, chimes in: "Well, people are mammals.  So, I'd say that presidents are endangered."  Just in a matter-of-fact way.

I told him I had to write that one down...so here I am.

He told me I should write a book of his jokes.  If only I had written down all the funny things he's ever said...he comes up with some doozies!

The Little Things

I was passing by the boys' school this morning (with the two little ones in the van) when I realized the oldest one would be at recess right then.  I've never checked in on him at recess - I thought it would be fun to try to spot him.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I thought to myself, "Yeah, right, I'm going to find him when 75% of the kids are wearing the same color shirt today!"  It's Friday.  Spirit Wear day.

Not only that, but he could be anywhere on that playground.  Blacktop playing 4-Square.  Slide.  Bathroom.  Drinking fountain in the shade.  Running around crazy.  I thought I'd try anyway.

Right as I pulled it, you know what?  He was the first kid I saw!!  My heart jumped up in excitement.  It seems silly, but it was a special treat for me to see my boy at a time I wouldn't ordinarily.  I didn't know it would make me so happy - but boy did it ever.

I shouted his name.  He didn't hear me.  He started to run in the opposite direction.  Oh well.  It was worth a shot.

Then he started coming back toward my direction, then turned again.  I yelled his name.  He stopped.  He didn't look around.  Just stopped.  I yelled it again.  You could tell he was processing, but he wasn't looking around!  He finally looked toward me and I waved (still from the van).  His face just lit up!  Ear to ear grin.  He started running toward me, waving, smiling.  He stopped about 10 feet from the fence or so.  I started asking him about his morning, then I think he realized he could be super close to me if he went all the way to the fence.

We chatted for just a moment, then I sent him on his way.  But as I was driving, he decided to race me from the other side of the fence.  So, I drove slow and he raced me to the end.  All smiles.

I didn't know we needed that moment together, but we did.  And I'm so glad God arranged that for us.

When I picked him up from school I asked what he thought about us seeing each other at recess and he just said, "Awesome!"  I'm glad he thought so, too.

Thank you, Lord, for those simple little things.  You lead us to them when we don't even know we need them!  What an amazing pick-me-up that was today for me and my boy.