Gymnastics comes to an end

 I bought Zoe a gymnastics outfit. She wore it with pride for the last couple of classes. 

It's funny to watch her because she can do so much and she does it like she is showing off to an audience, but I can see that she feels confined by the teachers instructions. She will do what she is told when the teacher is looking but when the teacher turns around she does extra. This extra is usually flips or extra jumps. She is fun to watch.

Freedom

 Here we are on a beautiful morning in the park. No people around. It's early and I was summoned out of the house to get coffee (since we were all out).

 As I sit there watching my kids quietly, sipping a Tim's I can't help but wonder if they realize just how lucky they are. Right now most of the other children in this city are sitting in a class room. They have to be quiet and listen for instructions from their teachers. My kids are free to explore and talk and are not confined by walls or instructions. 

 Sure there are no children here at the moment, but why does there have to be? They seem content on their own at this time. Playing, running, digging, talking... why do they always have to have other children around? They have moments of real socialization and other moments of free solitude. 

 Why should they always have instructions and books and curriculum? They create their own. Freely exploring their world with wonder and enthusiasm, they learn so much. 

I think back to my childhood in a classroom and look at the happy faces of my own children and realize with great confidence that they are happy. This is what childhood is meant to be like... Free!

Book Sharing Monday - I Am

I Am. I Am a Dancer. This book by Eleanor Schick is an imaginative journey through dance poses.

A flower blooming...

The sun...  and many more... 

If you have a little dancer in your home, he/she will love this book. Read it in an area with lots of space. It may inspire some dance moves.

this moment - sharing the cat scratcher

{this moment}

*** *** *** 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you would like to see what others have posted or if you would like to join in here is the link to SouleMama's Blog:
http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/01/this-moment.html

Austyn's Song

Suck It Up!
By Austyn, June 22, 2011

Su, su, suck it up! Su, su, suck it up!
Suck it up, kid. You can’t play hockey that way.

Su, su, suck it up! Su, su, suck it up!
Come on! You can’t be captain today!

Su, su, suck it up! Su, su, suck it up!
Come on! You’re giving everybody a bad day!

Su, su, suck it up! SUCK IT UP!

(by the way... nobody said this to Austyn, but one of the parents said it to his son)

Glad We Moved

It's nice to be in a better area. Cul-de-sacs are nice for riding bikes. What a nice change from a busy area of apartments to a house.

Zoe's Dance Recital

 Her class are meeting to be taken back stage.

 Zoe is so excited!

 Austyn had dressed up for the occasion.

 Here is the first dance of the preschool section. Zoe is on the right at the back.

 She knows just what to do and seems to find the experience interesting.

Not all of the little ones in her class stayed for the finale but she did. She wanted to and the whole time she was back stage without us. She loved it.