Saturday, September 29, 2012

Tiny Dancer

Since Labor Day weekend, Lucy has been taking a dance class at Little Gym. You may recall we took a parent/child gymnastics class here over the fall/winter of 2010-2011, but we didn't take a class last winter (not sure why). Since 3 seems to be the magical age to start other classes, and since this girl likes to "move it, move it," we thought trying a dance class would be fun and keep her active.

We liked the Little Gym class because there is a little taste of everything. It's an hour long with 15 minutes of tap, 15 minutes of ballet, and a half hour in the gym working on basic skills and movement. It's also a little more relaxed - the kids can wear what they want, and it doesn't matter what color shoes you have. Just the right introduction for us and for Lucy.

So far she seems to like it. She was a little shy at first (typical) but after this month or so I can definitely see improvement in her movement and her confidence. She definitely feels most comfortable during the "free movement" part of class, and I can see her really open up when they go into the gym, which is also a little more independent time.

I can also say, she usually has no problem taking a nap on Saturday afternoon, or if not, going to bed at a decent time. Which was also a goal. :)

Love those little leotards! I convinced her to wear a ponytail the first couple of weeks, but that has since been abandoned. :(

Free movement!

Heading into the gym. (Lucy is in the bright pink skirt)

Tap, tap, tapping! (pink leotard and pink flower skirt)
Still working on that arabesque. :)
Nice plie! Who cares if no one else is doing one?

Saturday, September 15, 2012

First Fire of the Season...

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Isn't That What I Just Said?

Me: I think you should wear a long-sleeved dress today, because it's cold out.

Lucy: NO! I don't want to! I want short sleeves!

M: Fine. Which dress would you like to wear? This one?

L: NO. [repeat 4 times]

M: How about this one?

L: I want that one.

M: OK, here you g...

L:NO! [unintelligible sobbing/screaming which turns out to be...] I WANT THE ONE WITH LONG SLEEVES! IT'S COLD!

Lessons in parenting once again highlighted by this experience:
1) It's a great idea, if it's theirs.
2) Anything you say will be challenged just for the hell of it.
3) It will take 3X as long to make any decisions or get anything done when there is a preschooler involved.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

New School Year

Although Lucy has officially been in a preschool room since the end of February, today marked the start of her first full year of preschool. She has the same teacher, but a different classroom and different classmates, so it carried all of the excitement that a typical "first day of school" should bring. This year she also shares preschool with her best buddy, Nathan, who just started. Can't wait to see what new things this year will bring!


Monday, September 03, 2012

State Fair

This year Husband said early in the summer that he'd like to go to the State Fair.

What's that you say?

Ordinarily, my dearly betrothed has a significant disdain for anything involving large crowds. So I was surprised when he wanted to go to the fair, but completely up for it. Lucy and I had gone two years ago, when she was too little to remember it. This was precisely why Husband wanted to go; to see our girl enjoy herself.

A bonus was that Brandon also came with us, so it was a true family event. We went the Sunday before Labor Day, or the day before the fair ended. It turned out to be a lovely day, and not too crowded by State Fair standards (yet). We left early in the morning and arrived just before 8AM. We hit the high points and a few attractions - Little Farmhands, food, butterfly house, sky ride, Midway games.

This Little Farmhand was grumpy to start...but soon turned the frown upside down!

Mmm...Sweet Martha's Cookies.

Somebody was pretty jazzed about the SkyRide.

Brandon was the big winner at Midway games...although I beat him at Whack-A-Mole!

Best malts are from the Dairy Building.
My favorites were riding the SkyRide with Lucy (she was SO excited!) and seeing my husband light up when we hit the Midway...and Brandon  picking up on it, too. We were out by just a little past noon, right when it was really starting to get crowded and hot. All in all, a perfect day.