Ballet in the South

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I have been wanting to do this post for 2 months, but I had no pictures to back it up.  I signed the girls up for a ballet class at the YMCA.  They were in different classes, but had the same teacher, Ms. Alanna.  Ms. Alanna used to be in the Russian ballet (or so I've been told by others.)  She is way over qualified to teach 3 year olds how to point their toes, but word is that she does it because she likes it.  However, Ms. Alanna runs her class like she is still in Russia.  Before I go on, let me stress that my kids LOVE her and she is VERY good with them.  However, I've had more laughs watching her unique style of class. First, the classes are closed.  No parents allowed.  If your child cries after day 2 because she doesn't want mom to leave, she is not ready to be in Ms. Alanna's.  I have seen that teacher kick out at least 3 parents who tried to sneak in and take pictures.  We were allowed in class today because it was the last class.  We all sat against one wall and the students were told to pretend we were not there.  LOL!  The students are told when to stand, when to smile, and basically when to do everything else.  She had those kids in line!  There is even a mandatory "hug the teacher" time at the end.  When the kids finished a dance, she would look at us with raised eyebrows and say, "parents?" to which we would obediently clap.  Once Kendall started on the wrong foot for a dance and she stopped the music and everyone had to start over.  (Kendall wasn't the only one she started over for, just so if Kendall reads this some day.)  I'm just trying to point out this lady is hard core!  Would I enroll my kids in her class again?  Absolutely!!  The kids learned, they had fun, and she kept annoying pushy parents at bay. Maybe all YMCA instructors should go through Russian ballet training before teaching a children's class.  Just a thought.

Some days are harder than others. Some days have more laundry, more dirty dishes,  more bickering, and more questions.  Grace had a more questions day today.  Some questions were a quick and easy answer.  Some were not.  Play a little game and see if you can figure out which ones were easy.  Please note: these are all from TODAY.

1.  Can we have chips for breakfast?
2.  Can I wear my PJs to the library?
3.  How did we get here?  (me:  In the bathroom?  Grace:  No  Me: On earth?  Grace:  no, in this house."
4.  Are Nana and Gramps married?
5.  How did you make your wedding cake?
6.  Why did you and Daddy get married?
7.  Why was I a baby when I was born?
8.  Why do we go this way to the library?
9.  Why does the library have books?
10. Where's Chloe's mommy?
11.  How did my eyes get blue?
12.  Do teeth break if they get holes in them?
13.  Why did Jesus die?
14.  Why do we live in Kentucky?
15.  Why is it hard for you to drive when I scream?

And those are just the ones I remember!!

Dance, Dance, Revolution

Byron and I took the kids to a community sweetheart dance at the YMCA.  They served dinner and then had arts and crafts and a DJ.  The girls had such a good time.  They really hit the dance floor and were trend setters.  They started spinning on the floor breakdance style and within a few minutes all the kids we're doing it.  Byron and I laughed and laughed at their dance moves and free spirits.  Check out the video.  Watch closely and you'll catch Maddie in a Flashdance/Fame imitation.

Look Who's Talking

I had an appointment with Grace's speech teacher today and to my surprise and delight she told me that Grace has made so much progress that she no longer needs speech services.  We are so proud of the progress she's made in the past year.  She went from being understood by her peers 30% of the time to being understood 80% of the time which is right on track!  On the way home I was explaining to Grace why she won't be going to see her speech teacher anymore.

Me:  "Grace, you've done such a good job (yada yada, fill in lots of praise here) that you won't need to go see Ms. Hager anymore."

Grace:  "Mom, I want to go to speech class with my friends and play with my teacher."

Me:  "I know honey, but you have done so well.  Ms. Hager will miss you and I know you'll miss her but we're not going anymore."

Grace:  "No Mom!  You are a bad mommy!!  Go to your room!!!  (short pause)  When we get home!!"

Well of course this wasn't okay but it was so cute to see Grace play out her frustration in words that I let it slide this time.  In fact it was all I could do not to laugh out loud at that little voice telling me I was a bad mommy and to go to my room.  I look up in the rear view mirror and she's got her arms crossed and a defiant look on her face.  Five minutes go by and then I hear from the backseat, "Mom, can we go to McDonald's for lunch?"  Well, how quickly we forget our anger.